Guardiola wants 'to coach in England'

The 44-year-old has since been linked with Chelsea after Jose Mourinho was sacked

BERLIN: Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has admitted he wants to manage in the English Premier League in his first press conference since announcing he will leave the Bundesliga giants at the end of the season.

"I want to coach in England," said the Spaniard on Tuesday, before adding that he "has no new club yet".

Guardiola's departure at the end of his third season in Bavaria and his replacement by Italian Carlo Ancelotti were announced by the club on December 20.



The former Barcelona coach has since been linked with Chelsea after Jose Mourinho was sacked, and also with Manchester City whose own manager Manuel Pellegrini is under contract until 2017.

"I have this possibility to go to England. It's the right time," said the Spaniard, who turns 45 later this month.

"I'm still young and I need new challenges.

"I haven't had offers yet, I can't say anything more for the moment."



"I hope that (Karl-Heinz) Rummenigge (Bayern chairman) and the staff understand my decision, I'd be sorry if they were disappointed by my choice," he continued, adding that he would discuss the subject "for the first time" with his players during their winter training camp in Qatar starting on Wednesday.

Guardiola quit Barcelona in 2012 despite being the most successful coach in the club's history during his four-year reign.

In January 2013 he signed a three-year deal, worth a reported 22 million euros ($24m), to coach Bayern from July that year.



Bayern, already a dominant force having won the treble in 2013 of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup under Jupp Heynckes, soon became almost unbeatable at home.

This season, Bayern have lost only two of 26 games and in the last two years swept five trophies, but the most desired, the European Cup, has so far eluded Guardiola in his time in Germany.

"Carlo is the perfect coach for this team," said Guardiola of his successor.

"I'm sure that all will go well for him and for Bayern."