Klose draws on record-breaking playing career to build young Nuremberg side
Germany's all-time leading scorer Miroslav Klose explains his coaching philosophy at Nuremberg, where a young side sits second in the second tier and chases Bundesliga promotion.
Miroslav Klose, Germany's all-time leading goalscorer, is applying the lessons of a career that began in the amateur leagues to his role as head coach of FC Nuremberg. Klose, who scored 16 goals across four World Cups, told of a philosophy built on penalty-area instincts and repetition of the final ball, arguing that teams still need a player whose job is to score rather than a system that pulls everyone toward the ball.
Klose's own rise was gradual: born in Poland, he moved to West Germany as a child, trained as a carpenter and played in lower leagues before joining Kaiserslautern, and was starting a World Cup final two years after his Bundesliga debut. He was 36 when Germany won the 2014 World Cup, surpassing Ronaldo's World Cup scoring record in the 7-1 semi-final win over Brazil. He points to Harry Kane, whom he calls a great role model, as an example for his young players, stressing that development depends on continued learning rather than assuming talent will carry a player forward.
Nuremberg, historically one of Germany's most successful clubs, appointed Klose in 2024 and finished 10th and then eighth under him. This season the side sits second behind Hertha BSC and is the league's joint-top scorer, chasing a return to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2019. According to Transfermarkt, Nuremberg has the youngest squad in the German second tier, with an average age of 23.3; seven of the 11 players with the most minutes this season are 22 or under, including top scorer Mohamed Ali Zoma, who has been capped by Italy, and 17-year-old midfielder Marc Kornwachs.
Klose's coaching path ran through the national team, Bayern Munich's under-17s, a brief spell as Hansi Flick's assistant and a first managerial job at Rheindorf Altach in Austria. He credits cooperation with Nuremberg's youth coaches, saying shared ideas about the club's DNA allow young players to reach the first team, while acknowledging the need for a core of experienced players. He also describes his preferred style as possession-based but adaptable.
Klose is candid about his own development as a manager, saying he is already much better than three years ago and learns something daily. The article contains no supporter reaction; Klose's assessments of his players and of Kane are his own opinions rather than verified claims.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
