My old teammate Miroslav Klose is bucking a trend in German coaching | Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm argues that consistency, a settled core and a clear playing identity remain central to success in modern football. He says many German clubs and coaches depart from that approach, while Miroslav Klose, now managing Nürnberg, is an exception who values continuity.
Lahm points to PSG, Arsenal and Barcelona as examples of teams built around six to eight core players, supported by regular starters and squad players; he estimates a squad backbone of about 16. He says German football stands apart through renewed man-marking, limited chances for homegrown players and frequent tactical changes by many coaches without professional playing careers. Drawing on more than 80 international matches alongside Klose, Lahm presents his former teammate’s experience as a source of a steadier coaching approach.
- Lahm says settled teams and continuity underpin success.
- He sees German coaching as unusually prone to tactical change.
- Klose is presented as an experienced exception at Nürnberg.
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Miroslav Klose is a former Germany striker who now manages Nürnberg, a club in German football’s second division. Philipp Lahm, a former Germany captain who played more than 80 international matches alongside him, says Klose’s coaching is shaped by the value of a settled team and a clear style of play.
Lahm argues that successful teams often rely on a core group of six to eight players, within a regular squad of about 16. He says many German clubs change tactics frequently and give limited opportunities to homegrown players, while Klose is unusual in placing greater emphasis on continuity.
The debate matters because it concerns how clubs build teams and develop players over time. Lahm’s comparisons with Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Barcelona offer one view of what helps teams succeed; they do not, on their own, establish that the same approach works everywhere.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A settled core and a consistent playing identity can help teams build trust, sharpen understanding and perform reliably over a long season. Lahm’s examples suggest that continuity can coexist with squad depth, while Klose’s playing experience may help him give players a clear, stable framework.
The case against
Modern football’s demands can make frequent adaptation valuable: tactical changes may respond to opponents, injuries or shifts in form, and a broader rotation can keep a squad competitive. Giving more homegrown players opportunities and drawing on coaches with varied backgrounds may also renew teams and widen the pool of ideas, even if it means less continuity.