The English Premier League’s elite have suffered a painful reality check after Pep Guardiola, the most coveted coach in world football, turned his back on a prospective move to England and was confirmed as the next manager of Bayern Munich.

The former Barcelona coach, who is on a year-long sabbatical in Manhattan after leaving Camp Nou last summer, has agreed a three-year deal with the Bundesliga club and will replace Jupp Heynckes on July 1st.

A number of Premier League clubs had considered moves for Guardiola at the end of the campaign, principal among them Chelsea, who are under the interim stewardship of Rafael Benitez, though Bayern’s speed off the mark has seen those ambitions dashed.

The 41-year-old’s decision has effectively thrust Jose Mourinho, with whom Guardiola endured a fractious relationship in La Liga while in charge of Barca, into a stronger negotiating position should he end up leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season.

Though Chelsea are expected to sound out the Portuguese as they seek a permanent successor to Roberto Di Matteo, they could find themselves competing with money-flushed Paris Saint-Germain and possibly even Manchester City, for all that the Premier League champions retain faith at present in Roberto Mancini.

Guardiola won three La Liga titles and two European Cups, together with two Fifa Club World Cup titles and two European Super Cups, in a glittering four-year spell in charge of Barcelona.

The 14 trophies won in that time established him as the most successful coach in the club’s history.

He also has admirers in the hierarchies at Arsenal and Manchester United and had been contacted by Milan and Roma in Serie A.

“There were contacts with clubs which were close, and others which were put on hold until a decision was taken,” said his agent, Josep Maria Orobitg.

“He chose Bayern because of all the teams from which he had offers it was the best.”

Sponsorship

The Catalan will become the highest-earning manager in the club’s history – it has been mooted that he struck a separate sponsorship deal with Adidas, Bayern’s kit supplier – at around €10 million a year, a figure he might have eclipsed at his other suitors, with Chelsea having made their admiration clear last March and in the summer.

Yet Guardiola appears to have been attracted by the similarities between Bayern and Barca, both of whom thrive essentially on bringing players through their youth system and relying on their managers to oversee the first-team set-up, with others charged with recruitment.

Contact had first been made with Guardiola’s brother, Pere, last summer when he was approached by Bayern’s sporting director at the time, Christian Nerlinger.

Rebuffed

That was politely rebuffed, as was the inquiry from Chelsea before the appointment of Di Matteo on a full-time basis, as the coach was intent on enjoying six months with his family in New York.

The deal with Bayern was signed before Christmas and confirmed yesterday.

“Pep Guardiola is one of the most successful coaches in the world,” said the Bayern chief executive, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

“We are sure that he can make not just Bayern but all of German football shine.

“We are very pleased that we have managed to convince someone who was coveted and contacted by many top clubs to come to Bayern.”

Heynckes, who had steered Bayern to a nine-point lead in the Bundesliga at the start of the winter break – in his third spell at the club – had already indicated his intention to retire when his contract expires on June 30th.

Chelsea are preparing to re-enter the market for a permanent successor to Di Matteo. The club’s supporters have made it clear they are unlikely ever to accept Benitez, though the process of unearthing alternatives will begin most likely after the closure of this transfer window.

Mourinho will be considered and the credentials of Michael Laudrup at Swansea, Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp will also be assessed.

Guardiola The Barcelona years

2008/09

Barcelona's new head coach, appointed as Frank Rijkaard's replacement, decided he needed a fresh squad and sold Ronaldinho, Deco and Gianluca Zambrotta, among many others.

He then guided Barca to a domestic and continental treble, the first Spanish side to achieve the feat.

The Copa del Rey was secured with a 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao and the league title followed after a campaign that involved a 20-match unbeaten streak and a 6-2 win over bitter rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

The treble was completed when they beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final in Rome, with Lionel Messi taking centre-stage.

Trophies won: Copa del Rey, La Liga, Champions League.

2009/10

The Spanish Super Cup, Uefa Super Cup and World Club Cup were added to Barcelona's trophy cabinet before the turn of the year, making Guardiola the first manager in history to win six honours in one calendar year.

They failed to defend their Champions League crown after being eliminated by Inter Milan at the semi-final stage but retained their La Liga title with a record points total of 99.

During the season Guardiola also became the first ever Barcelona manager to orchestrate four successive El Clasico victories over Real Madrid.

Trophies won: Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup, World Club Cup, La Liga.

2010/11

Another Super Cup success and La Liga title followed for Guardiola, although he did taste his first ever defeat in a final as his side lost 1-0 to Real in the Copa del Rey.

Another Champions League success was secured, again beating Manchester United, this time 3-1 at Wembley after overcoming Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

Trophies won: Spanish Super Cup, La Liga, Champions League.

2011/12

Victories in the Spanish Super Cup and European Super Cup meant Guardiola had won more trophies than any previous Barcelona manager.

More silverware was to come as Barcelona beat Santos to defend the World Club Cup and they also defeated Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey.

But Barca were beaten to the Primera Division crown by Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid and missed out on defending the Champions League after falling 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals to eventual winners Chelsea.

Trophies won: Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup, World Club Cup, Copa del Rey.

Total trophies (14): La Liga (three), Spanish Super Cup (three), Champions League (two), World Club Cup (two), European Super Cup (two), Copa del Rey (two).