JOSEP Gombau has confirmed his exit from Adelide United, with Barcelona legend Guillermo Amor announced as the Reds new head coach.

At a press conference at Hindmarsh today, Gombau said he will take up an academy coaching position in New York, which he visited during Adelaide’s off season in June.

Gombau said he had made the decision to leave Adelaide – two years into a four-year contract - for family reasons, with the club allowing a mutual termination on compassionate grounds.

Adelaide chairman Greg Griffin made the shock announcement at Gombau’s final official Reds press conference, before revealing to The Advertiser that today was the first time he had officially spoken to the club’s head coach since the Reds presentation night at Adelaide Zoo in May.

Gombau and his wife Romina and two daughters Bruna and Maria will be heading back to Spain for a summer break before the Spaniard sets off on a new career path.

New York is about a seven-hour flight from Barcelona where Gombau intends on living most of the time.

“For me it was a hard decision for me to make,’’ Gombau said.

“But it’s a family decision to try and find the balance between work and family.

“Sometimes it’s not easy with the decision we will be closer to our parents and everybody and that’s the objective.

“The two years in the club have been fantastic.”

media_camera Josep Gombau and Guillermo Amor watch Adelaide United training last year. Photo: Sarah Reed.

With Gombau also revealing his last game in charge was Adelaide’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Adelaide Oval on Monday, Amor declared he would be leading the Reds for the first time in a friendly against Blue Eagles at Marden Sports Complex on Tuesday night.

Speaking through a translator – Amor – who is fluent in Italian and is also conversant in English – said he would stick with the philosophy which Gombau had introduced to the club in 2013.

But he would put his own stamp on the side after his influence as the club’s football director helped Gombau and Adelaide claim the inaugural FFA Cup last December in a 1-0 win over Perth Glory at Coopers Stadium.

Amor will also be working with the club’s current coaching staff with Griffin revealing no other changes would be made in the transition.

“It’s important for me in this moment and it’s my first time as a (head) coach,’’ Amor said.

“Josep is my friend and he brought me here and gave me this opportunity with the club as the technical director.”

In a press release, Gombau said he would always cherish his two years at Adelaide United. for releasing him early from his contract, which still had two years to run.

“Together, as a club, we developed a brand and style of football that the people enjoy, along with a trophy for the club (the inaugural FFA Cup in December last year), and with that I am satisfied.”

Amor said he was “excited” to take over, saying he was “in the right place at the right time”.

Amor steps into the role after being appointed as United’s technical director in August 2014.

During his playing career the Spaniard, who played more than 500 games for FC Barcelona, and was capped 37 times for Spain during the 1990s, represented his country during the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 1996.

He also played for Italy’s Fiorentina in the Serie A as well as Villareal in Spain.

Amor returned to Barcelona after completing his professional career and completing a UEFA Pro Licence, where he was appointed the Director of the Youth Academy while his good friend and former teammate Pep Guardiola was Barcelona’s head coach.

Amor was Guardiola’s partner in moulding the midfield during his successful playing career at Barcelona, as well as being a mentor to the now Bayern Munich coach.

media_camera Friends and colleagues Guillermo Amor and Josep Gombau embrace after Amor was announced as Gombau’s replacement at the Reds. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“For me, to accept this position is a very important decision to make,” Amor said.

“For anyone who loves and lives for football and has dedicated their life to it for so many years like me, when you get this chance it’s a true cause for joy.

“Josep is a very dear friend of mine, and he, and the club, have placed their trust in me through a difficult time.

“This trust means a lot to me and I am very excited and very eager to get to work, but above everything I want to enjoy and succeed.

“Myself, along with the rest of the staff, will give everything to allow this team to continue its growth and I think there’s still a lot of growth that can happen.

“My message for the fans is to remain confident in the team, as they have done so far.

“Support the team as you have been doing with Josep in every game and keep the good atmosphere that prevails throughout the city, because I believe if that happens things can become much easier.”

Gombau became head coach of Adelaide United at the start of the 2013/14 season after a successful managerial period at Kitchee SC in Hong Kong’s Premier League.

He had previously coached at Barcelona’s youth academy.

The Advertiser reported this morning that the Reds boss was likely to be bound for a cashed-up club overseas, believed to be New York.

It was not the first time Gombau had been linked with a move away from Adelaide.

He had confirmed he had been on Yokohama F Marinos’ coaching shortlist in Japan after The Advertiser revealed he was in the mix for the job late last year.

Meanwhile former Melbourne Heart striker Eli Babalj and another attacker are on Adelaide’s shortlist for the new season.

Babalj, 23, was recently released by AZ Alkmaar after a loan stint with PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands.

Dutch media is reporting that Adelaide has been negotiating for the 194cm Sarajevo-born striker, who has won two Socceroos caps.