Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes takes a break

Berlin: Bayern`s coach Jupp Heynckes has announced his plans to go on a sabbatical and ended speculations that he would take charge at Real Madrid or other European top-flight clubs.

Heynckes will fulfill his current contract with the Bavarians until June 30 before a break from professional soccer. "I will go on holiday now and I won`t work in Germany nor aboard at the beginning of July. I will retract, regenerate and retire into private life," Jupp Heynckes said at a press conference here Tuesday. The 68-year-old became the first coach of a German team who wrapped up with treble title of the Bundesliga league, UEFA Champions League and the DFB Pokal (German Cup). Heynckes completed an outstanding season for the Bavarians when he won the Bundesliga title with 25 points ahead of Dortmund. He led Bayern into the Champions League final to clinch the trophy following a 2-1 win over Dortmund in Wembley and rounded off the historic season with a 3-2 victory over Stuttgart at the DFB Pokal final in Berlin. "The job as a coach at Bayern costs a lot of substance, power and energy. I felt that I reached the limit, as it was incredibly exhausting. I have reached a certain age where the regeneration takes a bit longer after stresses and strains." After almost 50 years of professional soccer Heynckes retires with 1,011 matches overall as coach and player. He played for Monchengladbach and Hannover to score 243 goals in 394 matches overall. After his professional career as a player he coached Monchengladbach, Athletic Bilbao, Eintracht Frankfurt, Tenerife, Real Madrid, Benfica, Schalke, Leverkusen and Bayern Munich. During his time as a coach he lifted the UEFA Champions League title twice, with Real Madrid and Bayern. Besides that he clinched three domestic league titles in Germany and the German Cup. Furthermore he secured the Supercup of Spain in 1997 with Real. "Now its time for the ordinary things in life. I have so many interests, I think it won`t be boring." Although Heynckes retracts from professional soccer he left it open whether it was the definitive end of his career as a coach or not. "I personally have something against definitive answers but there is a life after the working life." Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, who returns into working life after his sabbatical, will be the successor of Heynckes. IANS