Bayern Munich on Sunday confirmed what has been rumored all week. Pep Guardiola will leave Bayern Munich as head coach at the end of the season and be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti, club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed on Sunday.
“We appreciate everything Guardiola gave to our club and hope to celebrate a lot of success this season, especially as we know now he is leaving,” Rummenigge said in a club statement. “Carlo Ancelotti has had a lot of success as coach and has won the Champions League three times.
“He is a calm, balanced professional who can deal with stars and lets you play a flexible style of football — we have found what we were looking for. With Ancelotti, we have a new, successful trainer for Bayern. We are looking forward to working together.”
It’s a great hire for Bayern as Ancelotti will bring a wealth of experience to Bayern having won the UEFA Champions League twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, then with Real Madrid in 2014.Just as important, he has a reputation of being able to manage the big egos in a dressing room.
“It’s a great honour for me that I will be trainer of such a great club as FC Bayern next season,” said Ancelotti, who has signed a three-year contract until 2019, in a club statement.
Having joined Bayern in 2013 to much fanfare, Guardiola has so far won five titles with the Bavarian giants. However, his tenure at Bayern is likely to be judged on his Champions League form as he bids to reach the final in Milan on May 28 having being knocked out at the semi-final stage the last two seasons.
Guardiola is expected to join Manchester City next season, although Chelsea and Manchester United are expected to make massive bids for the former Barcelona boss.
Pep is on track to win a remarkable sixth league title in seven years, and if he heads to the Eastlands next summer, City will have to be overwhelming favorites to win the Premier League title.
