Brighton are set to pull off what appears quite the coup by luring Daniel Niedzkowski from the German FA to the Amex Stadium.
Niedzkowski has led the DFB Fussball-Lehrer-Ausbildung since 2018. This is not a phrase covered by GCSE German in English schools, compared with being able to say you have two sisters, a pet rabbit and like going to the cinema with your friends. So let WAB translate…
DFB Fussball-Lehrer-Ausbildung is effectively the German FA’s version of the UEFA Pro Licence. But with a twist. Just 20 coaches are accepted onto the course per year. It is an exclusive club of the brightest and best.
And the success rate of those who undertake the Football Education Course is phenomenal, going all the way back to when it was first set up in 1947. That means it predates the Bundesliga, which was only founded in 1963.
Hennes Weisweiler trained coaches on the DFB Fussball-Lehrer-Ausbildung between 1957 and 1970 before going onto win four Bundesliga titles, three DFB Pokals and a UEFA Cup with Borussia Monchengladbach and FC Koln. The facility where the course is run was renamed the Hennes-Weisweiler-Academy in his honour in 2005.
Graduates whom the older amongst you may remember include Jupp Heynckes, Berti Vogts and Bernd Schuster. Modern graduates include Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, Hansi Flick, Marco Rose, Joachim Low, Ralf Rangnick and Julian Nagelsmann.
All of those completed the 11-month course before Niedzkowski became the head coach for head coaches. One of the most successful managers to qualify during Niedzkowski’s tenure is a certain Fabian Hurzeler, who earned his Pro Licence in 2022 and took over as St Pauli boss six months later.
The Youngest Permanent Head Coach in Premier League History is not the only link between Brighton and Daniel Niedzkowski.
Those of a squeamish disposition may wish to look away now, as Niedzkowski also worked as an assistant at Bayer Leverkusen to Sami Hyypia.
We can forgive Niedzkowski that association with the Hyypia, given the esteem Hurzeler clearly holds his former course leader in.
So much so that Niedzkowski was reportedly under consideration to become Hurzeler’s number two before the Albion opted for Jonas Scheuermann from Augsburg.
In another sign of how highly Brighton rate Niedzkowski, they will have to pay compensation to the German FA to secure Niedzkowski’s services.
Not only is he under a long-term contract, but he combines his position at the DFB Fussball-Lehrer-Ausbildung with the role of Germany Under 21s assistant manager.
Hurzeler himself coached German age group teams before moving to St Pauli, working as assistant with the Under 18s and Under 20s.
Talks began between the Albion, the DFB and Niedzkowsku in October and according to SportBild are as good as done.
The German sports website describe Niezkowski moving to the Albion as “a heavy blow for the coaching training at the DFB”.
SportBild also revealed the far reaching role Niezkowski will have at Brighton. He will support Hurzeler in first team matters, improve the pathway from youth team to professional football and perhaps most interestingly build coaching structures.
Brighton have appointed a number of former players to coaching roles in recent seasons. Nathan Jones and Andrew Crofts have both become first team coaches.
Ben Roberts and Casper Ankergren worked in the goalkeeping departments. Gary Dicker is with the Under 21s and Inigo Calderon is Under 18s head coach.
The Albion have also made signings with one-eye on that individual’s post-playing career. Adam Lallana was brought in on an initial three-year contract from Liverpool because Brighton saw his potential as a coach. Unfortunately, Lallana opted to move back to Southampton.
James Milner was signed for the same reasons and Danny Welbeck will surely have a coaching career with the Albion if that is what he wishes once his playing days are over.
Bringing a bloke with six years experience running the DFB Fussball-Lehrer-Ausbildung to Brighton can turn the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre into a place which develops top class coaches as well as players.
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