Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has agreed to a three-year deal to coach German Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League runners-up, Bayern Munich, next season, according to the BBC. The former Barcelona manager – and current New York resident – will take over from current Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, who will retire at the end of this Bundesliga campaign. Guardiola won three La Liga and two Champions League titles in his four (!) seasons at the helm of Barca.
Guardiola – like his American college football equivalent, Urban Meyer – might have been the hottest coach-on-year-long-sabbatical candidate on the market, with links to clubs like AC Milan and Manchester City. But, alas, Guardiola ended up with the German giants. While a few think Guardiola’s choosing of Bayern, a club rich with history but more than a few recent shaky seasons, is odd, here’s a tweet explaining why Munich’s a great fit:
Bayern already plays a fluid 4-3-3 and has a core group of great young players. Their youth system is phenomenal & they have spending power.
— Prince Akeem Joffer (@O_Fenomeno86) January 16, 2013
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Although, keep an eye out for 2016 when Guardiola’s contract expires. Rumors have swirled for months about who will replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager when he retires or, well, dies, and Pep’s name has been first on the list.