Second German Bundesliga - Nuremberg coach Klose embraces change: "I enjoy thrills"
The appointment of Miroslav Klose as the new coach for 1. FC Nuremberg sparked excitement at the nearby European Championships headquarters in Herzogenaurach. The triumphant trio, including Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, and Thomas Muller, elevated Klose to a world champion.
Klose, a legendary striker from ten years ago in the World Cup, is now ready to fully launch his career as a coach in Germany. At 46 years old, he was appointed as the successor of Cristian Fiel, who moved to Hertha BSC's second-league competitor. "I'm brimming with energy and can't wait to get started," said Klose.
After his professional football career, Klose began his coaching career by training FC Bayern's Under-17 team and working in the staff of the national team lead by Joachim Loew and as co-trainer for Hansi Flick at Bayern's senior team. However, his coaching stint at SCR Altach in Austria ended prematurely after nine months. A year of rest following his television appearances as an expert on Champions League games for Prime Video was enough for him: "I'm eager to work!"
Klose's coaching debut at Nuremberg came with 13 days left until training begins with the club's professionals. New sports director Joti Chatzialexiou, who has known Klose well from his time in the DFB, is optimistic about the coach's star power both in the city and the region, as well as in assembling a new team. "Miro fits effortlessly into the picture," said Chatzialexiou. They're now focused on strengthening the FCN squad.
Klose acknowledged the need for reinforcements, particularly due to the potential departure of Can Uzun (18), who is expected to join Eintracht Frankfurt but has not received an official announcement from the Bundesliga club. "We need to improve our attack," said Klose. His initial efforts to rebuild the squad have the goal of "creating a strong nucleus."
Klose has agreed to a two-year contract with the "Club." He intends to settle in the city and commit to the job. He aims to achieve success as quickly as possible. A thirteenth-place finish like the previous season won't suffice anymore. "I'm a fan of adventures," Klose expressed about the unstable and highly-anticipated atmosphere at Nuremberg. Promotion was not mentioned as an ambitious target: "It would be presumptuous to talk about being promoted."
"Communication, honesty, respect" are the values Klose wants to instill in his team. He hopes to create a dynamic atmosphere on the pitch that spills over into the stands. Ahead, he may even visit his former DFB friends, including Neuer, Muller, and Kroos, at Adidas' "Home Ground." Additionally, FCN youth goalkeeper Jan Reichert, a potential number one for FCN, is currently training with the DFB team. Klose could use this opportunity to assess the talent and potentially develop him under Klose. "I was a 13-year-old national player. If you have the chance to learn from Manuel Neuer, that's incredible," said Klose. He will certainly seek Neuer's opinion on the Nuremberg goalkeeper prospect.
List of trainers at 1. FC Nuremberg since 1963:
FCN's roster for the 2023/24 season:
The press release on Klose's appointment at FCN:
Read also:
- Miroslav Klose, the newly appointed coach of 1. FC Nuremberg, expressed his enthusiasm for the change, stating, "I enjoy thrills."
- Klose's appointment at Nuremberg was met with excitement at the nearby European Championships headquarters in Herzogenaurach, a place with close ties to German soccer due to Adidas' "Home Ground."
- Having played for the German national soccer team alongside stars like Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, and Thomas Muller, Klose brings a wealth of experience as a coach in Bavaria's rich soccer culture.
- Klose, now 46, was appointed as the successor to Cristian Fiel, who moved to Hertha BSC Berlin's second-league competitor after a short tenure at 1. FCN.
- With only 13 days left until training begins, Klose is ready to tackle the challenge of leading the FCN squad in Bundesliga 2, aiming to improve upon the team's thirteenth-place finish from the previous season.
- Klose's potential loss of star prospect Can Uzun to Eintracht Frankfurt raises concerns about strengthening the FCN attack, a critical area for improvement, as Klose noted, "We need to improve our attack."
- Despite the unstable atmosphere at Nuremberg, Klose expressed a preference for "adventures" over setting ambitious targets like promotion, focusing instead on assembling a strong nucleus and creating a dynamic atmosphere on the pitch.
- As Klose works to rebuild the FCN squad, he draws upon the values of communication, honesty, and respect that have guided him throughout his soccer career.
- Klose's former DFB teammates, such as Neuer, Muller, and Kroos, may play a role in his coaching journey, particularly when it comes to assessing the talent of FCN youth goalkeeper Jan Reichert, who is currently training with the DFB team.
- In the spirit of pay-it-forward, Klose is sure to seek out his former teammates' opinions on the Nuremberg goalkeeper prospect, having himself been a 13-year-old national player learning from the likes of Neuer.
- As Klose embarks on his coaching career at Nuremberg, he joins a storied list of trainers in the club's history, including the likes of Ferenc Puskas, Branko Zebec, and Otto Rehhagel, aiming to make his mark in the world of German soccer.
