The FC Bayern World Squad campaign starts again. Young talents from all around the globe come together, not only to grow on the pitch, but also to live team spirit, discipline and passion across borders. Roy Makaay and Diego Contento will once again be the coaching duo in the dugout. The two talk about their expectations, goals and personal impressions ahead of the start of the Class of ‘25. What do they take from last season? How is their cooperation working? What significance does the World Squad have beyond sport?
Roy and Diego, what do you take from your time as coaches of the Class of ‘24 for the next season, and is there anything you’ll approach differently this time?
Roy Makaay: “What I take is the experience with the players and that it’s always good to have players from last year at the beginning. This time we have four who have helped start the process because they know the procedure. What will be different is that I won’t be able to show a lot on the training pitch because of rehab after my cruciate ligament rupture, I’ll do more verbally.”
Diego Contento: “It was a great experience for me, I’d like to thank Roy again for everything. I’m glad I’m part of it again, I’m looking forward to the new task and the new players.”
How does your collaboration work on and off the pitch?
Roy Makaay: “Diego is a new coach and did a very good job last year. He can learn from the experience. At the end of the day I’m responsible of course, but we discuss every decision, and I know from the last two years we’re usually on the same page. I may be the official head coach, but at the end of the day we do it together – not only the two of us but all the staff.”
The squad has been finalised and includes both new faces and a few returnees. How does the scouting and selection process work and what are your priorities?
Roy Makaay: “I think I had watched more than 250 videos before there was a call and everyone presented a list with names per position. In the end we even agreed on the order, with the exception of one position, which shows we all look at the players straightaway.”
You’ll travel to China this year. Diego, what are your expectations for the friendlies, the cultural exchange and the country as such?
Diego Contento: “I think the conditions are top-notch. Getting to know something else will surely be fun for the players too. I was in Shanghai a few weeks ago, the people there are very cordial, and I think the people there will do everything for us to have perfect pitches.”
Roy Makaay: “The first two weeks are important, the players must try to form a team despite the language barrier. The last two years showed you can achieve a lot if a team is on the pitch. Everybody knows results aren’t the most important thing to me. But when I see how much fun the lads have when they win a game, it’s a lot of fun for a coach of course.”
The duel with the FC Bayern U19s will be staged at the end again this year. How do you rate the new team’s chances?
Roy Makaay: “We can’t rate it because we only know the four lads from last year, they’ll have to show what’s in them again. There’s no pressure for the match against the U19s. Usually the U19s and the other teams we meet in friendlies and who’ve been training together for years must win against an assembled team. For us it’s about improving the players by one or two percent and form a team that can stand their ground against the U19s. But everything’s possible.”
What does the project mean to you personally compared to your previous stations in football?
Diego Contento: “Last year it was my first spell as a coach, and Roy is a legend, I think. It’s fun to work with him, and I can learn a lot from him as a person, off the pitch to. I think the second year will be even better than the first one because I’m more experienced now. I’m looking forward to the project with Roy, Bernd Dreher and the staff, Shanghai and the six weeks we’ll spend together.”
Roy Makaay: “It’s my third year now, so it’s an honour I was asked again. It’s still a lot of fun, especially with my former colleagues, and I have a great staff. I’m looking forward to it, and I hope there’ll be surprises again, like with Maycon last year. It’s a big compliment to have a player at the Campus, and I hope that’ll be the case again this year.”
The journey for the FC Bayern World Squad 2025 has begun, and you can follow everything in our live blog and on Instagram (@fcbayernpathway). A three-part film will give you insights behind the scenes and feature the stories and persons of the team.
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