Bayern confirm Guardiola exit, appoint Ancelotti as the new boss

Bayern Munich have confirmed that head coach Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season and be replaced by former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who has agreed a three-year contract.

Reports this week suggested Guardiola had made the decision not to renew his contract with the reigning Bundesliga champions, who have now confirmed that he will indeed say farewell at the Allianz Arena come June 2016.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, was sacked by Madrid at the end of last season after a two-year spell in charge, which had seen him win the Champions League in his first campaign and will return to management with Bayern from July 1.

He said of his appointment: “I am very honoured that from next season I will coach a great club in FC Bayern.”

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who had previously revealed the coaching switch was set to be announced, said: “We are grateful to Pep Guardiola for everything he has given our club since 2013.

“I am convinced that Pep and our team will now work even more intensively towards achieving our major sporting goals – especially as it is now confirmed that Pep is to leave.

“Carlo Ancelotti has had success everywhere and won the Champions League three times.

“Carlo is a calm, balanced professional who can deal with stars and lets you play many variations of football. We look forward to working together.”

Guardiola replaced Jupp Heynckes at Bayern ahead of the 2013-14 campaign and guided them to the domestic double in his first season at the helm, as well as winning the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

He added a second Bundesliga title in 2014-15, but Champions League success has evaded him so far at Bayern, going out in the semi-finals twice.

The former Barcelona coach can still win the treble with Bayern this season, with the Bavarians topping the Bundesliga table halfway through the season, having reached the round of 16 in the Champions League as well as making it to the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals.

Guardiola, who has been linked with clubs such as Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, has yet to reveal where he will continue his coaching career.