U19 coach Daniel Bauer on a “scar that will never fully heal”, finding a new home in the region and why being a good coach has nothing to do with tactics.
Daniel Bauer started his tenth season as a VfL Academy coach a few short weeks ago. Reflecting on a nine-year spell featuring league titles, talented youngsters and one or two tears, the U19 boss picks out his most memorable moments on and off the pitch and explains why it is much more important to be a nice person than a good tactician.
Daniel, do you remember when you first joined Wolfsburg in summer 2016?
Daniel Bauer: “Definitely. I was assistant coach of Hannover 96’s U23s from 2014 to 2016 – my first steps as a coach. I then got my first call from Fabian Wohlgemuth, who was director of the VfL Academy at the time. Thomas Reis, who had just become U19 head coach and with whom I’d played at Eintracht Trier in Bundesliga 2, got in touch shortly after that. We then held in-depth talks with Olaf Rebbe and Dieter Hecking, among others – it was almost like a little assessment centre. Wolfsburg were a good step ahead of Hannover at the time in terms of youth development. It was a big step for me.”
What were your expectations heading into your new job? Could you ever have imagined that we’d be sitting here today?
Daniel: “Honestly, no. Ten seasons – that’s an eternity in football, and we’re not from the region either. I’m from the Rhineland, my wife’s from Chemnitz. At the time, we’d never have imagined that we’d be living in Gifhorn and feeling at home here. Sometimes, though, everything just falls into place, professionally and privately.”
When you look back over the years, what were your biggest sporting and personal highlights?
Daniel: “There have been a great deal. Winning the title in my first year with the U19s, then the Regionalliga title with the U23s – they were major sporting achievements. The trips abroad were special, too: the Premier League International Cup, the Weifang Cup in China and the training camps in Florida and Abu Dhabi. And more recently, the two games as interim first-team coach alongside Kutsch (Julian Klamt) and Holmi (Tobias Holm), my two assistant coaches. That was an unforgettable moment, but the personal experiences I’ve had with the lads have been just as memorable, if not more so. Joint setbacks, memorable conversations, being with them on a daily basis – that’s what makes this job so special.”
Were there moments you found particularly painful too?
Daniel: “Oh yes, particularly the 3. Liga promotion play-off against Bayern Munich II in 2018/19. After winning 3-1 at home we thought the thing was nearly in the bag, but then we lost the return game 4-1. That was brutal. That defeat left a scar that will never fully heal.”
Which players’ development has impressed you in particular?
Daniel: “There are many. One example is Anton Stach. During my stint as interim first-team coach, he was on the opposite team when we played Hoffenheim at home. His development into a [Germany] international has been incredible. Then there’s Omar Marmoush, who arrived from Egypt as an unpolished, rough diamond and had a tough time at the start, having to fight for game time. Now he’s at Manchester City. A lot of other lads have also developed brilliantly, though, both as athletes and as people. That fills me with pride.”
I want to be a human being, first and foremost. The lads will play under a lot of skilled coaches in their careers. I’ve always found it important to be approachable and to be there for them, particularly when things aren’t going well in a sporting sense or in their personal lives. In the end, that kind of thing stays with you more than any training session.
Daniel BauerIf one of your players had to describe you in 20 years’ time, what would you like them to say about you?
Daniel: “I want to be a human being, first and foremost. The lads will play under a lot of skilled coaches in their careers. I’ve always found it important to be approachable and to be there for them, particularly when things aren’t going well in a sporting sense or in their personal lives. In the end, that kind of thing stays with you more than any training session.”
What are your ambitions for your anniversary season?
Daniel: “Personally, I want to tackle my Pro Licence. I haven’t been able to until now because of the new coaching rules, but I’ve now done the years I need. As for the sporting side, we have a very young team. For the first time, four players from the U17s are in the squad at the start of the season. Our aim is to develop the lads individually, play exciting attacking football and be as successful as possible as a team.”
