Ancelotti to replace Guardiola at Bayern in close season

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

One blot on Guardiola's copybook has been his failure to win the Champions League with Bayern losing in the semi-finals on their previous two attempts.

His arrival was intended to herald the start of an extended period of European domination after Heynckes clinched Europe's elite club competition in his final season at Bayern.

Guardiola will have one last shot at clinching the Champions League with Bayern this season after his side comfortably reached the knockout stage, while they remain on course to win another domestic title and top the table by eight points heading into the winter break.

Guardiola is revered among Bayern fans for his knowledge of the game and his team's ruthless efficiency that has seen them break several records en route to their last two league titles.

He has, however, also faced criticism for his run-in with a former long-time Bayern doctor, who once accused the Spaniard of blaming the medical staff for a defeat, and for allowing club great Schweinsteiger to leave last season.

In replacing Guardiola, who won the Champions League twice with former club Barcelona, Bayern have opted for a man with three European Cup successes to his name.

"Carlo Ancelotti has enjoyed success as a coach everywhere and has won the Champions League three times," Rummenigge said.

"Carlo is a quiet, balanced professional who knows how to deal with stars and play a game with a lot of variety. That is what we were looking for and that is what we found."

The 56-year-old Ancelotti won the Champions League twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid while also winning a string of other titles with Chelsea, Paris St Germain and Juventus.

"I am very honoured that I will be the coach of the big FC Bayern Munich from next season," Ancelotti said.