Speculation?s over. This is official. Pep Guardiola ??he of two Champions League titles during his time at Barcelona ? will take over Bayern Munich this summer, the club confirmed today. The 41-year-old will get a three-year deal, (undoubtedly) a Volkswagon?s worth of cash, and the expectations that he?ll raise the German titans back to their previous Europe-dominating heights.
It?s not like Bayern?s that far from there now. The team?s been to two Champions League finals in the last three years and are running away with this year?s Bundesliga (up nine points on Bayer Leverkusen after 17 rounds). The club lacks for nothing ? resources, facilities, talent, prestige ? yet still has much to accomplish. It?s the perfect landing spot.
The situation is?reminiscent?of Barcelona when Guardiola replaced Frank Rijkaard. Only a few years removed from Champions League glory, Bar?a had become an inefficient and unfocused squad, one some felt was moving away from its core principles. At least, that?s how Guardiola felt upon ascending to the A-team, letting Ronaldinho and Deco leave while building the team around its La Masia products. The results cast the Cruyff proteg? as one of the best coaches in the world.
MORE: Winners and losers from Bayern?s Guardiola hiring
Bayern aren?t inefficient and unfocused. They?re one of the favorites to win this year?s Champions League, but it?s a place they?ve been for the last three years. Perhaps they?re better this season, but that?s not enough to take away the sting of losing last year?s Champions League final at home to Chelsea. Or overshadow dropping the league for a second straight season to Borussia Dortmund. Or see Jurgen Klopp?s side counter them into submission in the German Cup final. Jupp Heynckes has the team playing at a high level, but it?s not where the likes of?Karl-Heinz Rummenigge,?Matthias Sammer, and?Uli Hoeness see this team.
In Munchen, Guardiola will have as much talent as anybody: Mario Gomez, Mario Mandzukic, Thomas M?ller, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Toni Kroos, Xherdan Shaqiri, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Javi Mart?nez, Luiz Gustavo, Philipp Lahm, Dante, Holger Badstuber, Jerome Boeteng, David Alaba and Manuel Neuer. I type all that out so you can see the ridiculous amount of talent Bayern?s been able to accumulate ? a few homegrown prospects augmenting their perpetual farming of the Bundesliga. He won?t have Messi, but the moment he touches down in Germany, Guardiola will have more depth than he ever had at the Nou Camp.
That?s one of the reasons why this is a ridiculously good fit. Because their league doesn?t have the international profile of Spain?s or England?s, many forget how huge Bayern is. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern ? those are the biggest clubs in the world. That FCB (Guardiola?s new FCB) has that profile yet hasn?t won Germany in two years (Europe in 12) means Guardiola can be messianic once more.
They have the talent to play his way, the resources to back him, and the profile to lure the whale. And they need him.
They play in an amazing arena with huge support in one of the best leagues in the world.
It?s a ridiculously good fit.
It looks like this will be our story of the day. Stick around as we continue talking about the big move from Guardiola and Bayern Munchen.
Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/16/pep-guardiola-bayern-munich/related
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