Svensson begins rescuing Mainz: in the footsteps of Klopp and Tuchel

Tuesday, January 05, 2021

Svensson begins rescuing Mainz
In the footsteps of Klopp and Tuchel

Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel shaped Bo Svensson. The new coach of FSV Mainz 05 wants to write his own story. Above all, he wants to tackle the Herculean task of saving his ex-club from the crash as follows: with heart.

When asked about the star coaches Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, Bo Svensson smiled across his face. He took "a lot" from both of them, assured the new trainer of FSV Mainz 05 at the start of his rescue mission: "I would be stupid if I hadn't done that." Above all, however, the time as a player under the teachers Klopp and Tuchel "aroused my desire to become a coach".

In the case of the Rheinhessen threatened with relegation, the newcomer must now immediately show what he has learned from his former bosses on the big stage. "It was a special decision", explained the returnees: "Mainz has a special meaning in my heart." A Herculean task awaits at Bruchweg after just six points from 14 games.

But Svensson is not a firefighter, as the three and a half year contract shows. Rather, the Dane should lead the club on the right track in the long term – also in the second division if necessary. It is about "staying in the league. But we have to work on several levels and look at how we can better shape the future of Mainz 05," he said.

It is the return to the Mainzer Weg with a trainer who, like Klopp or Tuchel, comes from his own stable. Svensson is the final piece of the puzzle in the realignment. The hopes of an entire club rest on the 41-year-old, who internalized the club's DNA as a professional in 122 games. The return of sports director Christian Heidel and sports director Martin Schmidt had already given new confidence.

Heidel and Co. are "convinced" that Jan-Moritz Lichte's successor can create a real team from the group that has been lifeless for a long time. The new coach knows "how our football should feel", enthused Heidel: "We want to start a new project with Bo at Mainz 05. He is a piece of Mainz 05. He knows the path we want to go."

Svensson is considered to be a level-headed, calm and down-to-earth type, but who can also hit the table. It may be the right mix for the troubled environment. With "Mainz virtues", the team should ensure calm in the club. That means: defending forwards and switching quickly. "This is going to be tough," announced Svensson. At best already on Saturday (3.30 p.m. / Sky and in live ticker on ntv.de.) in the derby against Eintracht Frankfurt.

As with Klopp and Tuchel

In Mainz, he first sniffed Bundesliga air on the bench as Schmidt's assistant in the 2014/15 season. After four convincing years in the youth field, Svensson took the next step outside of his heart club – his departure to FC Liefering in summer 2019 hurt the 05er.

He remained connected to the city and the association, and his family continued to live in Mainz even after moving to Austria. "My kids went to school here. That played a big part," said Svensson. Now he's back because, as he often does, Heidel trusts the people he knows. It was like that with Klopp and Tuchel.