The luis Enrique era at Barcelona will end this season.
The coach said Wednesday he will leave the Spanish champions to get some rest after three years in charge.
He made the surprise announcement following the team's 6-1 win over Sporting Gijon in the Spanish league.
"I need to rest," luis Enrique told the post-match news conference. "I won't be the coach of Barcelona next season.
"It was a very difficult decision for me, very well-thought out," the 46-year-old former Spain international said. "The reason clearly had to do with the way of life I need to have in this profession, constantly having to find solutions, constantly trying to improve my team. That means very little time to rest, very little time to disconnect. After this season it will be good for me to get some rest."
The news was first given to the players in the locker room after the game at the Camp Nou.
"He told us about his decision and we have to accept it," midfielder Ivan Rakitic said. "We want to finish the season with victories and enjoy what's left of it."
luis Enrique said he told the club during the pre-season that he was considering not returning after his contracted expired at the end of this season.
"I would like to thank the club for all the confidence that it had in me throughout my years here, both as a player and as a coach," he said.
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu said the coach confirmed his decision to leave a few days ago.
"We accept luis Enrique's decision. He has been a great coach. Now we have to finish the season the best possible way," Bartomeu said. "luis Enrique has helped us succeed, and he can still help us. The players are motivated to make sure that happens."
luis Enrique won eight titles with Barcelona and still has the chance to win three more before leaving - the Spanish league, the Copa del Rey and the Champions league.
Barcelona is in a tight race for the league title with Real Madrid and reached the Copa final against Alaves. But it must reverse a 4-0 first-leg loss to Paris Saint-Germain to stay alive in the knockout stages of the Champions league.
The humiliating loss in the Round of 16 to PSG last month left the coach under pressure from fans and local media. He was jeered by the crowd at the Camp Nou in a league game shortly after the defeat in Paris.
"I'm so sad cos we are going to miss the perfect trainer for Barcelona," said former Barcelona player and coach Pep Guardiola, who is currently at the helm of Manchester City. "I wish him the best as a fan, a member of Barcelona. I just want to say thank you for all you have done for three years at my club."
A former defensive midfielder at the Catalan club, luis Enrique replaced Gerard Martino ahead of the 2014-15 season. He immediately led the team to the treble in the Spanish league, Copa del Rey and Champions league. He also helped it win the league and the Copa in the 2015-16 season.
His other titles with Barcelona include the 2015 UEFA Super Cup and the 2016 Spanish Super Cup, as well as the 2015 Club World Cup.
"It's been three unforgettable years," luis Enrique said. "We have three thrilling months left and we will continue to give our best."
Barca take liga lead
On a night marked by the surprise announcement that coach luis Enrique will leave Barcelona at the end of the season, his team routed relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon 6-1 to return to the top of the Spanish league on Wednesday.
lionel Messi scored his league-leading 21st goal less than 10 minutes into the match at the Camp Nou to help Barcelona earn a comfortable victory.
Barcelona leads the standings for the first time since the opening round, one point ahead of Real Madrid, which was held by las Palmas to a 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Madrid, which still has a game in hand, scored twice with Cristiano Ronaldo in the final minutes to erase a two-goal deficit and salvage a point despite playing most of the second half without 10 men after a red card for Gareth Bale.
luis Enrique announced that he will not coach Barcelona next season in the post-match news conference, saying that he needed to rest.
"The reason clearly had to do with the way of life I need to have in this profession, constantly having to find solutions, constantly trying to improve my team," he said.
After scoring important late winners in the last two games, Messi put Barcelona on the board with a header off a long cross into the area in the ninth minute.
It was his 36th goal in 36 matches this season, and his 12th in the last 11 league games.
The Argentina playmaker also hit the crossbar with a free kick in the 59th minutes, a couple of minutes before being substituted.
Two minutes after Messi opened the scoring, Barcelona added to the lead with an own goal by Juan Rodriguez, who deflected a shot by luis Suarez.
The Uruguay striker scored with a volley from inside the area in the 27th, and his second-half substitute, Paco Alcacer, added the fourth from close range after a pass by Messi. Neymar found the net with a well-placed free kick in the 65th, and Ivan Rakitic rounded off the scoring with an angled shot in the 87th as Barcelona made it five league wins in a row.