(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-12 17:18

BERLIN - Former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann will end his self-imposed exile in California to take charge of Bayern Munich next season.

"There aren't many chances to coach at a club like Bayern," the 43-year-old told a news conference in Munich after flying in from the United States. "They are among the creme de la creme of world football."

Bayern surprised everyone on Friday morning when they announced their former player would replace Ottmar Hitzfeld on July 1, having agreed a two-year contract.

Hitzfeld had already said he would step down at the end of the season.

It will be a first taste of club management for Klinsmann, whose only previous coaching experience came when he led hosts Germany to third place at the 2006 World Cup.

It will also end a near decade-long stint in the United States where he has lived since retiring as a player in 1998.

Klinsmann controversially kept California as his base while he coached Germany from 2004 to 2006 but he confirmed on Friday that he would move to Munich with his family.

"I had other offers from clubs and national teams but this was the best opportunity," he said. "Bayern are one of the top six or eight clubs in the world."

The former striker returns to the club he served from 1995-97, winning the German title and the UEFA Cup.

"He was our dream candidate," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

GERMAN REVIVAL

Klinsmann collected 108 international caps and scored 47 goals. He won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990, helped Germany to victory at Euro 96 and also had successful spells in Italy, France and England.

With the national team at rock-bottom after a first-round exit at Euro 2004, the German Football Association turned to the untried Klinsmann to replace Rudi Voeller.

Under him, Germany developed an adventurous style that took them to the semi-finals of the World Cup where they were beaten by eventual champions Italy.

Klinsmann's determination to push through new training methods did not please everyone in Germany and Rummenigge and Bayern manager Uli Hoeness were among his toughest critics.

"We had our differences in the past but that's all behind us," Hoeness said.

Bayern, who missed out on a place in the Champions League this season, clearly feel they need the Klinsmann treatment after an expensive rebuilding job last season brought improved results but failed to win over all the fans.

They finished the first half of this season top of the Bundesliga but only lead Werder Bremen on goal difference.