Pep Guardiola is back.
The former Barcelona coach has been hired as the new boss of Bayern Munich, who officially announced the news on Wednesday. According to ESPN.com, Guardiola was hired for three years and the salary was not released.
"Pep Guardiola is one of the most successful coaches in the world and we are sure that he can make not just Bayern, but all of German football shine," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement on the club's website.
The news comes one day after Bayern's media director Markus Horwick described claims the club had approached Guardiola to take over as "complete rubbish." Clearly that was not the case.
Guardiola will be the first Spanish manager of Bayern Munich since the club's promotion to the Bundelisga in 1965. He was reportedly courted by Premier League teams Chelsea and Manchester City as well as AC Milan in the past weeks, but decided on Bayern Munich as his next job.
"As an adequate replacement for Heynckes only [someone] of Pep Guardiola's caliber came into question," said Bayern chairman Uli Hoeness.
Guardiola was previously the head of Barcelona and won 14 titles before stepping down last season. According to ESPN.com, he will replace Jupp Heynckes, 67, who is completing his third stint as Bayern coach and who told the team he wanted to end his career when his contract expires at the end of the season.
On Tuesday, Guardiola spoke in an interview in an event marking English Football Association's 150th anniversary and said he wanted to coach in England.
"It is unique, to play in that league," he told FATV. "I want to feel the supporters, the environment, the media and the style of the players. I have always found English football fascinating. The support of the home team is amazing."
The move gives Bayern Munich an immediate boost and provides credibility, experience and championship form at the top of the club. The team was Champions League finalists in 2010 and their last European Cup win was in 2001.
"We can only congratulate Bayern for signing Pep Guardiola," said German football league (DFL) managing director Andreas Rettig.
Guardiola will have new challeneges with the team, including the idea of coaching players that were not developed through club training and academy work. He will be familiar with Spain midfielder Javi Martinez, who joined Bundesliga record of 40 million euros.
Currently, Bayern are top of the Bundesliga with a nine-point lead after 17 matches. According to ESPN.com, "the league resumes this week after a month-long winter break and they meet Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League when the competition resumes next month."
Bayern has not lost in any league match since Oct. 28 against Bayer Leverkusen and has earned points in the past eight matches. Mario Mandzukic and Thomas Müller are the team leaders with nine goals apiece, while Toni Kroos has six. Franck Ribéry and Müller are tops in assists, while goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has mad3 39 saves in 17 matches.
Guardiola came through the Barcelona youth academy and made almost 400 appearances for the club, winning six La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies and a European Cup. As manager, he won the UEFA Champions League in 2009 as well as the Spanish Primera Division from 2009, to 2011.
Guardiola has the respect of many players around the world and has been successful at nearly every level he has worked at. He was also nominated for FIFA Men's Coach of the Year.
