Guardiola to leave Bayern, Ancelotti to take helm

“We are grateful for everything that Pep has given us and we’re hoping to celebrate many successes before the end of this season”, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Bild.

Now all the big clubs in Europe will be excited about this, as they would look to recreate the magic that Pep Guardiola’s teams exhibited during his first stint at Barcelona where he won everything there was to win.

Experienced Italian Ancelotti, who has been out of work since being sacked by Real Madrid in May, will sign a three-year contract to take over Bayern this summer.

He said of his appointment: “I am very honored that from next season I will coach a great club in FC Bayern”.

The 69-year-old coached Ancelotti, who will start work at the German champions in July, at AC Milan between 1987 and 1991 and added him to his backroom staff during his time with the Italy national team.

Reports indicate that Chelsea have approached Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola with a view to bring him to Stamford Bridge as Mourinho’s permanent replacement.

However, the Champions League has eluded the German club under Guardiola, with Bayern losing in the semifinals to Real Madrid and Barcelona in the last two seasons (both winning teams went on to lift the trophy).

And, speaking to Omnisport, Thon – who won three Bundesliga titles and the UEFA Cup with Bayern – said: “To substitute players like [Franck] Ribery and [Arjen] Robben with [Douglas] Costa and [Kingsley] Coman was a masterpiece”.

Some of the other clubs pursuing Guardiola recognise the difficulties in landing him but while his future is unconfirmed they will continue to try to win him over.

Bayern announced Sunday that Guardiola will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season and be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti.

‘He suits us, as simple as that.

Rummenigge said he had an idea about the Spaniard’s next destination.

Manchester City are thought to be in pole position to sign Guardiola for the 2015-16 season but are likely to face competition Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Manchester United if the latter decide to terminate Louis van Gaal’s contract a year before its end.

Yet in the book Pep Confidential Guardiola admitted he could see himself managing United one day. He took a year’s sabbatical before taking over in Munich, where he surprised journalists at his presentation by speaking well in German.