Osieck mentors student coaches
Thursday, May 5, 2016
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Holger Osieck, part of West Germany's FIFA World Cup-winning staff in 1990, has shared his experiences from almost four decades of coaching with student coaches in Nyon.
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Experienced German coach Holger Osieck has shared his experiences with pro licence students on the latest exchange course in Nyon.
An assistant coach to Franz Beckenbauer as West Germany lifted the FIFA World Cup in 1990, Osieck discussed the role of the assistant. He has also celebrated numerous successes as a head coach, winning the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup with Canada and lifting the AFC Champions League with Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds in 2007.
Drawing on experience in France, Turkey, Japan, Australia and Canada, he was also able to inform student coaches from four of UEFA's member associations about the challenges of coaching in different cultures in an interview with UEFA's head of football education services, Frank Ludolph.
On the role of the coach
"There are so many areas to focus on with technical, training, team interactions, the evolution of players and so on. There are also the psychological elements of leading a team and of making your own development as a coach: to be the leader of the pack, have a vision and to think of how you convey that to the people around you."
On making compromises
"It's important to make compromises as a coach but without losing who you are. Be clear about what your vision is for a team because people around you can quickly pick up on any flip-flopping or insecurities."
On the role of the assistant coach
"It's as important as ever. The assistant coach should have loyalty towards the head coach and also be able to keep matters private and confidential for the head coach but also for the players. The assistant is in a unique position of needing to keep the trust of them all as the intermediary in the club, but communication skills are important."
