pep guardiola, bayern munich, Uli Hoeness, barcelona, la liga, bundesliga
Two Spanish journalists carry a cardboard figure of former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola before the start of the German Bundesliga first division match between Bayern and Greuther Fuerth in Munich. -Photo by Reuters

BERLIN: Pep Guardiola does not plan to make major changes once he takes charge of Bayern Munich on July 1, according to club president Uli Hoeness.

The 42-year-old ex-Barcelona manager will succeed current head coach Jupp Heynckes with a contract until 2016, but is not expected to overhaul the Bavarian giants' squad, says Hoeness.

“As I understand him, he is also of the opinion that our team does not need to be reinforced with lots of players - he wants to work with the current squad, he likes it,” Hoeness told German Sky Sports.

Guardiola, who won 14 titles in four years at Barcelona, has been watching Bayern intensively since August and has been learning German since November, Hoeness revealed.

Hoeness said it was in July 2011 when he first personally heard Guardiola say he might be interested in coaching Bayern, during a pre-season tournament, at the Allianz Arena, when Barcelona enjoyed a 2-0 win over Munich.

“He said: 'I can imagine working for Bayern', I'll never forget it,” said Hoeness.

Heynckes, who turns 68 in May, was told last September that the club were in talks with Guardiola, said Hoeness.

German football is buzzing about Guardiola's arrival, which can only raise the Bundesliga marketing potential, according to the league's president.

“The Bundesliga will benefit from a global perspective” Reinhard Rauball, the boss of the German Football League (DFL), told magazine Focus.

“In recent years, German football has developed outstandingly from an athletic and economic perspective.”

Even Bayern's Bundesliga rivals, defending champions Borussia Dortmund, are enthusiastic about Guardiola's arrival.

“One can only congratulate Bayern for attracting a coaching expert like Guardiola, especially after the interest of Italian and English clubs, it just shows the strength of German football,” said Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp said he is looking forward to seeing Guardiola on the touchline: “He's a very nice guy and will be a great colleague to have, I can only say: “Welcome to Germany!”

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.