When Bo Henriksen joined Mainz final 12 months, they have been 9 factors from security with 13 video games of the Bundesliga season remaining. Not solely did he hold them up however now he has them chasing Champions League soccer in his first full season in cost.
It’s a unprecedented story however then Henriksen is a unprecedented man. The 50-year-old Dane, as soon as a striker in English soccer’s decrease leagues with Kidderminster Harriers and Bristol Rovers, has been known as loopy by certainly one of his greatest gamers and a genius by his boss.
What’s plain is that he’s doing one thing particular at Mainz. This membership is famed for being coached by Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel however neither completed within the prime 4. Now, a workforce languishing final season are simply two factors off it with 4 video games to play.
How has Henriksen accomplished it?
“By taking away the fear,” he tells Sky Sports activities. “I needed to take that away instantly and create a tradition the place individuals dared to be themselves, dared to make errors.
“And it was so bad at that point, they would listen to anyone, even a long-haired Dane.”
Maybe. However Henriksen backed up his phrases with actions. In his second recreation in cost, Mainz have been holding unbeaten leaders Bayer Leverkusen halfway by the second half when goalkeeper Robin Zentner fumbled a simple shot into the web.
“I have heard so many coaches talking about belief and trust and then one second later someone makes a mistake and they are on television saying they lost the game because this player did not move here or that player did not do that. And then, it is destroyed.”
Henriksen backed his goalkeeper. “I told him that he would be part of it next week. You can talk and talk but if you do not show your players that you believe in them, they will never believe in you.” Over one 12 months on and Zentner has nonetheless not missed a recreation.
So many have improved. Jonathan Burkardt is a standout. He had been on a run of 1 objective in 21 video games at one stage previous to Henriksen’s appointment. This season, solely three males have scored extra Bundesliga objectives. The fashion of play has been reworked.
“When we came in they were just kicking it high and long,” says Henriksen. “We changed it around, wanted to play more in the half spaces, actually create chances. I think we have become one of the most intense teams in the Bundesliga, pressing high.”
He talks with pleasure of their tempo. “The intensity is unbelievable.” And once they fall brief, as they did at Borussia Dortmund lately, it annoys him. “We were maybe 98 per cent there. That is not enough. I hate being average. I was an average player.”
Classes from Kidderminster
For English audiences, one of the curious facets of Henriksen’s rise to turning into one of the thrilling coaches within the Bundesliga is that this supposedly common participant additionally occurs to be Kidderminster’s all-time prime scorer within the Soccer League.
It was a short stint for membership and participant within the early 2000s, however Henriksen made an influence in Worcestershire and the expertise had an influence on him. “It is a fantastic place and it was really fun because it was my childhood hero Jan Molby who took me there.”
Henriksen already knew he needed to teach and was eager to be taught extra concerning the recreation in what he calls the house of soccer. So, what did he uncover? “A lot of drinking. Fights in training. Things I had never seen before in my life,” he replies, laughing.
Henriksen in motion throughout his days taking part in for Kidderminster Harriers
“It was a special culture because it was the last chance for these players. If they did not make it there, they had to go into the factory. In Denmark, it was a little different. You would become a lawyer or something. In England, at that time at least, it felt different.
“I discovered from it in some ways and never solely about soccer. I discovered about human beings, about how one can be in a bunch, how one can deal with one another. It was all about respect. I get goosebumps after I discuss it as a result of that was eye-opening for me on the time.”
He recalls one particular occasion when he dived in the box to earn a penalty. Harriers won the game but it was his own captain Sean Flynn who confronted him afterwards. “He was a improbable individual. He had me up in opposition to the cabin,” remembers Henriksen.
“He was saying, ‘What are you doing, man? I by no means need you to play on my workforce once more if you’re making an attempt to cheat’. For me, that was miraculous. It was a improbable feeling to listen to that. I might really feel it in him that he would fairly lose. In fact, that was the outdated days…”
Mainz head coach Henriksen is seen as an professional man-motivator
Creating a brand new story at Mainz
And but, the coiffure stays. “We cannot really change who we are.” And the teachings of these instances in England endure. “Culture for me is everything. And I am proud of the culture that we have created.” It’s nonetheless all about forging bonds, constructing relationships.
“If you do not like your boss, there is no chance you will do your best for him. Maybe you will do it out of fear for six months. After that, your body will not want it anymore. That is why I believe that if you do not create a good culture, success will not last for long.”
He ought to know as a result of the journeyman participant is not any journeyman coach. “I had seven years at one club, six at another. I know what it takes.” That accounts for his early years in Denmark, constructing golf equipment. He went on to Midtjylland in 2021 and gained the Danish Cup.
Apparently, his subsequent job, the one previous to rescuing Mainz, noticed him flip issues round at FC Zurich, who had been backside of the Swiss Tremendous League. “I have been the underdog for the last 20 years,” he insists. However this achievement with Mainz is one other stage.
Why? As a result of he didn’t simply save them, he kicked on. Henriksen talks concerning the distinction between avoiding and reaching. After the escape act, Mainz misplaced a few of their greatest gamers, Sepp van den Berg transferring to Brentford and Brajan Gruda to Brighton.
“A bit of fear came into the team again,” he admits. “They were thinking that we had to rebuild everything again. That was probably my toughest job here in Mainz, maybe even a bigger miracle than saving them from relegation. We had to create a new story.”
It was a shaky begin however Mainz improved, profitable six from seven over the winter, together with a victory over Bayern Munich. “We got better and better.” They believed once more. No surprise Mainz’s sporting director Christian Heidel calls him a motivational genius.
Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri in motion for Germany in March
“I cannot help anyone if I do not have that relationship,” says Henriksen. “Life is about relationships.” Such because the one with midfielder Nadiem Amiri, who calls him “positively crazy” and whose high quality type has earned him a recall by Germany after 5 years away.
“I think they think I am crazy because I dare to be myself. When I am dancing in the dressing room, I do not know why I am dancing, I am just dancing because I feel it. I want to make an environment where people can do what they feel. Light not heavy.
“I do know that Nadim has by no means seen that in soccer earlier than. He most likely thinks I’m not a standard coach however I feel I’m probably the most regular coach on the earth as a result of I’m simply being me. I’m not good at being another person. It’s logical to me. Simply be your self.”
As Heidel has pointed out, Henriksen is pigeon-holed as just a motivator but there is clearly more to the man. “In fact, we have now modified tactically.” But Henriksen, like Klopp before him, credits that to being curious and surrounding himself with experts.
“Right now, we have now so many assistants and analysts round us to assist with the small particulars, the ways. And we have now been tactically improbable, my workers have been terribly good. However to show issues round it’s, after all, about tradition.”
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What motivates the motivator, then? “It is the small things. It is the people. When I see Jonny smiling when he gets called up for the national team or Amiri getting called up again, that is enough for me. That is where I get my energy from, what the heart pumps for.”
What comes subsequent? That’s the fascination. Effectively, Henriksen talks of a potential go to to Kidderminster. “I have to go back some day.” However earlier than that the large query is whether or not they can end the job and qualify for Europe, possibly even the Champions League itself.
“We have not won anything yet but we have had a fantastic season.” Full the double over Bayern Munich this weekend and it might grow to be one thing else solely. “It would be very special for the whole region.” A area that has been reworked by Bo Henriksen.
