Pep 'Kaiser' Guardiola

This superstar Spanish coach almost stole the thunder this week when it was announced he had answered the million-dollar question of where he'll manage next season.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, it was to be.

After months of rumours linking the 41-year-old to some of Europe's biggest clubs as well as the Brazilian national job, the Santpedor native - who last week said he was ready to return to coaching after a brief sabbatical since stepping down from the Barcelona hotseat at the end of last season - signed a three-year contract.

Guardiola, who twice guided Barcelona to the Champions League title, will replace current Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, whose contract expires in June, just after his 68th birthday.

Bayern, who have not won any silverware in the past two seasons, have pulled off a major coup as Guardiola had been linked with jobs in England with both Chelsea and Manchester City being mentioned.

Guardiola's agent Jose Maria Orobitg revealed his client opted to take charge of the Bavarian side "because of all the teams that made him offers, it was the best project.

"Bayern weren't the club which offered the most money," Orobitg also disclosed to Spanish news agency EFE.

"Guardiola chose the club for its organisation, for the potential he sees and for the players," said the Spaniard's agent, who added that an agreement for Guardiola to join Bayern had been in place for approaching a month.

"The signature was made around Christmas. I don't recall which day exactly, but it was around December 20."

With Bayern facing Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League in February, the pressure is on the team to win some silverware after finishing both of the last two seasons without a single trophy.

Despite all his success at Barcelona, Guardiola - whom moody Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic once dubbed "a philosopher" as an insult - will have his work cut out at Bayern -- where immediate success is demanded.

Former German national coach Jurgen Klinsmann lasted ten months before he was sacked in April 2009, while current Holland boss Louis van Gaal was dismissed in April 2011 despite winning the league and cup double, plus having reached the 2010 Champions League final.

(Above) Guardiola at a news conference before the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 Gala, where he was nominated for Men's Coach of the Year but lost to compatriot Vicente del Bosque. At that time, Guardiola also refused links to Bayern Munich as he felt it to be disrespectful to current coach Heynckes.