Hermann Gerland bows out of football

If you asked Hermann Gerland, he’d probably say it was a gift from God: his eyes. This extraordinary vision for who’s genuinely a talent and who isn’t. Who’s going to make it and who isn’t.
Gerland has this vision.

He first came to FC Bayern in 1990, taking charge of the reserve team. After stints in Nuremberg, Berlin, Bielefeld and Ulm, he returned to Säbener Straße in 2001 – and from there on he shaped an era. For eight years from 2009, he was assistant first-team coach and worked alongside Jupp Heynckes, Louis van Gaal, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti. Later he led the academy. “When he watches games for us, I can rely 100 percent on his judgement. His analyses are often a pleasure,” ex-Bayern boss Hansi Flick once said. 

Made from ashes

Gerland was born four weeks before the 1954 World Cup final as the oldest of four siblings in a miners area. His father died from a heart attack at the age of 39, when Hermann was just nine years old. “We were very, very poor, so from then on I had to look after my siblings,” Gerland explained once. His youngest brother was two. He received some well-worn football boots from a friend, and when his friend went away for the summer holidays, Hermann Gerland's world temporarily fell apart: Martin owned the only football. Every day they would go out into the fields until the sun went down.

Later, when friends from the miners estate went out partying, Gerland preferred to stay at home. “I want to become a professional,” he knew. Growing up on ashes, it was less his technique than his tenacity and toughness that made this dream come true. Gerland recounted how his grandmother regularly scrubbed the ash from his open wounds, causing him excruciating pain, because Hermann, a hard defender, had bare knees again. But in 1972, he rose to the sooty skies of the Ruhr region when coach Heinz Höher brought him on as a substitute for the first time at VfL Bochum: the Bundesliga, the relegation battle, Castroper Straße – everything was made for Gerland. He went on to play well over 200 Bundesliga matches for Bochum.

Remained the big brother

Gerland has also been the protector, the big brother on the field throughout his life. His team-mates named him ‘oak tree’ because he remained standing when others fell. It was only later that he became the ‘Tiger’, coined by a Bochum journalist. Gerland still doesn’t know why to this day – perhaps it was the way he threw himself into tackles.

He was the oak tree in the Bochum defence until 1984, then Gerland discovered his special eye in his role as coach. In the 1987/88 season, his Bochum team came extremely close to the biggest triumph in the club’s history, when the Blue-Whites lost 1-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Cup final. A trophy with his VfL eluded him – but he went on to collect many in Munich, including eight Bundesliga titles, five DFB Cup wins and two Champions League titles.

In July 1990, he joined the FC Bayern reserves before being promoted to assistant coach of the first team. At that time, the likes of Toni Schumacher, Hansi Pflügler, Jan Wouters and Alan McInally were on the pitch. During his time with the German record champions, Gerland discovered and formed numerous talents: Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Holger Badstuber, Thomas Müller, Mats Hummels, David Alaba, Piotr Trochowski, Zvjezdan Misimovic and most recently Jamal Musiala – they all graduated from his school, shaped by passion, clear lines, heading pendulums and pithy sayings.

‘Then I’ll become a waterpolo coach’

He demanded a lot – more than others. And recognised early: “I’ve got one, he’s 15 but plays like he’s 30.” He was referring to Philipp Lahm. No Bundesliga coach wanted to loan him. Gerland said to his wife: “Gudrun, if he doesn’t become a great player, then I’ll give my licence back and become a waterpolo coach.” His vision rarely deceived him. He briefly hesitated over a young Leon Goretzka, but Peter Herrmann reassured him: “Hermann, your eyes are fine.”

Recently, the German Football Association wanted to benefit from his experience. In 2022, Gerland travelled to a World Cup for the first time as assistant coach in Qatar. Just a few weeks ago, he collected a silver medal as assistant at the European Under-21 Championship. Now, at the age of 71, Hermann Gerland has drawn a line under football. “I’m looking forward to having more time for my wife and grandchildren now, they should have some of their grandad,” he said in his farewell. “And I’m sure I’ll stay connected to football. On that note: good luck!” added Gerland, who received the Bavarian Order of Merit on Wednesday.

Few coaches have had the influence on German football that Gerland has – with his manner, with his work, with his instinct and his eyes. He doesn’t want to be on the training pitch anymore. “Now I want to go trekking with my grandchildren.”