In our series about the FC Bayern coaching staff over the coming days, we present head coach Vincent Kompany's assistants to you in more detail. In part 4 it's goalkeeping coach Michael Rechner, who has been at the German record champions since February 2023. Find the other profiles below:
A. Danks F. N'Galula R. Marić M. Rechner W. Gfrerer/B. Geers
Michael Rechner operates in a particularly exciting environment at FC Bayern: on the one hand, the goalkeeping coach works with one of the most experienced and successful goalkeeping teams in the world on a daily basis, while on the other, he also manages the balancing act of integrating young talent into training time and time again: "Both Manuel Neuer and Sven Ulreich are extremely positive when it comes to integrating young players. They give the boys a lot of feedback and tips," says Rechner: “We have a very good development atmosphere in which everyone benefits from one another.”
At FC Bayern since the beginning of 2023
This has been the 44-year-old's daily routine at the German record champions since the start of 2023: "It means a lot to me to work for the biggest club in Germany and one of the biggest clubs in the world," says Rechner, who used to be a talented goalkeeper himself. He played for the Germany U18s and made seven appearances in the second tier for Waldhof Mannheim. Rechner later completed a degree in sports science and began working as a goalkeeping coach at TSG Hoffenheim in 2008. "I worked there for 15 years. From 2021 to 2023, I was also simultaneously the Turkish national team goalkeeping coach."
Michael Rechner in training at FC Bayern: "We have a very good development atmosphere in which everyone benefits from one another."
During his time in the Kraichgau region, Rechner also launched his "Goalkeeping Development" project, whose goalkeeping-specific software is now used by many international professional and amateur clubs: "It's a platform designed to help with training planning, analysis and match documentation. The project has been around for over ten years and helps me in my day-to day work," he explains.
The search for the recipe for success
The exchange of knowledge with other keepers goes beyond football - in April, Rechner organised a workshop with the goalkeepers of FC Bayern and Mattias Andersson, goalkeeping coach of the German national handball team and record handball champions THW Kiel. "Looking beyond your horizons to other sports and exchanging ideas with successful athletes and coaches is very important," says Rechner: "It's all about: How do you become successful, how do you stay successful? The same principles often apply across all sports and you can learn a lot in that respect."
Rechner now heads into his next season at FC Bayern full of vigour: "I'm really looking forward to the new season, it's been a long break. We have a new coaching team with a lot of positive energy."
Series continues
Our series continues with the next part tomorrow, when we introduce you to Walter Gfrerer and Bram Geers in more detail: Find out how the new head of performance intends to energise his club-wide remit and how athletics coach Geers met Vincent Kompany. Watch this space!
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