1. FC Nürnberg have appointed Robert Klauß as the permanent successor to Jens Keller as coach.
The 35-year-old comes from RB Leipzig, where he had most recently served as assistant coach to Julian Nagelsmann as well as Ralf Rangnick before him.
Klauß had in fact been associated with Rasenballsport throughout its entire existence, having been a player for SSV Markranstädt, whose licence they had bought out in 2009.
He became a youth coach in 2010, going on to serve as head coach for the under-17s, under-19s and second team before being involved in the first team.
He replaces Keller who was sacked after the club finished 16th in the 2. Bundesliga last season. Michael Wiesinger, along with Marek Mintal, just about guided Der Club to safety in the resulting play-off against Ingolstadt.
The appointment comes three days after Dieter Hecking was installed as Sportsvorstand, and he appears to have beaten the likes of Markus Weinzierl, Dimitrios Grammozis and Marek Mintal to the role.
“Robert is a courageous trainer with fresh and innovative methods,” said Hecking on the club website. He notes how Klauß “was able to work independently and contribute his ideas under various head coaches” at Leipzig and believes his appointment is “a great opportunity for both sides.”
Klauß himself says that he “don’t take the chance of being able to switch to a club as big as 1. FC Nürnberg as head coach as a matter of course.” He says that they now have to “use every hour of the day…. to really give everything for the club,” and that Hecking was a “decisive reason” for choosing to come.
Klauß will be formerly unveiled by the club on Monday, a day after taking his first training session with his new team. Absent will be Patrick Erras, who signed for Werder Bremen on Thursday.
2liga.net 