“Spoken to a few clubs”
©IMAGO
Bo Svensson shaped 1. FSV Mainz 05 for years – first as a player, later as head coach. The Dane has been without a club since his involvement with Union Berlin ended at the end of 2024. In an interview with Transfermarkt.de he talks about his time out, influential companions like Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, his coaching philosophy and his future plans.
As a player, Svensson was the face of Rheinhessen for years and played for Mainz for a total of seven years. As a coach, he took over the head coaching position at the Zero Fives for almost three years before moving to 1. FC Union Berlin. Right from the start of the conversation, the 46-year-old made it clear that he was taking enough time for us – a fact that could have turned out differently under certain circumstances. After all, there have been increasing rumors about Werder Bremen and his person in recent weeks. But Svensson doesn’t want to spend long on this topic. From his experience as a player, he knows that a closed door can open up new opportunities elsewhere.
Bo Svensson on time off, Werder rumors and new energy
“Basically, I don’t want to comment on the topic. It’s true that I spoke to a few clubs during the break,” says Svensson, briefly and clearly when asked about the Werder issue. The Dane has been without a club for a year now – a time he has enjoyed very much. “I also think these breaks are nice to recharge the batteries and have time for other things. After my time in Mainz, we traveled as a family through Colombia and the USA, for example. But even during a commitment you have to consciously take rest times so that you can pass on strength and energy to your players. The life of a coach is very ambivalent. There are days when you are the celebrated hero, and on other days they want to throw you right out the door. You get to know yourself best in these extreme situations. “Through this sensory overload, you get to know your body and your emotions better and can channel them accordingly,” said the former Danish international.
Mainz 05 as a turning point: How Klopp and Tuchel shaped Svensson
His coaching career might have been different if he hadn’t found his way to Mainz as a player in 2007. As a professional at Borussia Mönchengladbach at the time, he was about to leave the Bundesliga and return to Denmark. “Of course I’ve already played through the sliding door principle and imagined what would have happened if I had stayed in Gladbach or returned to Denmark. But looking back, going to Mainz was a very good decision in my life,” says Svensson.
Bo Svensson in 2022 during his time at Mainz 05.
The then head coach Jürgen Klopp was responsible for the change. “Even though I hadn’t signed for Mainz yet, Kloppo personally picked me up from the airport. We then drove to his house and I spent the whole day with his family. This mixture of professionalism, relaxedness and absolute charisma immediately impressed me. After that day I knew: I wanted to go to Mainz,” remembers Svensson. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to play many games under Kloppo due to an injury, but he still influenced me. I realized that a coach’s personality can be transferred 100 percent to the game idea of a team. You often associate Kloppo with the nice person next door who likes to give you a hug – but he can also do other things. He demands and expects a lot, and in doing so he takes you to a completely different level.”
The connection between Mainz 05 and Bo Svensson developed into a close relationship. In a total of seven years he played 122 games for the zero fives. In particular, the away win against FC Bayern in the 2010/11 season will remain unforgettable for him. “A lot actually went wrong that day. We flew to Munich early in the morning. We left our day hotel too late, so we only had five minutes to change in the dressing room. So we were almost late to warm up. My shoes had also disappeared in the meantime. To make matters worse, I scored an own goal just before half-time. But this team had so much energy – we carried each other to victory,” says the 46-year-old with a laugh. The Mainz coach at the time was Thomas Tuchel – a coach who also influenced Svensson.
“When he was introduced back then, we thought: Should we go into the Bundesliga as promoted teams with a U19 coach? After a few sessions, however, we saw what clarity and quality Thomas brings. Every day he set new stimuli, the quality of training increased from year to year. In some cases, the exercise was our teacher and not the coach. His training was the constant search for improvement and perfection. Unfortunately, he never received the recognition he deserved in Germany,” emphasizes Svensson, remembering one with a laugh heated argument. “Thomas and I both have temperament and clear opinions. This led to us having heated verbal battles on several occasions. In one game I had to play as a right-back and he was constantly telling me from the outside how I should move. At some point I lost my temper and told him my opinion. This continued in the dressing room.”
