FC Bayern is further intensifying the dialogue between its youth department and the first team. The successful youth development of recent years is to be accelerated with even closer links between the campus and Säbener Straße.
Max Eberl: Provide the best possible conditions
"Very good work has been done at the Campus recently, as clearly evidenced by the increased number of homegrown players in our first-team squad," said board member for sport Max Eberl. "Our goal is to further optimise this cooperation with the help of even more intensive dialogue. We want to provide our young players with the best possible conditions to make their way in professional football."
Jochen Sauer: Convinced we'll be even more successful in future
Jochen Sauer, director of youth development and the Campus, also highlighted: "We're increasingly reaping the rewards of our good promotion of young talent." Proof of that: almost 40 percent of the graduates from the age groups 1999 to 2003 have made it in professional football. "I'm convinced we'll be even more successful in the future. Together with board member for sport Max Eberl, sporting director Christoph Freund and the new first-team coaching staff led by Vincent Kompany, we're doing everything to achieve that," added Sauer.
René Marić as link between first team & Campus
René Marić is also assistant coach of the first team since July
As part of this strengthened link with the professional department, some personnel adjustments have also been made for the new season. René Marić, who's been team leader for coach development & playing philosophy at the Campus since autumn 2023, has joined the first-team coaching staff. The 31-year-old will continue to work in his previous position for the Campus, thus acting as a link between the first team and youth department. "We have very good people at the Campus: coaches, staff and many highly talented players," said Marić. "I want to be a bridge, through which we can transport content to the Campus, but also so that people on Campus have someone to talk to."
Walter Gfrerer with club-wide remit
Walter Gfrerer has been head of performance at FC Bayern since July.
Walter Gfrerer started as head of performance at the German record champions this summer and, as well as the first team, is responsible for FC Bayern Women and youth players in this area. With this club-wide remit, it's about identifying "where we have potential and can build synergies and create the same processes for all areas", explained Gfrerer. In addition to fitness, this encompasses the performance diagnostics and the rehabilitative and individual training of players.
Andreas Rössl moves to pros' goalkeeping team
Andreas Rössl joins Michael Rechner's team of professional goalkeeping coaches for the new season.
Meanwhile, Andreas Rössl, who since his playing career with the FC Bayern reserves has been involved in goalkeeper coaching for the U15 teams and younger at the Campus as well as goalkeeper scouting in recent years, joins the team of professional goalkeeping coaches led by Michael Rechner for the new season.
Manuel Kainz takes over goalkeeper coaching for younger age groups
The goalkeeping team at the FC Bayern Campus: (from left) Simon Jentzsch, Manuel Kainz and Tom Starke
Rössl's role at the Campus as the goalkeeping coach for the younger youth teams is being taken over by Manuel Kainz. The 22-year-old former youth and reserves keeper (14 Regionalliga appearances) has decided after several injury problems to retire from playing. Kainz now completes the goalkeeping team at the Campus alongside Tom Starke (U19) and Simon Jentzsch (U17 and U16). "I'm really looking forward to this great new challenge and to being able to bring my experience from my long time at the Campus into my work with young goalkeepers," said the Munich native, who played for Bayern's youth teams for nine years in total.
The FC Bayern pros are currently preparing for the new season at Tegernsee:
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