Barcelona's Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges supporters during
No England move: Pep Guardiola has rejected the Premier League in favour of the Bundesliga (Picture: Reuters)

Chelsea’s managerial plans lie in tatters after Pep Guardiola snubbed Roman Abramovich’s millions in favour of Bayern Munich.

The Bavarians yesterday sprang a major surprise by announcing Guardiola will replace Jupp Heynckes on July 1 on a three-year contract.

Former Barcelona mastermind Guardiola (pictured) had put world football’s elite on alert when he quit the Catalans last summer.

The appointment of Rafael Benitez – so unpopular with Blues fans – until the end of the season was thought to be part of owner Abramovich’s longer-term strategy to lure Guardiola, who this week said he would love to manage in England.

Challenge: Guardiola won the Champions League in 2011 and will be tasked with doing it again (Picture: Getty)
Challenge: Guardiola won the Champions League in 2011 and will be tasked with doing it again (Picture: Getty)

But Guardiola, who presided over four trophy-laden years at Barca, has chosen Bayern in a deal which his agent, Josep Maria Orobitg, said was signed at Christmas.

He added: ‘This isn’t the team which offered the most money. It was chosen for the organisation, the potential he sees, and for their players.’

Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: ‘We are sure that Pep can make not just Bayern, but all of German football shine.’

There was more misery for Blues fans last night as Benitez’s troops blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home as lowly Southampton dealt their Premier League hopes another blow.