German reaction to Pep Guardiola appointment: Media delighted with 'biggest coaching coup of all time'

Former Barcelona manager will take over at Bayern Munich

The appointment of Pep Guardiola as the new coach of Bayern Munich from next season is the best possible recognition the Bundesliga could receive, according to the German media, who are celebrating Bayern's coup as a victory over the rest of Europe.

Guardiola has signed a three-year contract with Germany's record champions, joining a league which has been on the rise in recent years, overtaking Italy's Serie A in UEFA's five-year rankings a year ago and now threatening the Premier League's second position.

And the arrival of Guardiola on the throne of the Bundesliga's biggest club has taken the league onto yet another level.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper wrote: "The German record champions and German football as a whole could not have earned a greater seal of approval.

"During his one-year sabbatical, Guardiola has been able to look around and consider his future without any pressure at all, and Bayern Munich is a logical choice.

"It's a healthy club with a healthy management structure in a healthy league."

Germany's Bild newspaper proclaimed the signing as Bayern's "biggest coaching coup of all time".

"All of the top clubs in Europe were chasing the man, who embodies modern football more than anybody else - this is a signal for the Bundesliga, a signal to the whole of Europe," Germany's popular daily said.

"Bayern are now deadly serious, with the best coach in the world. This news was like a bomb, above all in England and Spain."

A pun used by Germany's Kicker magazine says the appointment is full of 'Pep'.

Guardiola's successes with Barcelona make him the ideal choice to bring Champions League glory back to Bayern after two final defeats in recent years, while the Bundesliga can look forward to his attractive style of play.

"The record champions are getting a young coach who has defined the playing style of Barcelona over the years," Kicker wrote.

And the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper claimed Guardiola's appointment means German clubs need fear nobody.

"Look here - German clubs have reached the zenith," it says. "This transfer is a clear signal to the international football community."

However, the Suddeutsche Zeitung also asked whether Guardiola can fit in at Munich the way he did in Catalonia.

"Guardiola can do Barcelona, but does that mean he can also do Bayern?" it asks.

"How will the new coach be involved in the future of the club, or will (director of sport Matthias) Sammer have to find a place in Guardiola's system?"

PA