Danny Rohl has explained what he has tried to ‘bring’ to Sheffield Wednesday from his playing career.
Danny Rohl began his football career with FSV Zwickau, before going onto play for FC Sachsen Leipzig II and FC Eilenburg.
The German lasted only three years as a player before he was forced to hang up his boots due to injury.
Rohl’s constant position on the sidelines encouraged him to begin reading books and searching the internet though, and he gradually discovered that perhaps coaching was the way forward.
The former defender began his coaching career just months after retirement, joining RB Leipzig at only 21 years old. He spent almost eight years with the German outfit, before joining Southampton, then Bayern Munich and finally the German national team.
His arrival at Sheffield Wednesday was his first role in management and made him the eleventh youngest manager in Championship history, at 34 years 5 months and 23 days old on his debut.
While his playing career was brief, Rohl has explained how he wanted to bring the ‘freedom’ and enjoyment from his time on the pitch, to Hillsborough.
Speaking in his press conference today on his time as a player, Rohl said: “I was fast and I could run a lot. Sometimes I miss the moments where I enjoyed the football and sometimes I want to bring all those good things on the pitch. This is what I try to give my players, that they sometimes have freedom and they enjoy playing football. They know what I demand, but it makes no sense that you are straight in one direction, because that’s not football.
“Yeah I was fast and I could run a lot, and I played a lot of positions – right winger, right full-back, number six, a centre-back. It was all ok but I was never at the highest level and now I’m a coach.”
On why he became a coach, the German said: “On coaching – I started very early. I wasn’t really an athletic coach, but then when I got injured I started reading books and looking at the internet and thought, ok I like this. I was always the guy thinking ok what can we do, what is the solution. Then it was clear, after I finish school I want to become coach.”
Footballing legends who Danny Rohl can idolise
Danny Rohl is one of very few managers that seem to be on the path to great success in management but did very little as a player.
One perfect example is Jose Mourinho, who made less than 100 club appearances in the lower leagues of Portuguese football, but went onto win seven league titles, two Champions Leagues, the Europa League, the Europa Conference League and 13 domestic cups.
From his home country, both Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann failed to make much of an impression on the pitch, with the latter making no senior appearances before ending his playing career at 20 years old. The pair now have enjoyed plenty of success in management since.
Danny Rohl will be eager to replicate his compatriot’s success, with Nagelsmann especially only turning 37 years old later this year.