Lahm: Miroslav Klose resisting prevailing trends in German coaching at Nürnberg
Philipp Lahm wrote on October 15, 2026 in a column for The Guardian that his former teammate Miroslav Klose, now manager of Nürnberg, is bucking a trend in German coaching by prioritising consistency and identity in selection. Lahm notes Klose is in his third season at Nürnberg and that the club sit in a promotion spot in the 2. Bundesliga.
Lahm contrasts the approach he admires at elite clubs with patterns he sees elsewhere, arguing continuity and a stable core produce success. He points to Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Barcelona as examples where a core of six to eight players anchors the side, supported by a further three to five regular starters and four to six squad players. Lahm cites minute-distribution benchmarks — core players about 70–85%, remaining regulars 50–60%, squad players 40–45%, with fringe places sharing the remaining maximum of 20% — and says top teams stick to ball-oriented defending, rigid formations (typically 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1) and like-for-like substitutions. He adds that these clubs reserve fringe places for at least three young talents and names Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Luis Enrique as leading figures behind this Spanish-influenced coaching philosophy.
Lahm identifies three features he believes set Germany apart: a revival of man-marking, fewer chances for homegrown players despite costly academies, and a large number of managers without professional playing backgrounds who frequently change systems and player positions. He singles out Julian Nagelsmann as a prominent example of a coach who, in Lahm’s view, hampered development through constant, fundamental changes.
On Klose, Lahm recalls they shared the pitch in more than 80 international matches and describes him as a World Cup winner who was the tournament’s record goalscorer from 2014 until last summer. Lahm says Klose “carries the DNA of a great manager” and that he applies methods that lead to success by avoiding overcomplication, sticking to a core system and rarely altering his starting XI.
Lahm details how Klose has constructed a stable nucleus at Nürnberg: winger Mohamed Zoma and attacking midfielder Julian Justvan receive about 90% of the playing time, central midfielder Finn Ole Becker had about 80% before a recent injury, and defensive midfielder Adam Markhiev is almost ever-present when fit. Klose rebuilt his defence after summer transfers and appears to have settled on a back four, has given academy graduates Tim Janisch and Eric Porstner sustained opportunities despite mistakes, and since the turn of the year the young striker Piet Scobel has featured every week.
Lahm highlights organisational choices that reflect club identity: Klose appointed local Franconian goalkeeper Jan Reichert as captain, and Lahm says the manager’s position at Nürnberg is finally occupied in a way that allows something substantial to grow. He adds that the club, colloquially known as Der Club, has been stuck in the second tier since 2014 bar a single season but is again capitalising on its location and support.
Lahm underlines Nürnberg’s historical and structural context: only Bayern Munich have won more German league titles, club legend Max Morlock scored Germany’s first goal in a World Cup final in 1954, the city of Nuremberg has some 550,000 inhabitants and a large metropolitan catchment area with little local competition, the club’s stadium holds 50,000 and is due for modernisation, and the club remains a traditional, member-owned institution with a loyal fanbase.
Lahm concludes that Klose’s steady methods and selection consistency have allowed Nürnberg to build stability and that the side are occupying a promotion place in the 2. Bundesliga under his stewardship.