Miroslav Klose: Germany legend and Bayern Munich U17s coach has goal to "coach in the Bundesliga"
Former Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen and Kaiserslautern striker Miroslav Klose says he wants to return to the Bundesliga - as a coach.
Klose enjoyed a storied career as a player, scoring 121 goals in 307 Bundesliga appearances, as well as playing in Italy with Lazio. He also netted a record 71 goals in 137 senior international appearances for Germany, and holds the record for most FIFA World Cup goals (16 across four tournaments).
Appointed as Bayern U17s boss two years after retiring, the 41-year-old already has his eyes on a coaching career at the highest level in the German game.
"My goal is to coach in the Bundesliga, so we'll see if the opportunity arises," Klose told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I believe you have to coach at youth level to understand the job. As a player, you start out in the youth ranks with a view to reaching the top."
Klose is speaking from experience. After breaking through at Homburg, the Poland-born forward made a name for himself first at Kaiserslautern and then Bremen, before earning a 2007 move to Bayern, where he won two Bundesliga-DFB Cup doubles. Klose also lifted the Coppa Italia during his time at Lazio (2011-2016), but is arguably best known for his exploits in a Germany shirt.
As well as being his country's and the World Cup's record goalscorer, Klose ranks as the only player to have played in four straight World Cup semi-finals, and won four or more consecutive World Cup medals. He was a runner-up in 2002, a bronze medalist in 2006 and 2010, before finally getting his hands on the famous gold trophy at Brazil 2014. He also claimed the World Cup Silver Shoe in 2002, and Golden Shoe as outright top scorer four years later.
Unsurprisingly, Klose says he likes to set up his own teams to attack. "I want to play attacking football, and put the opposition under pressure - a bit like how Thomas Schaaf's Bremen used to play," he explained. "It's a challenge, but I'm really enjoying it. I'm learning a lot from the young players."
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Klose has won 28 of his 37 matches in charge of the Bayern U17s, and took his youngsters to the U17 Bundesliga championship play-offs in his first season at the helm.
The Germany legend's ensemble are currently second in the 2019/20 B-Junioren Bundesliga Süd, a point behind leaders Hoffenheim.
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