Bayern Munich have confirmed Juergen Klinsmann will be their new coach from July this year.

The former coach of the German national side will take over from current boss Ottmar Hitzfeld, who has already announced his decision to step down at the end of this season.

"There aren't many chances to coach at a club like Bayern Munich," Klinsmann said after flying in to Munich from the United States. "They are among the creme de la creme of world football."

Klinsmann, 43, took Germany to third place in the 2006 World Cup before resigning immediately after the tournament. He has not held a coaching position since.

The former Tottenham striker has never coached at club level before, although he has been linked with a number of domestic jobs in the past, most recently the vacant position at Newcastle and the Liverpool job.

He was also touted to take over the US national side last year as well as being lined up as a possible replacement for Steve McClaren in the England post.

Klinsmann is well-known to Bayern as he enjoyed a successful spell as a player there between 1995 and 1997, when he won the Bundesliga and the UEFA Cup.

He has also made 108 appearances for his country and led them to success at Euro 98.

"For me personally it's a surprise," said Joachim Loew, who took over as national team coach after acting as Klinsmann's right-hand man during his two-year spell in charge.

"But after talking to him recently I did have the feeling he'd be back on a coaching bench soon," Loew added. "He's a real asset to German football."

Eurosport