Bayern Munich have underlined the scope of their ambition by announcing the appointment of former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola to replace Jupp Heynckes from the end of this season.
Spaniard Guardiola, 41, will take over in July and has agreed a deal until the end of June 2016, Bayern said yesterday.
"We are very pleased that we have managed to convince Pep Guardiola, who was coveted and contacted by many top clubs, to come to Bayern Munich," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Bayern's announcement brings to an end weeks of speculation about which club would win the race to hire Guardiola, who announced this month he would return to coaching next season after taking a year out to rest.
He stepped down as Barca coach at the end of last term after leading the La Liga club, where he began his career as a player, to 14 trophies in four years, including two Champions League crowns and three straight Spanish league titles.
It is a significant coup for the German club, runners-up in Europe's elite club competition last season, given that several rivals were reportedly also hoping to hire Guardiola.
Speaking to the English Football Association this week, Guardiola said his ambition was to manage in the Premier League in future.
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