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Berlin - Pep Guardiola has not been given the credit he deserves for his time at Bayern Munich, despite winning seven titles in three seasons, according to ex-club president Uli Hoeness.
Guardiola signed off his Munich sojourn on Saturday when Bayern won the German Cup by beating Borussia Dortmund 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out in Berlin to seal the German league and cup double.
The Spanish super coach will now start work at future employers Manchester City to prepare for next season, but Hoeness believes Guardiola was not given enough credit in Germany.
Although he improved their star-studded squad and style of play, many fans here point to Guardiola's failure in Europe as Bayern were knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals in each of his three years in charge.
But Hoeness says the 45-year-old helped turn Bayern into 'an international brand' and the club has reached at least the last four in Europe since the 2011/12 season.
"I am very happy for him, that he could leave Munich in triumph, because winning the double is a tremendous success," Hoeness told broadcaster Sport1.
"I don't think he was recognised in Germany for what he has done in the last three years here.
"Ten years ago, we would have given anything for success like that.
"It's all been seen very, very critically and I can never understand that.
"Pep has helped Bayern become an international brand.
"We have always been a great football club with great success, but the fact Guardiola has worked here has given FC Bayern a very international flavour.
"We always wanted to be a global player and with the arrival of Pep Guardiola in Munich, we achieved that.
"If I find anything a pity, it is that he only rarely enjoyed really emotional moments here.
"I think he will often think back to his time in Munich and I don't think he will experience nearly as much in England."
Having won 14 titles in four years with Barcelona, Guardiola won the German league three times, the German cup twice, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup with Bayern.
Hoeness will announce his future with Bayern in July after being released from prison earlier this year for tax evasion.
The 64-year-old was also careful to dampen down expectations on Bayern's new coach Carlo Ancelotti.
"I have already met privately with Ancelotti and we shouldn't now put him on a pedestal just because he will take the limelight after Guardiola," added Hoeness.
