“Talent alone isn’t enough”: Dante explains his mission at Bayern | OneFootball

With Dante, FC Bayern has brought back an old acquaintance to Säbener Straße as coach of the amateur team. In an interview with kicker, the former treble winner talks about his coaching philosophy, the influence of Pep Guardiola and Jupp Heynckes, and his goals at the Campus.

Dante has been the new head coach of Bayern’s amateur team since mid-June. The former center back, who won the treble with FC Bayern in 2013, succeeds Holger Seitz and is tasked with advancing the development of young players going forward.

For the Brazilian, returning to Munich brought things full circle.

“I always wanted to come back to Germany,” Dante explained in an interview with *kicker*. Munich had long since become his “second home.” When the opportunity arose to take over the record champions’ U23 team, he “didn’t have to think twice.”

Guardiola and Heynckes shaped Dante

The desire to become a coach himself arose as early as his playing days. Lucien Favre played a decisive role in this during their time together at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Later, Dante gained further valuable experience under Pep Guardiola and Jupp Heynckes. “Pep showed me just how detailed soccer can be and how important every little thing is. From Jupp Heynckes, I learned above all how to deal with people,” the 42-year-old explained.

Dante also revealed that Guardiola had encouraged him early on to pursue a career in coaching: “He motivated me and told me I had what it takes.”

Player development is the focus

Photo: IMAGO

For Dante, his new role isn’t primarily focused on the team’s position in the standings. “I hope that someday the players will say: He always gave his all for us. He helped us become better—not just as soccer players, but also as people,” emphasized the Brazilian.

He takes a holistic approach. For him, professionalism means far more than just tactics and training. Nutrition, sleep, recovery, and focus are just as crucial as the daily willingness to push oneself to the limit. “Talent is important, but talent alone isn’t enough. You have to be ready to work hard every day,” Dante made clear.

Trust Instead of Authority

Dante doesn’t want to use his successful playing career as a means of exerting pressure. “It’s not important that they know me as a former soccer player. What’s important is that they get to know me as a coach and trust me,” explained the new U23 coach.

To build a rapport with his team as quickly as possible, Dante used the training camp at Walchsee, among other opportunities, to hold numerous one-on-one conversations. His goal is to get to know the players not only on the field but also as people.

His first impressions have him feeling optimistic: “They’re focused, they have energy, and they want to improve. I really liked that.”

With his blend of humanity, professionalism, and international experience, Dante will help guide Bayern’s next generation of talents into professional soccer.