Two years at FSV
Two years after taking over as head coach of Bundesliga club FSV Mainz 05, Bo Svensson has admitted he had a lot to learn in Germany’s top flight. The Dane also commented on the regular rumors about a possible move to England.
“At first I had the feeling that it was best to do everything myself. Over time, I realized that if I keep going like this, I won’t be able to do the job for very long. I have to delegate work, have trust in employees and players, give them freedom,” said the 43-year-old in the “kicker” interview about his early days in Mainz. So it’s good for the players to listen to the other coaches – and to take responsibility themselves. “For example, the boys would like to start training with passing exercises. Then I say: Okay, even if I would have started with something else. In the beginning there was only: ‘My way or the highway’”, explained Svensson.
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The former defender said he regularly gets himself coached: “That’s important to me, because feedback from professional people is different from that of my wife or my friends. The more neutral look is good for me.” Svensson came to Mainz from the Austrian second division club FC Liefering at the beginning of January 2020. The fact that he has remained in office since then is “a reason to celebrate”: “That’s unusual in the Bundesliga. I’ve seen that I’m already in third place behind Christian Streich and Urs Fischer with this term of office.”
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When asked if he could imagine a future at FSV beyond his contract period (until 2024), Svensson said: “As long as I have the feeling: I’ve contributed everything I can and nothing more I have a lot to give.” He only needs “the here and now, not a career plan.” With his successful work, he has long since attracted the attention of other clubs, especially since Mainz have previously produced two international star coaches in Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel. However, unlike at other stations, he doesn’t feel at all that I should think about anything else. It may sound strange, but we still have enough work to do.”
Of course he would get media reports from England, for example: “Friends send me messages with question marks. So you can’t hide it and it flatters you too. But in the end everything is within limits and doesn’t influence my thinking too much – and hopefully not my self-perception.” Of course, a move to the island “could happen at some point. But I didn’t become a football coach to coach in the Champions League, in England or to coach Denmark. My motivation is to work intensively here every day and to take everything I experience with me. I’m not saying my life or my career is only fulfilling if I achieve this or that.”
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The financial component is also not decisive for him: “Of course, money makes this job so attractive because it makes you independent. It certainly has its appeal, but it’s not the main appeal. And this attraction would not be enough for me in the long run. That’s what I used to think as a player. I’m in a privileged situation and deserve a little something as a professional and as a coach. But I don’t need a hundred things. The money gives me the freedom, for example, to travel to South Africa on vacation, to enable my family to have a good life overall or to go out for something nice to eat. It’s not about the numbers on the bank statement, but about the possibilities and the added value.”
Mainz’ sports director Christian Heidel had already emphasized in December that under no circumstances should the head coach be let go prematurely: “But we would not be ready to talk to any other club.”
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