Miroslav Klose, the former German striker who won the World Cup in 2014, is showing a different coaching style in the Bundesliga than many of his peers. In a column for Die Zeit, former teammate Philipp Lahm highlighted Klose’s approach as a contrast to the “revival of man‑marking” and the lack of continuity that has become common in German football. Klose, now in his third season at 1. FC Nürnberg, has guided the club into a promotion push in the 2. Bundesliga while keeping a stable core of players.
Lahm traced the success formula of recent European champions such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint‑Germain, Arsenal and Barcelona. These clubs rely on a small group of six to eight regular starters who form the team’s identity, supplemented by a handful of squad players who provide depth. The column notes that the same pattern can be seen in national teams like Morocco and in clubs across France, England and Spain. The German scene, however, has diverged from this blueprint. Many Bundesliga teams now favour man‑marking, offer fewer chances to academy graduates despite expensive youth systems, and employ managers without professional playing experience who frequently change tactics and line‑ups.
Klose’s tenure at Nürnberg is presented as an exception to these trends. He has kept the same starting XI for most matches, avoiding unnecessary tactical experiments. The winger Mohamed Zoma and attacking midfielder Julian Justvan receive around 90 % of the team’s minutes, while central midfielder Finn Ole Becker logs about 80 % before a recent injury. Defensive midfielder Adam Markhiev is almost ever‑present when fit, and the club’s back four has settled quickly after summer signings. Klose also rewards academy talent, keeping players like Tim Janisch and Eric Porstner in the squad despite early mistakes, and giving the young striker Piet Scobel a regular spot since the start of the year. His decision to appoint local goalkeeper Jan Reichert as captain further demonstrates his commitment to the club’s identity.
Nürnberg, a club that has spent most of its recent history in the second tier, now benefits from a strong fan base and a large catchment area around the 550,000‑person city. The 50,000‑seat stadium is due for renovation, and the club’s community roots are deep. Lahm concludes that Klose’s simple, consistent system is helping the club harness its potential and move closer to a return to the top flight. The next step for Nürnberg will be to maintain this stability while continuing to develop its young players, a challenge Klose appears prepared to meet.