Guardiola to succeed Heynckes at FC Bayern next season
Munich - FC Bayern Munich have confirmed that head coach Jupp Heynckes will be retiring when his contract expires at the end of the current season. In a real coup for the German record champions, former Barcelona FC manager Josep 'Pep' Guardiola is set to replace him in the hot seat at the Allianz Arena.
"One of the world's most successful coaches"
"In a very personal discussion, we gave mutual reassurances that we will be doing absolutely everything in our power to ensure that both FC Bayern and Jupp Heynckes bring the 2012/13 campaign to a successful conclusion, and bring the Bundesliga title back to Munich," executive chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said following talks with the veteran coach on Wednesday.
Further confirming that Guardiola has already agreed terms on a three-year contract in the Bavarian capital, Rummenigge added: "We're delighted to have been able to convince Pep Guardiola to join FC Bayern in the face of competition for his services from numerous top-class clubs. Pep Guardiola is one of the world's most successful coaches and we are confident that he can add lustre not only to FC Bayern, but to the German game as a whole. We look forward to starting work with him in July 2013."
Former Barcelona midfielder Guardiola, who turns 42 on Friday, led the Catalan giants to three La Liga titles and two victories apiece in the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup, among other successes, during his four-year tenure as manager. He is currently in New York, in the midst of a one-year sabbatical.
