The Barca coach made the shock announcement after Wednesday's 6-1 win over Sporting Gijon, explaining that he needed a rest from the pressure which comes with the job.

It will bring to an end three years in the Camp Nou hot seat -- which have seen the Catalan club win eight trophies so far -- and thoughts will immediately turn to who could replace him.

Blaugrana president Bartomeu has already suggested Barca will begin to look for a replacement immediately, although he was keen to emphasise they will be working in silence due to the club's continued participation in three competitions.

"We will work with discretion, but we will work on it," he told Barca TV. "There are important games coming up and we will try to work quietly."

Bartomeu also praised Luis Enrique for his work in charge of the first team, adding: "We have to accept the manager's decision and support him.

"In the summer he communicated to Albert Soler and Robert Fernandez that this could be his last year and the other day he told us that he wouldn't continue and decided this was the ideal moment to reveal his decision.

"Now we have to focus on the next three months, but Luis Enrique will leave in the summer and we've had a super manager for these last three seasons.

"It's a sad situation because he's a good coach who has given us success. The players are [still] motivated, as we've seen. There are three competitions and tomorrow there's training. We have to keep working until the end of June."

Ivan Rakitic was the first Barca player to speak to the media after the news broke and he also called for focus between now and the end of the campaign.

"Personally I would like to thank him because he insisted on bringing me to Barca," said the Croatian midfielder, who was one of Luis Enrique's first signings when he was appointed in 2014.

"Now we want to end the season with success and enjoy what's left. We didn't know anything. We hoped he would continue. The dressing room accepts it and we wish him the best.

"He has all our support and we will try to do our best between now and the end of the season."