Miroslav Klose on Nuremberg's promotion push, his coaching philosophy, and the form of Harry Kane and Niclas Füllkrug
Two years into his tenure as Nuremberg head coach, Miroslav Klose has his sights firmly set on guiding the Franconian club back into the Bundesliga for the first time in eight seasons.
The former Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Germany striker talks exclusively to the Bundesliga about Nuremberg’s start to the season, his coaching philosophy, and the form of recently crowned Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane and Werder star Niclas Füllkrug.
Bundesliga: Miroslav, there’s another international break coming up. Are you glad to have a little breather, or disappointed to be breaking off while Nuremberg are in good form?
Miroslav Klose: “It’s definitely a good thing, and something we need, too. The first international break was a little longer. How you go into an international break - and how you emerge from it - is important, because every game in Bundesliga 2 is different. As a coaching team, we’re very happy to have the opportunity to recover a little as well.”
Watch: Nuremberg 2-0 Darmstadt - highlights
Bundesliga: Nuremberg are currently flying high in the Bundesliga 2 table. What is the main reason behind the team’s scintillating attacking displays this term?
Klose: “I think the key is the team spirit and the high level of competition within the squad. We have several players for each position, with different qualities and profiles. You need those different profiles throughout the season, because one player has certain strengths and another has different strengths.
“There's also the connection between the players and the quality they have on the pitch. We've taken a few steps forward in that respect, which is fantastic. We’re a proper team who understand how important it is to perform at the weekend and work hard during the week to deliver the right performance when it matters.
“The players we can bring on as substitutes can also make a difference. For us as a coaching team, it’s fantastic.”
Bundesliga: You’ve been at the club since June 2024. What has changed most since you arrived in terms of the squad, your job and the playing style?
Klose: “There haven’t been many changes within the squad. We’ve paid close attention to the characters we bring into the dressing room, how they fit together and how the different pieces work within the team. We’ve also looked at where we can make further progress from a footballing perspective. All of that has happened internally.
“Externally, I’ve noticed a lot of new things. I can sense it in conversations with the fans, for example, and how much they enjoy coming to the stadium. They like seeing the team play good, attractive football, while also being successful.
“I also think some of our fans are starting to believe again. It’s a journey we’ve all been on together, and one that’s being very well received at the moment. That’s what matters to us, because you need fans like that in the stadium. They need to be there from the first minute to the last, and at the moment they are. That’s a major factor for us.”
Bundesliga: “How would you describe yourself as a coach? How do you want your team to play, and does the way you used to play influence that at all?
Klose: “During my career, I had the opportunity to work with several excellent coaches, and naturally I picked up a few things from them. Personally, as a player, I always liked having the ball for long periods, and that hasn’t changed. When you have the ball, you have a certain level of dominance.
“I know you also have to be very adaptable in terms of possession, and that’s something we are. We constantly show the players different ways of playing out of situations. It’s great to see how they develop and to be able to support each other along the way. That’s exactly the approach I like to take as a manager.”
Watch: The best of Miroslav Klose as a player
Bundesliga: You were always a role model throughout your career, both on and off the pitch. How did you experience the transition into coaching, and how important was it for you to build your coaching career step by step – first by working with younger players, then in Austria [at Rheindorf Altach], and finally at Nuremberg?
Klose: “My experience as a player showed me that this is the path I feel comfortable with. At every stage of my career, I learnt a little more and experienced something different. Kaiserslautern was different, then there was Werder Bremen and [a new] footballing approach, followed by the next step at Bayern Munich and then the last five years at Lazio.
“Each experience was different, but I was learning all the time. It’s exactly the same as a coach. I’m very comfortable with the steps I’ve taken, even though it involves a huge amount of work. You learn something every day.
“I’ve said that I'm already a much better coach now than I was three years ago. That’s perfectly normal, and you have to embrace it. I’ve always been willing and eager to learn, and I’ve always been a hard worker. That isn’t going to change.”
Bundesliga: As a World Cup winner and prolific goalscorer, what does a German centre forward need to bring to the table these days to make the difference at international level? And how has that role changed since your playing days?
Klose: “Thankfully, we’ve moved away a little from the idea of the false nine or having a second striker playing around the main striker, with everyone coming towards the ball. For me, the most important thing is that you need someone who is there to score goals. You need someone in the box.
“That’s why I’m a big believer in perfecting the final ball, whether it’s a cross, a shot or something else. That’s crucial. When you develop certain patterns and players get to know each other better, that’s when you see harmony on the pitch. It can make things look effortless, but it involves a huge amount of work.
“It takes a lot of work in training and attention to detail, making sure the players communicate with each other and understand their team-mates’ strengths and weaknesses. When you score a goal, the whole team deserves credit. But you still need someone who has that ability to put the ball in the net.”
Bundesliga: You put a lot of work into your young players. How do you strike a balance between affording them responsibility and maintaining the consistency of a team challenging for promotion?
Klose: “Absolutely, you need that balance and a certain core of experienced players - but we’re very brave in that respect. In the three years I’ve been here, we’ve made progress in how we assess young players, and in the conversations we have about them.
“As you mentioned, I also coached Bayern's U17s myself, so I know how important it is to take those steps. We’re benefiting from that now because we have access to so many talented youngsters. As a coaching team, we’re brave enough to give them opportunities when we see that they can compete at this level. That’s the first step.
“They all get a lot of praise, of course - like Marc Kornwachs at the moment. His journey isn’t over yet, though. We now need to help him become more consistent and establish himself, while continuing to develop his game and take further steps. These players are so talented that we have absolutely no hesitation in giving them opportunities, regardless of the scoreline.”
Bundesliga: You were 36 when you won the World Cup in 2014, while Harry Kane has won the Ballon d'Or at 33. What does a striker do differently at that age? How big a role do experience and instinct play?
Klose: “I think he’s always been able to play football. He’s always scored goals, but I think the players around him are now a little different, a little more specialised. The game is more tailored to him, particularly in and around the penalty area. At the same time, he has players around him who are also very dangerous.
“If you look at how often opposition teams double up on Michael Olise, that’s because he has so much talent and is such a good footballer. That naturally gives Kane certain freedoms. You could always see his quality, though, and he’s worked incredibly hard to get where he is. That’s why he deserves the [Ballon d'Or] award.
“He’s also a great role model for me, particularly because he has stayed in Germany. I often tell my players that they should look at someone like him as an example. Young players can’t yet have the instinct and experience he has developed.”
Bundesliga: Niklas Füllkrug is also enjoying something of a revival at the moment. What have you made of his recent form?
Klose: “I hope he can maintain his current form for a long time because I know what it’s like as a striker when you get a bit of momentum from scoring lots of goals. It’s fantastic. I’m very pleased for him because I consider him a very talented player in the box. He has a good feel for situations, a good right foot, and he’s always been good in the air.
“If you can get him involved in the game, both in and outside the box, I think he can be a real goal threat. I hope things continue in the same vein, because having someone in the team who scores goals and knows how to find the net is always a good thing.”
