Martino signs two-year contract as Barca's new coach

Barcelona: Gerardo Martino has completed his deal to coach Barcelona for the next two seasons.

Barcelona announced Tuesday that the Argentine coach would take over for Tito Vilanova, who stepped down last week to proceed with a cancer treatment that was "incompatible" with his coaching duties.

The 50-year-old Martino will be officially presented later on Friday.

Martino has never coached in Europe, but led Newell's Old Boys to the Argentine league title last season and Paraguay to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time in 2010.

He has received the backing of Barcelona star and countryman Lionel Messi, who calls him a "great coach."

Martino must quickly take charge of his new team with the Spanish league set to begin on August 17-18.