Interview: Dante on returning to FC Bayern and his role as head coach of the reserves

From treble winner to youth coach: Dante is back at FC Bayern – this time in the dugout. Following a long career as a professional player and an intense spell at Nice, the Brazilian moved straight into his new role as head coach of the reserves. In an interview with fcbayern.com, the 42-year-old chats about his early dream of becoming a coach, the years during which he meticulously worked on obtaining his coaching licences and undertook further training alongside his playing career, and why, for him, professionalism and humanity are inextricably linked. Dante also explains how he gives young players responsibility and freedom, the role one-to-one conversations play for him during training camp – and why Munich still feels like home to him.

Dante – The interview

Dante, you’d only just been through the cup final and the play-offs with Nice, and then you came straight to Munich with hardly a break. After such a long career, many people would have taken some time out first. Why was it clear to you that you wanted to start coaching straight away?
"I was just absolutely delighted to have this opportunity. Bayern is a special club for me and Munich feels like a second home. I’ve always wanted to come back to Germany. I’ve always liked the Bundesliga. Even back when I first came to Europe as a player, playing in Germany was a major goal for me. Many Brazilian players, such as Rafinha, Élber, Ailton and Lincoln, played in the Bundesliga back then. So when the opportunity arose to work with the Bayern reserves, I didn’t have to think twice. Of course, I could have taken some time out after my playing career. But this opportunity at this club and the chance to work with young players was simply too special. I’m very grateful for that.”

When did you first feel the desire to become a coach?
"I can still remember it very clearly. It was in February 2011, under Lucien Favre at Borussia Mönchengladbach. He explained the game to me in a completely different way. Suddenly, I wanted to understand so much more – why we do certain things, why we train the way we do, and how I could convey his ideas to my teammates on the pitch. Back then, I immediately thought: ‘You’ve got to become a coach one day.’ Later, at Bayern, I spoke to Pep Guardiola about it. He encouraged me and said I had what it takes. Of course, I still wanted to enjoy my playing career at the time, but the thought of pursuing a career in coaching was always there.”

You spent years working towards your coaching qualifications while still a player. Now you’re head coach. Does it feel how you imagined it would?
"Yes, actually, it does. Of course, it’s a different kind of workload. As a player, you might spend four or five hours at the training ground. As a coach, that can easily turn into 12 hours. But that’s exactly what I’ve been preparing for. For the past seven years, I’ve used every spare minute to get my coaching licences. Every time the holidays came round, I had to make a choice: do I enjoy my free time, or do I invest it in my training? I still remember clearly how I first spent a few days’ holiday in Brazil and then flew to Wales for ten days to continue my training. Then back again. It wasn’t always easy, but I always knew why I was doing it. During my playing career, I didn’t just train and play. I was constantly observing as well. Why is the coach doing this particular drill? Why this analysis? Why is he making this decision? I rang lots of coaches, asked them questions and tried to learn as much as possible. Today, I realise that all that effort was worth it.”

And now you’re back in Germany. How are you settling in – including with the language?
"I’ve been listening to lots of German football podcasts over the past few weeks to get back into the language. It’s really helped me. And even after just the first two weeks, I can already tell that a lot of it is coming back. It’s getting better every day. My speech is becoming more natural and I’m feeling more and more confident."

How does it feel to be wearing the Bayern crest on your chest again?
“To be perfectly honest: I feel at home. When I returned here, I was initially a bit nervous. But as soon as I stepped onto the training pitch, that feeling came flooding back straight away. I knew: this is the right place. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. Being back here is something special. Now I want to do everything I can to help the players, support them on their journey and pass on to them some of the things I’ve learnt during my own career.”

You’ve played under some of the best coaches in the world. What have you taken away from that experience to apply to your own work today?
"I learnt something from every coach. Pep Guardiola was exceptional when it came to tactics. He showed me just how detailed football can be and how important every little thing is. From Jupp Heynckes, I learnt above all how to deal with people. He had incredible empathy and knew exactly how to bring a team together. For me, that’s one of the most important lessons: a coach is, first and foremost, a person. Of course, tactics and training are part of the job, but it’s just as important to understand people, build trust and lead a group in the same direction. Naturally, there were also coaches where I saw things and thought: that’s not how I want to do it later on. You learn from that too. Ultimately, every coach played their part in my development.”

What sort of coach would you like to be yourself?
“I hope that one day the players will say: ‘He always gave his all for us. He helped us to improve – not just as footballers, but also as people.’ Of course we want to win. That’s what we work towards every day. But my main aim is to develop the players. If we make each and every one of them better, our chances of success will automatically increase. Development and results go hand in hand. I want my team to play with passion, take responsibility and always be ready to learn.”

You’re now working with a very young squad. Some of the players never actually saw you play for Bayern. How does that make you feel?
“Of course, some of them know me from my playing days in Munich, whilst others don’t. But that’s not what matters at all. It’s not important that they know me as a former footballer. What matters is that they get to know me as a coach and trust me. We have to build that trust together. I can certainly help the defenders in particular, drawing on my own experience. But ultimately, the only thing that will count is what we build together today.”

Have the lads asked you about your playing career yet, despite all that?
"A few have, of course. But to be honest, I don’t really want to talk that much about titles or big matches. What’s much more important to me is the question of why I was able to play football at this level for so long. That’s the experience I want to pass on. I want to explain to the lads how important being professional is. Nutrition, sleep, recovery, concentration – all of that is part of this profession. As a footballer at this level, there’s really only one way to live. If you want to be successful, you have to devote yourself entirely to football. You can’t let yourself get distracted. Talent is important, but talent alone isn’t enough. You have to be prepared to work hard every day and push yourself to the limit.”

In training, too, you provide the lads with guidance, but you consciously give them the freedom to make their own decisions in many drills. Why is that important to you?
"Because football isn’t a science. Of course, we give the players guidelines and a clear plan, but they have to make their own decisions and find their own solutions. Attacking players, in particular, need freedom. They have to be brave, take risks, dribble with the ball and be creative. Up front, taking risks is simply part of the game. There’s one thing that’s essential, though: conviction. If you do something, you have to believe in it. Nothing works in football without conviction. It’s important to me that the players take responsibility and don’t just wait for the coach to sort out every situation. That’s exactly how they develop.”

You also convey this to the lads in many one-to-one conversations. What role do these days at the training camp play for you?
"A very big one. Training camps aren't just about football. Of course we do train a lot, but we also spend the whole day together. We eat together, talk about all sorts of things and get to know each other as people – both the players and the staff. That’s incredibly important, especially at the start. Trust isn’t just built on the pitch. It’s also built through those little chats in between. I want to know how the players think, what makes them tick and what’s on their minds. Only by building this trust can we go on to be successful together later on. I’ve already learnt a great deal about the lads over the last few days. They’re focused in their work, they’re full of energy and they’re keen to improve. I’ve really enjoyed that, and we can build on it further in the coming weeks.”

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