Barca presidential candidate Laporta vows to unite the club

FILE PHOTO: Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta and candidate for FC Barcelona's next elections poses during an interview in their candidature headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, June 29, 2015. REUTERS/Albert Gea

MADRID (Reuters) - Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced his candidacy for the vacant post on Monday, vowing to return the club to its former glories and unite the disgruntled fanbase.

Laporta, who held the role between 2003 and 2010, saw the club win numerous trophies under his stewardship and it was the 58-year-old who first appointed Pep Guardiola as coach in 2008.