Guardiola will leave Bayern in 2016
A Bayern Munich legend claims Pep Guardiola will no longer officiate in Bavaria once his contract runs out. In the meantime, Guardiola himself admitted that his future was uncertain, while his former protege Xavi says a comeback to Barca is probable...
Former Bayern Munich captain Stefan Effenberg has tipped Josep Guardiola to depart the club in 2016, ergo the year when the Catalan’s lucrative contract in Bavaria expires.
The former Barcelona mastermind is heading into his third season at the helm of Bayern, vying for a first Champions League triumph with the German behemoth.
However, a myriad of pundits and columnists think that ‘Pep’ will part ways with the club next year. Effenberg - a renowned hard-tackling midfielder in the late 90s - has joined the long list of football figures who made such a premonition. Speaking to Sky, he said: “I am pretty certain that Guardiola will no longer be in charge of Bayern after 2016″.
The 46 year-old veteran also had no qualms naming Pep’s potential successor: “Who could replace him? I am thinking about Jurgen Klopp. He is definitely an alternative for Guardiola in Munich.”
Earlier this week, Xavi Hernandez - arguably Guardiola’s most loyal servant during his 4-year tenure at Barcelona - let slip that the Bavarian head coach was possibly eyeing a comeback to the Camp Nou: “I enjoyed a very successful period with Pep at Barcelona and I know he’ll choose the right moment to return to the club.”
A few hours ago, Guardiola himself said he was undecided on whether to void Bayern’s managerial seat at the end of his contract or instead prolong his stay for a few years. During Friday’s press conference, the elegant Spaniard said: “I have not yet decided what is best for this club - and I want to do the best for this club. I have not made a decision yet.”
Guardiola then added that as soon as he senses that he is more of a burden than an asset, he would not hesitate resigning from his post: “I will never become a problem for FC Bayern Munich. When I have the feeling that I become painful for the club, another coach will come in.”
If indeed Guardiola was to leave the Allianz Arena, his motivations would mystery to no one. Despite gleaning two Bundesliga titles since he took charge at Bayern, the 46-year-old tactician is not immune to criticism - something that surely incommodes for the perfectionnist that he is.
Aside from the repeated failures to win the Champions League trophy (two consecutive semi-final exits), his alterations of Bayern’s direct style of play into a nonchalant, possession-based one has been a huge contentious point. In March 2014, Bayern’s honorary president publicly slammed that sudden metamorphosis: “We’re going to end up being unwatchable like Barcelona. The players will start passing the ball back even on the goal line”.
Bayern Munich is nicknamed ‘FC Hollywood’ for the perpetual drama surrounding the club. Soon after ‘The Uli Hoeness tragedy‘ - the Bayern owner has been incarcerated for committing tax evasion - it seems as if ‘The Pep Guardiola saga‘ is the club’s latest blockbuster iteration.
