MUNICH – Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick has made it clear he
would like to team up again with former Germany striker Miroslav
Klose.
Flick was assistant national team coach and Klose led the attack when
Germany won the World Cup title in 2014.
With 55-year-old Flick now signed up as head coach at Bayern until
2023, it now seems up to Klose to decide if he wants to move up from
Under-17 coach to assist Flick with the senior squad.
"I've known Miro for a long time and got to know him as a very loyal,
personable person with a high level of social skills. I think it
would be an asset to our coaching team," Flick has said.
"He has to decide that himself. These are things that are not solely
due to me, but also to him."
In addition to 41-year-old Klose, Flick also said he wanted to speak
"with one or other" candidate.
World Cup record scorer Miroslav Klose has been a youth team coach at
Bayern for almost two years and has a contract which expires in
summer.
Former team-mate Thomas Mueller said that although he couldn't judge
Klose's work with the U-17 squad, he knew he was "very determined" as
a person and a player.
From 2010 to 2014, the two played together for Germany, and from 2008
to 2011 also for Bayern.
"He was very clever. One of his strengths was reading the game... He
was very clever making runs and with his movement," he said.
"Of course, it helps in a coaching career if you understand the
game."
Klose continues to pursue his skills by taking part in the next
German Football Federation (DFB) coaching licence programme starting
in June if the coronavirus pandemic allows.
"Anyone who knows me knows that I always want to achieve the best
possible education in my life," Klose has said.
After he ended his national team career, Klose also temporarily
joined the coaching staff of national team coach Joachim Loew.
He gained important experience, saying he picked up "tactical
finesse" and learned from the way Loew had "a feeling for players,
for team cohesion."
DFB director Oliver Bierhoff said you could feel in Klose "the
interest, passion and expertise for the coaching profession."
It was great that Klose was being so meticulous in his approach to
coaching, he said.
Klose has said the official coaching badge would enable him to
acquire a trainer position in professional football. An assistant
coaching job at Bayern could be a fitting next step.