All the smokescreens were in place. After Sky Italia had, on consecutive days, dropped the news that Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich was a done deal, the breaking story was refuted by Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who stated to a group of reporters: "I have never commented on rumours - whether they came from Italy or England - and I will stick with that today as well."

- Hunter: Pep picks Munich

The screen was carried further by Guardiola's agent, Josep Maria Orobitg, after tz had spotted him in Munich. The agent told Bild: "I have not been in Munich. I was in Frankfurt on a pleasure steamer." Even Guardiola, himself, was in on the ruse, telling the FA's website: "I've always found English football very fascinating, just for the environment, the crowd and the supporters. As a player, I couldn't realize my dream to play there but I hope in the future, I have a challenge to be a coach or a manager there and feel the experience of all the coaches and players that have been there."

It seems that the subterfuge has been going on much longer than anyone thought, as Orobitg told EFE radio: "It was signed before Christmas, around December 20. [...] This was not the team which offered the most money. It was chosen for the organization there, for the potential and for its players."

He continued: "That there have been leaks is a lie, it is that they wanted to take the decision today. Yesterday the club were denying it, but when so many people started to know it was impossible to hold on any longer."

So today the bomb officially dropped. (And I just happened to be taking a nap when it did.) From the official statement: "FC Bayern today announces that head coach Jupp Heynckes has decided to retire when his current contract expires on 30 June 2013. In his place, the club has appointed Pep Guardiola as head coach for three years from 1 July 2013."

- Report: Bayern hires Guardiola for next season
- Hunter: Pep picks Bayern

Jupp Heynckes has always seemed to be a bit wishy-washy when asked if he would commit to a contract extension. I am inclined to believe that he wasn't going to give the helm - and the wonderful work he has done - to just anyone, and would have rather just kept going until a suitable replacement could be found. Any if there is any more suitable replacement than Mr. Guardiola, then please let me know.

"We have to show understanding for this decision, as a club, but also as friends of Jupp Heynckes," commented Rummenigge [from the press release], "we must accept and respect his decision. However, in a highly personal conversation with Jupp Heynckes, we have also assured each other we will do everything - and we mean everything - to ensure both FC Bayern and Jupp Heynckes enjoy a successful second half of the 2012/13 season and bring the German championship to Munich."

"We are delighted we've succeeded in appointing leading coach Pep Guardiola, who has been pursued and contacted by many big-name clubs, for FC Bayern," commented chairman Rummenigge, "[He] is one of the most successful coaches in the world, and we're certain he will add great flair to both FC Bayern and German football."

Indeed, the 14 trophy-winning coach with FC Barcelona could have gone pretty much anywhere in the world: Manchester City, Chelsea Football Club, AC Milan, Roma, Russia... even being linked, at one point, to Brazil. But in the end, he chose well. In Bayern Munich he has an amazing roster chock-full of talent, one of the best youth systems in the world, a perennial European giant, and an exciting - yet strangely undervalued - league (although that last bit is finally beginning to change).

The Sun reporter, Rob Beasley, who broke the story that Pep was absolutely coming to Manchester City as revealed by 'a top source in Spanish football' who said: "It is 100 per cent certain that Guardiola is going to City this summer. And when I say 100 percent, I don't mean 99 percent, I mean 100 percent!", tweeted today [sic]: "Will be having a word with my man in Spain for sure - that's 100 percent and when I say 100 percent I don't mean 99 I mean 100!!!"

I said it before, and I'll say it again: The punters are usually right.

Willkommen zu Bayern, SEPP Guardiola!

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