Bayern: Good image helped land Guardiola

MUNICH (AP)

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has conceded that the German club wouldn't have been able to win the race for Pep Guardiola if money had been the only factor.

Bayern, Germany's most consistently successful club, announced Wednesday that former Barcelona great Guardiola had signed a three-year deal starting next season to become its coach.

Guardiola had been linked with possible moves to wealthy English clubs.

Rummenigge says ''if it had been exclusively about money, we wouldn't have had any chance at all.''

Rummenigge adds ''the overall concept'' played a key role in Guardiola's choice and Bayern has a good image.

The chairman says Guardiola, who is on a one-year sabbatical after leaving as Barcelona coach last season, is hard at work learning German.