The Mania & Hype surrounding Pep Guardiola and Bayern Munich

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich pulled off a coup by signing Pep Guardiola as their coach for the new 2013/14 season. The hype and international media coverage has reached unbelievable levels at the Bavarian giants.

FC Hollywood as FCB as also called for the stories and gossip that happen around the club are used to a lot of attention, but the hype surrounding the signing of Guardiola has reached unknown levels even for former greats like Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Josep "Pep" Guardiola and Bayern Munich had been linked for months but it was somewhat globally expected that Guardiola in the end would sign for an English Premier League side, the only question being if it would be FC Chelsea, Manchester City or maybe even Manchester United.

But to the surprise of especially the English media, Guardiola chose Bayern Munich over the EPL which has given the German giants unknown levels of attention and coverage around the world.

Last weekend some Bayern Munich players were already annoyed when they repeatedly were being asked about Guardiola and not the ongoing season and Thomas Mueller put it nicely by saying that Guardiola will be at topic in the team from 00.01 h on July 1, 2013.

I am currently in India and even here Bayern Munich and Guardiola have been covered widely with big articles, which are rare except the club are once more on their way to India for a tour. FCB and the Bundesliga need to use this to push the league across the globe!

Bayern Munich in talks with Pep Guardiola?

Reports have come out in the German media that Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich are eyeing former FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola as a replacement for Jupp Heynckes once his contract ends in summer 2013.

FCB's Director of Football Christian Nerlinger on the sidelines of the Spanish Cup final a few weeks ago had spoken to Pere Guardiola, Pep's brother and one of his advisors, about a possible interest to coach Bayern Munich though he was originally there to have a look at Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez.

A switch from Heynckes to Guardiola in 2013 would work for both sides then Guardiola in his off year could learn German which Bayern Munich have said is a prerequisite for an FCB coach and Heynckes, a former Real Madrid coach, could help his successor in settling in Munich.

41 year old Josep "Pep" Guardiola i Sala has had an incredible four seasons at FC Barcelona in which he won two UEFA Champions Leagues, three Spanish La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, two FIFA World Club Cups, two UEFA Supercups and three Spanish Supercups.

Guardiola after leaving Barca has been approached by a number of clubs especially Chelsea has tried to lure him to come to London, but with Guardiola wanting to take a year off to recharge batteries and also look for the right option to coach another club, Bayern Munich might just be what he is searching for then he has shown his appreciation for the Bundesliga and his friend Raul, who played at Schalke 04 the last couple of season, will have told him some good things.

It might be an ideal match for both sides and likely a story to follow in the weeks and months to come.

VIDEO: Pep Guardiola departure press conference

There was an impressive press conference in Barcelona today! FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola at that press conference announced that he would not renew his contact after four years in-charge and explains the reasons why he has decided to leave the club at the end of the season.

FC Barcelona: Guardiola steps down, Vilanova to take over

Pep Guardiola (full name Josep "Pep" Guardiola i Sala) announced at a press conference today that he will leave Spanish giants FC Barcelona at the end of the season after four mostly successful years in which the Catalan club won 13 titles though over the last week the club lost against Real Madrid to lose the Spanish Primera Division title and lost 2-3 on aggregate to Chelsea FC not able to defend their UEFA Champions League title.

The reason for Guardiola's departure isn't failure but that the demands of the job were too high and his energy levels too low to continue at the Nou Camp.

"Four years are long and they wear you down," Guardiola said. "I think that sincerely that the next person will have things to bring that I can't."

"Every day during four years, the demands are very high, the pressure, the necessary energy to push the players and enjoy it. I need to rest and move away," Guardiola added.

Barca still have the chance to win the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) against Athletic Bilbao on May 25, which could take Guardiola's title count to 14.

There has been speculation for weeks on who could replace Guardiola at Barca if he steps down, but not Marcelo Bielsa, André Villas-Boas, Luis Enrique or Barca Youth coach Oscar Garcia were announced as replacements. The Barca management decided to name Guardiola assistant Tito Vilanova as his successor.

"I think the club is right (on Tito). He is more than qualified, and the players know him, he will change very little of what we do, and he will give a lot to the players and club," Guardiola said.

41 year old Pep Guardiola build one of the best teams in the history of club football during his tenure as FC Barcelona coach. Players like Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets and Pedro Rodriguez to name a few have developed great under the coach.

Guardiola said at the press conference that he had decided in December 2011 to take a break from football coaching due to the massive pressure in the club.

Chelsea's difficult search for a new coach

English Premier League side Chelsea Football Club are once more on the lookout for a long-term manager after 34 year old Portuguese André Villas-Boas was fired a few weeks ago, only eight month's after he had joined the club.

The west London club's Russian owner Roman Abramovich is on the lookout for his eighth manager in as many years. Top of his wish list are Pep Guardiola (FC Barcelona) and Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid) with other coaches like Guus Hiddink (now Anzhi Makhachkala), Juergen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund) and Laurent Blanc (France) have been sounded out, while coaches like Rafael Benitez have shown own interest in the job.

Spaniard Guardiola is currently the most successful club coach with FC Barcelona whom he only joined in 2008 and since then has won everything that a club can win. But news out of Catalunya is that Guardiola is getting tired at Barca and might leave in the summer. If he would take time off or join another side is not known, so Chelsea are trying to find out.

A dream for a lot of Chelsea fans would be the return of the 'Special One' Jose Mourinho, who coached the Blues very successfully from 2004 to 2007. But if the Mourinho would leave Real Madrid for London will have to be seen. Certainly Chelsea has a special place in Mourinho's heart and he has said that his next job after Real Madrid would be in the Premier League. But any return to Stamford Bridge would depend if Mourinho and owner Abramovich can work with each other again.

But there is an option which people aren't consider much at the moment, but maybe one to look at if he continues to be successful. Caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo has done well since taking over and might be named as full-time manager in the weeks to come if wanted candidates turn down the hot seat.