Pep Guardiola reduced me to tears, says Bayern Munich chief

The Manchester City manager enjoyed a glory-laden spell in charge of Bayern and became a big hit during his three years at the club.

Pep Guardiola’s decision to leave Bayern Munich in November 2015 reduced the club’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to tears.

The Catalan coach had a superb three seasons in the Bavarian capital, winning three consecutive Bundesliga titles and two DFB-Pokal crowns. A UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup also came his way.

Lahm: "It was Pep Guardiola who first threw him into the deep end and used him in many positions. As a result, he gained experience at the highest level. Now that he's established, it's important to identify with a position & to develop into a world class player in that position"

— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) January 11, 2021

During his third campaign, however, Guardiola fancied a new challenge. He then signed up for Manchester City in 2016, but he retains a strong friendship with Rummenigge almost five years after his departure.

“One evening I will always remember: In November 2015, at a meal together, he told me that he had to leave the club,” Rummenigge told Bild.

“He needed a new challenge. Pep played with open cards from the start. It was an emotional evening; he cried, I also shed tears. That was memorable for me.”

Rummenigge added: “Pep, today you had better leave your car behind and get yourself taken home,” he recalled. “He is totally reliable, a great person with whom you can have great fun.

“Pep and I text each other, he’s not a fan of WhatsApp. We wrote to each other on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, we are in regular contact. A real friendship has developed.”