Guardiola to become Bayern Munich boss

German club Bayern Munich have announced that former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola will take over as their manager at the end of the season.

The 41-year-old - who had been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City - has signed a three-year contract to 2016.

Guardiola will replace current boss Jupp Heynckes, who will retire.

The Spaniard has been on a season-long sabbatical since leaving the Nou Camp in May 2012 after winning 14 trophies - including two Champions League titles.

"We are very pleased that we have managed to convince the football expert Pep Guardiola, who was coveted and contacted by many top clubs, to come to Bayern Munich," Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

"He is one of the most successful coaches in the world and we are sure that he can make not just Bayern, but all of German football shine."

Bayern are currently nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, and face Arsenal next month in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Heynckes, 67, informed the Bundesliga club before Christmas that he did not want to extend his contract beyond this summer.

His contract expires on 30 June, with Guardiola taking charge the following day.

Bayern's general manager Uli Hoeness said: "Only a coach of Guardiola's calibre came into consideration as a successor to Jupp Heynckes."

Some of Europe's biggest clubs had been linked with the Spaniard since he left Barcelona, including English trio Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, Italian giants AC Milan and big-spending Paris St Germain.