Soccer:Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has put pen to paper on the new contract which will keep him at the Nou Camp until the summer of 2012.

The 40-year-old, who prefers short-term contracts, agreed the deal with Barca earlier this month and will have been at the helm of his boyhood club for four years by the time it expires.

"This morning, (club president) Sandro Rosell and Pep Guardiola signed the contract that will guarantee the services of the FC Barcelona manager until June 30, 2012," the club said in a statement.

Since taking over in 2008, Guardiola has already won eight titles with Barca - the side widely regarded to be the best in the world at the moment.

Barca are currently five points clear at the top of the Primera Division standings, through to the final of the Copa del Rey and in the last 16 of the Champions League, where they trail 2-1 to Arsenal after the away leg.