Even as a player, the Dane not only dealt with classic football topics, but also looked outside the box and dealt intensively with philosophy. “I think life is too boring if you only think one-dimensionally. I always needed a balance from football. I’ve always been interested in topics like politics, philosophy or distant cultures. In many cultural areas you can find your personality reflected – be it in books or in art,” said the ex-professional.
Svensson’s success story at Mainz 05: staying in the league and moving on
After his active career ended, he went straight into coaching. His path led through Mainz 05’s youth team to Red Bull Salzburg’s youth ranks before he returned to Bruchweg in 2021 and took over the professional team. “Of course there were some challenges. Apart from the sporting situation, there were fundamental questions: What is the identity of Mainz 05? How do we communicate with each other? What pillars should the club stand on in the future? What should our DNA be? The early days were exciting and challenging on many levels,” the 46-year-old looks back.
At this point, the club was fighting to stay in the league and was in acute danger of relegation. Svensson made a few adjustments – with immediate success. Under him, the club not only managed to stay in the league, but also scored 32 points in the second half of the season – the best second half result in the club’s history. An upswing followed, during which Mainz narrowly missed out on international business the following season. “Nobody expected us at the beginning, but we in the coaching team were convinced of the quality and potential right from the start. I think the boys themselves didn’t know what they were capable of. Looking back, our 3-2 win against Leipzig was the starting signal for the optimism. Some players dragged themselves through with cramps until the final whistle. They fought until the end – and the fans suddenly had hope again. So something grew together,” says Svensson.
The human factor plays a central role in Svensson’s playing philosophy. He is convinced that he has to reach people first in order to then inspire the athlete. “The most exciting and difficult question in squad planning is not the individual transfer. What is crucial is to form a homogeneous team out of the players. Which types do you bring in and how do they fit together? Sometimes a single player can influence a team in a positive or negative sense. I am convinced that character is more important than just relying on athletic ability. That’s why my goal is: How do I manage to fully integrate the players so that they can perform at their best?”
When you look at the Bundesliga, you notice that many clubs rarely give young talents real chances. How can this be changed? Svensson, who helped players like Nelson Weiper and Brajan Gruda make their Bundesliga debut and developed players like Jonathan Burkardt and Leandro Barreiro, has a clear opinion. “Promoting talent is simple on the one hand, but complex on the other. In Scandinavian countries you rely on generating income through the sale of talent. In Germany it’s different. But Mainz and Freiburg show that it is possible to consistently promote talent. To do this, you have to be prepared to take this path even if it involves risks. You have to accept that young players have fluctuations in performance and make mistakes that may lead to defeat.”
On November 2, 2023, the 46-year-old experienced that there are not only positive sides to football. After a winless streak, Svensson decided to end his chapter in Mainz and submitted his resignation. “This decision was very difficult for me, but I made it with full conviction. I noticed that the energy that characterized me had diminished. I also felt that the team needed a new impulse,” says Svensson.
Union Berlin, setbacks and the question of failure
After a break of several months, he took over as coach at 1. FC Union Berlin for the 2024/25 season. A commitment from which both sides had high hopes. After a strong start and an eye towards international places, a dry spell followed. The Dane had to vacate his position after 16 games. “I really enjoyed my time at Union – especially with the team and at the home games with this special atmosphere. Of course I made mistakes, for example in the tactical area or with substitutions. But development also means setbacks. I tried to implement my concept consistently from the first to the last day. If you agree to stay in the league before the season and are released with a seven point lead in twelfth place – have you failed?” asks Svensson rhetorically.
Bo Svensson was most recently on the sidelines at Union Berlin.
Reflecting on his positions in Mainz and Berlin changed him as a coach. “At the beginning I thought it was all about tactics. Today I know how important leadership is. This includes clarity – in the communication, in the approach, in the game idea. Unfortunately, you quickly get pigeonholed: either good or bad. Without knowing the whole truth. But that is generally a social phenomenon.”
Even though the second half of the season has only just begun, planning for the new season is already underway in many places – often associated with changes in the coaching bench. At the end, Bo Svensson makes it clear that he is ready for a new task. “I love football, but being a coach fulfills me even more. I love developing something together with people and seeing how they grow. The coaching job is my inner drive and gives my life meaning. In short: I really want to return to the sidelines – if the project is right.”
Text and interview: Henrik Stadnischenko
