Lothar Matthaus: Jose Mourinho would be perfect replacement for Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich

Matthaus, who spent 12 years at the club as a player in two trophy-laden spells, believes Mourinho is the superior coach to Guardiola in many respects - citing the Chelsea boss's man-management skills as one area in which he excels.

"Mourinho would be the right boss for Bayern," said Matthaus, according to the Sunday Mirror. "Mourinho is more straight, more clean. Mourinho tells players things straight to their faces, whether they are in the first 11 or on the bench.

"I only hear good things about Mourinho and I have that information directly from his players."

Mourinho has only recently signed a new contract to stay at Chelsea, but Matthaus does not believe that should put the reigning German champions off pursuing the coach.

"I know Mourinho has just agreed a new contract with Chelsea and that he feels that the club is his living room," he said. "For many people there, he is a hero.

"Mourinho has been successful in Portugal, Spain, Italy and England, with clubs where he did not always have the same quality of players as Pep did at Barcelona and Bayern.

"Mourinho won the treble with Inter, he beat Barca and Bayern. This is why I think he is a great manager for Bayern."

The 54-year-old believes the identity of their next manager is something Bayern need to start thinking about very seriously, with Guardiola’s current contract due to expire at the end of the season and an extension seemingly not close to being signed.

Matthaus added: "Why is Pep not signing a new contract? I respect him as a coach, but there is a reason why he is waiting and postponing.

"It is strange. Pep's contract expires in 2016. But if he was sure about what he wants, he would sign now. My feeling is that he will leave."

As combative as a pundit as he was as a player, it is little surprise to see Lothar Matthaus attempting to stir the pot at his former club once again. Long a critic of Pep Guardiola – for whatever reason – the World Cup winner will no doubt feel he can get under the Spaniard’s skin by highlighting his nemesis as an ideal successor.

The reality, of course, is that such an appointment will not happen. Mourinho has only just committed his long-term future to Chelsea and even if he had not, Bayern is a club with a particular tactical vision and boardroom structure that in many ways is the antithesis of how Mourinho likes to approach his job.

Guardiola may well leave in the summer – Matthaus is probably not too far off the mark in that regard – but, for so many reasons, Bayern will not be considering Mourinho as his successor.