Bayern dismiss Guardiola rumours
Spain’s Pep Guardiola attends a press conference before the FIFA Ballon d’Or awards ceremony on January 7, 2013 at the Kongresshaus in Zurich. Bayern Munich have dismissed growing speculation that Guardiola is set to succeed Jupp Heynckes as the German giants’ head coach for the 2013/14 season.
BERLIN - Bayern Munich have dismissed growing speculation ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is set to succeed Jupp Heynckes as the German giants’ head coach for the 2013/14 season.
“It’s all nonsense, we will first of all talk with Jupp Heynckes, he is our one and only contact,” insisted Bayern’s media director Markus Hoerwick.
Sky Italia on Monday reported the 41-year-old Spaniard, who won the Champions League title in 2009 and 2011 with Barcelona, has decided to coach Bayern next season.
With Heynckes’ two-year contract to expire in June, rumours about Guardiola taking charge in Munich next season have been circulating for the best part of a year.
German daily Die Welt contacted Guardiola’s agent Josep Maria Orobitg by phone on Tuesday morning but his reply was inconclusive.
“Guardiola, FC Bayern, do not talk, impossible,” was his brief reply before hanging up.
German magazine Kicker have reported Heynckes, 67, will decide his future this month, rather than in March as previously stated.
Guardiola, who is living in New York with his family since resigning as Barcelona coach last year, has only said: “It would be disrespectful if I were to say something concrete to a club who currently employs a coach.”
Former Bayern goalkeeper and Germany captain Oliver Kahn said Guardiola would be a good fit at the Bundesliga giants.
“Of course it makes sense to take on someone like him,” said the 43-year-old, who retired in 2008, told a news conference in Hamburg.
“Guardiola is very interesting, because of all the success he has had with Barcelona.”
But Kahn did exercise some caution.
“At Barcelona, Guardiola was very successful and he absorbed a philosophy. But I wonder, would that work at another club?”