Breaking News: Guardiola To Take Over Next Season At Bayern Munich

217400hp2Pep Guardiola will take over from Jupp Heynckes as Bayern Munich coach at the end of the season. The 41-year-old former Barca boss, who has signed a deal with the Bundesliga club until 2016, has been on a sabbatical from the game since leaving Camp Nou in 2012 having won 14 trophies with the Liga side during his four seasons in charge.

Guardiola who had been linked with a host of top-flight clubs across Europe including Manchester City and Chelsea, has now signed a three-year deal with the German side.

In a statement announcing the snapping up of the Spaniard, Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said “We are very happy that we managed to land the expert Pep Guardiola for our club. He was contacted by lots of big clubs”.

“Pep is one of the most succesful coaches in the world and we are convoinced, that he will not only shine for Bayern but for the whole of German football. We look forward to our common work from July 2013 on.“

Rummenigge also reserved some words of praise for outgoing Bayern boss Heynckes, adding that securing the Bundesliga title would be a fitting send off for the German.
“As a club and as Jupp Heynckes’ friends, we have to show understanding for this decision. We have to accept it and we have to respect it,” he said. “During personal talks with Jupp Heynckes we assured each other that we will do anything we can, and now even more, to have a successful second half of the season 2012/13 where we want to get the title to Munich.”
Bayern currently lie top of the Bundesliga, nine points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen.