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And coach too
And coach too - Dante in '51' interview
In 2013, defender Dante celebrated the treble with his cult song "Und Pokal auch" ("And the cup too"). Now he's back at Säbener Straße: as coach of the Bayern reserve team . In an interview with members’ magazine 51 , he speaks about his new job, key role models and what he wants to stand for as a coach.
Interview with Dante
Dante, you said to us in Nice in 2024 that you were dreaming of one day coming back to FC Bayern as a coach. Has it happened quicker than you thought? Dante: “I said that as more of a joke at the time. I never would’ve thought that I’d actually be back as coach now, two years later. But I’m thrilled, full of energy and very grateful for this opportunity. I want to develop my players and I’ll do my best to do that.”
How did your return come out? “I know Max Eberl from Gladbach. We met a while ago and got talking. I explained that I wanted to become a coach and that I was doing my coaching badges at the time. Max found it all interesting – and then he got in touch and asked what I thought about becoming coach of the Bayern reserves. I said yes immediately.”
Now you’re back at Säbener Straße. How does it feel for you? “It’s emotional. A lot of memories come flooding back – of what we achieved together. It warms my heart.”
Your role is different now: you’re coach, not player. What does that change for you? “As a player, you’re primarily concerned with yourself. As a coach, you have to have an eye on everything: the individual players, the team, the staff, the organisation, the environment. You’re constantly thinking: who’s doing what? What do I want to communicate to the boys? What’s the purpose of each exercise? Does it fit with my playing philosophy? There are so many topics, so it’s important to remain clear in your mind. I put a lot of focus on values, attitude and mentality. That helps us to pull together in the same direction.”
A few months ago, you were still playing for Nice. How hard is it for you not to be kicking the ball in training anymore? “It still gives me a sense of pleasure to have the ball at my feet and also show the boys a thing or two. That’s part of it. However, I felt it was the right moment to end my playing career. I’m 42 and have enjoyed football on the pitch for a long time. Now the time has come for me to follow football from the sidelines.”
We know Dante the player – always with a smile, always with music. What’s Dante the coach like? “Dante is still Dante. I think it’s important to be authentic. I’m a positive person, even under pressure or when things aren’t going as planned. But obviously, it’s an adjustment for me. As a player, you might go for something to eat after a game, listen to music and have fun. As a coach, it’s immediately into the analysis: what did we do well? What not? What do we want to work on in the coming days? There’s always something to plan, to organise, to do.”
A coach has to correct, set boundaries and sometimes make tough decisions. How do you deal with that? “I’m a coach who wants to motivate his players – in every drill, in every session, in every match. But at the heart of it is honesty. I want to always speak the truth to the boys and the people around me. If, for example, someone’s ever not training with the required intensity, I’ll tell him that. I place great value on seriousness and professionalism.”
Why is honesty such a central point for you? “Because as a coach you should only have one face, a clear line. You can’t say one thing today, something else tomorrow and something different again the next day. You’ll lose the dressing room then.”
Have you experienced that as a player yourself? “I’ve seen what happens when players notice that a coach isn’t telling the truth. Or when he only motivates you because he needs you at that moment. Every player is important for me – not just the 11 who start, or the 18 who are in the matchday squad. Obviously I don’t coach everyone the same way. The boys are different: some are quieter, some louder. And there are differences in how I get my message across depending on the personality.”
What was the first thing you said to your team? “I spoke about the Bayern mentality, about what it means to play for Bayern. I want players who believe in themselves, who are focussed and disciplined, who are willing to give everything. They have to be ready to work hard every day. My objective is to help every individual along – as a person and as a player. I’m an open kind of guy, my players know they can always come to me. I’m always there for them.”
What does Dante’s football look like? “There are a few things that are non-negotiable for me: intensity, aggression, mentality, concentration, respect. I want a team who are brave on the ball, who want to attack, who are organised and control the game.”
A question to a former defensive linchpin: do you prefer to score lots of goals or concede few? “We need a balance. Preferably score lots of goals and at the same time be well organised defensively. Easy, right ( laughs )?”
You had a long and successful career, playing until you were 42. Has anything still surprised you in your coaching education? “I never really thought about how many decisions a coach has to make. It’s not just about the starting line-up but many, many other things – on and off the pitch. As a coach, you’re certainly at the training ground for at least twice as long as the players. I never really realised that.”
The idea of becoming a coach started for you at Gladbach – with Lucien Favre. What did he spark? “He spoke with me a lot. We often stood in his office in front of the tactics board and he explained what his plan was. He wanted to know what I thought of it. We moved player magnets around and swapped ideas, which I really enjoyed. He also explained to me what he thinks about in a training drill, ...
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