FSV Mainz 05 has been exporting world-class coaches for over a decade: Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel stand above all others, but even the future Danish national team coach Kasper Hjulmand and last year's MLS finalist Sandro Schwarz have been characterised by their work at the self-proclaimed carnival club.
But what is behind this seemingly endless success story?
When Bo Henriksen was unveiled as Mainz's new coach on February 12th 2024, many wondered: Who is this wild Dane with the long hair and unbridled enthusiasm?
Within 12 months, he has not only immortalised his name in Mainz but also transformed a team that had been written off into a fighting force that could play its way from the relegation battle into the Champions League with a few clever transfers and a rousing style of play.
"I don't believe in luck," he says. "I believe in performance."
And that performance was not long in coming. Striker Jonathan Burkardt has made it into the national team despite numerous injuries, and Nadiem Amiri is now one of the best players in the Bundesliga. The once-insecure defence around goalkeeper Robin Zentner suddenly looks stable. Henriksen has revitalised the Mainz spirit.
Following in the footsteps of Wolfgang Frank
However, the origins of this coaching dynasty go back to a time long before the 50-year-old - to the late 1990s, when a certain Wolfgang Frank turned the club around.
While other clubs were still sticking to man-to-man defence and building up via the libero, Frank introduced pressing and space coverage at Mainz - a concept that became deeply ingrained in the club's DNA.
One of his pupils: Klopp. He took over as coach at Mainz in 2001 after his playing career came to an abrupt end. The rest is history: promotion to the Bundesliga, two championships with Dortmund, Champions League glory with Liverpool.
After Frank's death in 2013, Klopp was visibly shaken: "A great coach, a great person and a very, very great loss for the football world. He would have had a lot to say."
Klopp handed over the coaching sceptre to Thomas Tuchel in 2009 - a tactician who was already known for his attention to detail.
Tuchel moulded the legendary "Bruchweg Boys" (named after the former stadium on Bruchweg) around Andre Schurrle, Lewis Holtby and Adam Szalai before taking the next step in his career at Borussia Dortmund.
Today, he is the first German to be on the sidelines of the English national team, having coached big clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern. He even won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and his tactical style is still strongly influenced by the principles he internalised at Mainz.
Even if Tuchel and Klopp stand out in terms of international renown, there are other examples of successful ex-Mainz players on the coaching bench: Kasper Hjulmand became head coach of the Danish national team after his time in Germany and sensationally led the 'Danish Dynamite' to the semi-finals of the 2021 European Championship.
Sandro Schwarz coached the Rheinhessen club from 2017 to 2019 and came close to winning the North American professional league MLS last December, only losing to LA Galaxy with his New York Red Bulls in the playoff final.
Mainz as a breeding ground for successful coaches
But why does Mainz produce so many successful coaches? One reason is the club's philosophy: Mainz give coaches responsibility early on, and all four of the coaches mentioned were under 45 years old when they took office.
In addition, they are not afraid of tactical innovations and are not hindered by a club philosophy that is too rigid. The coach and his team can adapt to current developments in the football world and constantly reinvent their style of play.
Secondly, there is a certain down-to-earth attitude in the city - coaches can develop here without excessive pressure. Even during periods of weakness, they retained their coaches for a long time; in contrast to many Bundesliga rivals, quick-fire decisions in the form of premature dismissals are completely unusual. Those who prove themselves in Mainz are ready for the big stage.
Will Henriksen be the next Klopp or Tuchel? He is not interested in these comparisons. One thing is certain: The Dane has moulded Mainz into the fourth-best team in Germany and is well on his way to bringing the top flight to Rheinhessen. Not even his great predecessors have managed that.