DPA/Munich
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Bayern Munich have won the race to sign former Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola, the German top club said yesterday.
Guardiola has signed a three-year contract from July 1 onwards as he replaces Jupp Heynckes, whose two-year contract expires after the season and who will retire from coaching, Munich said on their website.
“Pep Guardiola is one of the most successful coaches in the world, and we are sure that he not make Bayern Munich but German football shine,” said Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in a statement.
“We are delighted to have managed to win the football expert Pep Guardiola, who was sought and contacted by many famous clubs.”
Apart from Bayern, he was also linked with AC Milan, Paris St Germain and Premier League clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City.
The news came on the day Guardiola, in a video message for the Football Association’s 150th anniversary celebrations, said he would be keen to work in England at some stage.
Guardiola formerly played at Barcelona and then coached them to 14 titles - including two Champions Leagues and World Club Cups each, and three Liga titles - during his four-year tenure at the Nou Camp between 2008 and 2012 with the likes of Xavi and Lionel Messi.
He is on a sabbatical in New York since then.
Munich are Germany’s wealthiest and most successful club with 22 national titles, 15 German cups, four Champions/Champions League trophies and one Cup Winners’ and UEFA Cup each.
