Ex-Barcelona coach dumps Petro de Luanda

Former Barcelona FC youth team coach Franc Artiga has dumped Angolan champions Petro de Luanda after barely seven months on the job.

In a statement, the Girabola holders confirmed that the Spaniard left his role after picking a job with a European side. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the ex-Barcelona man will join Rubin Kazan in the Russian Premier League.

“Petro de Luanda, through its president, announced the amicable termination of the contract with coach Franc Artiga, who is expected to take over as head coach of a top-tier European football team in the coming days,” reads the statement issued on Saturday.

The statement adds: “According to the president of Petro de Luanda, the agreement between the parties resulted from a transparent and consensual process, taking into account the professional opportunity presented to the Spanish coach.”

The statement adds that Petro de Luanda elected not to stand in the way of Artiga because in appreciation of his work during his time with the team.

“With this decision, Petro de Luanda becomes the first Angolan team to negotiate a transfer of a foreign coach to manage a top European team, a fact that, according to the management, reinforces the club’s position on the international stage and highlights the quality of the sporting project developed in Angola,” adds the statement.

Artiga has since expressed gratitude to Petro de Luanda, for giving him the platform to manage the team.

The coach is quoted saying he was leaving  with a “feeling of pride” for the work done, highlighting the professionalism of the management, the coaching staff, and the players.

“I take with me a very rich experience and respect for a great club, which gave me all the conditions to work and grow,”  Artiga said.

Club president Tomás Faria has since announced legendary Flávio Amado as Petro de Luanda’s new coach. The former Angolan international was in charge of the Luanda-based last year before he handed over the mantle to Artiga.

The Girabola champions had previously appointed the 49-year-old Spaniard in June. Artiga has strong roots in the FC Barcelona school and academy known as La Masia, where he distinguished himself in developing talent based on the philosophy of ball possession and intensity.