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The 41-year-old won a reputation for nurturing home-grown talent during his tenure at Barcelona, and will be keen to assess his next club's top youngsters

ANALYSIS
By Fabio Porta

What promised to be one of the sagas of 2013 has ended just over a fortnight into the new year. Pep Guardiola has been confirmed as the new Bayern Munich coach once Jupp Heynckes calls time on his career in the summer.

The 41-year-old brings with him a reputation of success from his trophy-laden four-year spell at Barcelona, during which he nurtured the careers of a number of youngsters who can now count themselves as stars, such as Sergio Busquets, Pedro and Thiago Alcantara.

Bayern's academy has long been famous for developing some of Germany's finest players, and Goal.com is here to introduce you to some of the prospects who Guardiola will be looking to develop into stars.

EMRE CAN - MIDFIELDER, 19

Stats (Bayern Munich II) Games 8 Goals 2 Assists 2 Profile Age 19 Contract expiry 30.06.2014 Market value €1.5 million

The Germany youth international has made inroads into the Bayern first team this season, starting a string of games at the beginning of the term, before a long-term injury hampered his progress. The 19-year-old's performances for his country have established him as one of the top midfield prospects in the world.

With the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Luiz Gustavo and Javi Martinez all ahead of him in the Bayern pecking order, Can faces a tough task if he is to break into the Roten's first-choice XI, but he can take heart from the example of Sergio Busquets, who was thrusted into the Barca team by Guardiola.

MITCHELL WEISER - WING-BACK, 18

Stats (Bayern Munich II) Games 9 Goals 0 Assists 2 Profile Age 18 Contract expiry 30.06.2016 Market value €1m

One player who could fit perfectly into Guardiola's plans is Mitchell Weiser. The attacking full-back joined Bayern from Koln in the summer, but, with the likes of Philipp Lahm commanding more experience, has made just one appearance for Jupp Heynckes' side this season, in the DFB-Pokal.

A loan move to Kaiserslautern until the end of the campaign, however, will give him experience at a level higher than that of the Regionalliga, and with Brazilian Luiz Gustavo looking likely to leave in the summer after two tricky years at the club, the stage is set for Weiser to become the Germany captain's deputy, particularly given Guardiola's penchant for attack-minded defenders.

DANIEL WEIN - DEFENDER, 18

Stats (Bayern Munich II) Games 23 Goals 0 Assists 0 Profile Age 18 Contract expiry 30.06.2014 Market value €100,000

Daniel Wein is one of the most-talked about players in the Bavarian Regionalliga, and, having established himself as one of the most dependable centre-backs in the division earned himself a call-up to the Germany Under-19 set-up.

With Holger Badstuber injured for the rest of the season, Jerome Boateng suspended for two Champions League matches, and Daniel Van Buyten struggling for form, Wein has an outside chance of making the first-team squad at some point this season, an experience which could prove invaluable going forward.

PIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG - MIDFIELDER, 17

Stats (Bayern Munich II) Games 16 Goals 2 Assists 0 Profile Age 17 Contract expiry 30.06.2015  Market value €250,000

Arguably one of the hottest talents of his generation, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg moved to the Allianz Arena at the beginning of last year, and thanks to his impressive array of passing, shooting and dynamism, can hold high hopes of making it to the Bayern first-team.

At the age of 17, the midfielder has already drawn lofty comparisons with both Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos, while Bayern youth coach Mehmet Scholl claimed: "Pierre is an outstanding player who will not be in my hands much longer - he has too much quality for the Regionalliga."

PATRICK WEIHRAUCH - STRIKER, 18

Stats (Bayern Munich II) Games 22 Goals 4 Assists 3 Profile Age 18 Contract expiry 30.06.2014 Market value €200,000

A versatile attacker, Patrick Weihrauch has already won himself a professional contract with Bayern, and made the matchday squad for the game against Greuther Furth on the first day of the season, with Mario Gomez out due to ankle surgery.

Guardiola has shown in the past to like players of the 18-year-old's type, and this week's proceedings will only fire him on to do greater things and prove himself to be one of the next great graduates of the Bayern Munich academy.