Sport: Pep Guardiola To Take Over At Manchester City In July As A New Manager

Guardiola has signed a three-year contract

The much-coveted Bayern Munich coach has agreed a three-year contract and will replace Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the season.

Pep Guardiola will become Manchester City manager in the summer, the Premier League giants have announced.

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The Bayern Munich coach, who started his managerial career with a trophy-laden spell at Barcelona, will take the reins from current manager Manuel Pellegrini, who will depart at the end of the season.

Guardiola has signed a three-year contract and will start his role in July, in time for the 2016-17 season.

The announcement ends considerable speculation linking the Spaniard with the two-time Premier League champions.

The hiring represents a significant coup, with Guardiola widely considered to be one of the best coaches in the game.


Pellegrini took over in 2013 and has won one league title with the club

He had also been linked with Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, but City were always perceived to be the favourites for his signature.

The club said in a statement announcing the move: "Manchester City can confirm that in recent weeks it has commenced and finalised contractual negotiations with Pep Guardiola to become MCFC head coach for the 16/17 EPL season onwards. The contract is for three years.

"These negotiations were a re-commencement of discussions that were curtailed in 2012.

"Out of respect for Manuel Pellegrini and the players, the club wishes to make its decision public to remove the unnecessary burden of speculation.

"Manuel Pellegrini, who is fully supportive of the decision to make this communication, is entirely focused on achieving his targets for the season ahead and retains the respect and commitment of all involved with the leadership of the club."

Guardiola holds the Bundesliga trophy - one of more than a dozen he has won

City's admission that talks with Guardiola began in 2012 is noteworthy, given that at the time the club had secured the Premier League title under Roberto Mancini after a dramatic end to the season.

It was in the summer of 2012 that Guardiola decided to take a sabbatical from coaching before joining Bayern Munich in 2013.

The 45-year-old has won numerous domestic titles with the German side since taking over, but success in Europe has eluded him.

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Guardiola had no such trouble at Barcelona, where he won a staggering 14 trophies in four years - including two Champions League titles.

Pellegrini, who like Guardiola has spent time managing in Spain, took over at Manchester City in 2013.

He won the Premier League and League Cup in his first season, but failed to retain the league trophy the following year.