Klaus Fahrner and his special psychological task at ESV Penzberg

Created: 03/30/2022Updated: 03/30/2022, 18:20

By: Andreas Mayr

So far no reason for satisfaction: Klaus Fahrner had to watch how his team lost the home game against Eglfing 1:3 and thus slipped to last place in district class 3.

©Andreas Mayr

Klaus Fahrner is fighting relegation with the footballers of ESV Penzberg in district class 3.

The trainer is particularly in demand in the mental area.

Penzberg – You have to know one thing about Klaus Fahrner: he is constantly involved in football.

He has been kicking since he was three years old and started as a coach 14 years ago.

The sport has not let go of him, even when he took a break six months ago.

What does a break mean?

"I basically deal with football," says Klaus Fahrner.

Now again in a managerial position.

The former fifth division footballer has taken on a difficult mission at ESV Penzberg.

He should ensure relegation – in a short time.

He only has nine games left.

"I don't have time," the coach knows.

But isn't that the attraction?

After the 1:3 home defeat against Eglfing last weekend, ESV Penzberg is now in last place in district class 3. "Lie" is exactly the right word.

Klaus Fahrner coaches a team that needs help.

As far as the community is concerned, the ESV is still functioning properly.

"A very lively team" he took over, the coach notes after the preparation.

"I've rarely seen such solidarity - very, very cool." Rather, it is the emotional damage that Fahrner has to fix.

Many "negative experiences on the pitch" ground in.

With the poor results, the doubts in the minds of the players tightened.

Doubts about yourself, doubts about football, and also doubts about new things.

"It takes conviction.

This is a mental story

Fahrner: "I like to help people advance"

He came to Penzberg with an emergency aid package.

The formula is called organization.

Clear structures are needed in attack and defense – positional play, paths, things like that.

“So that everyone knows what they are doing.” Fahrner spent the test phase on the conversion.

He likes to use playful elements in training.

A little fun is allowed.

Also or especially in the otherwise serious relegation battle.

"That's the main focus," emphasizes the coach, who grew up in Pfaffenhofen and spent most of his active career in Munich.

The positional play has improved, praises Fahrner.

Even if it didn't work enough against Eglfing in the first competitive game last Saturday.

"It means I didn't do that well."

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Fahrner likes to take the blame.

Pressure is pretty much the last thing his team needs.

With his experience, Fahrner absorbs the burden and the expectations from outside.

He sees the task, not the end.

He likes to be a trainer, whether in the championship race or in the relegation battle.

“I like helping people advance,” he says.

He has retained this mentality from his time at the soccer schools in Fürstenfeldbruck and Neuried.

There he trained alongside A-license trainers and ex-professionals.

Later he sat in on classes with Claus Schromm in Unterhaching, third division.

Tactically, of course, a completely different biotope.

As a coach, you're always a bit of a whore

Klaus Fahrner, coach of ESV Penzberg

But Fahrner has mastered the fine line several times to find the balance between the impressions from higher-class football and the reality of amateur sport.

"In my eyes there was no club where I was unsuccessful," says Fahrner.

He considers humility to be the most important virtue in a coach.

"You have to know that you're not the most important man yourself." He chooses an unusual metaphor for this: "As a coach, you're always a bit of a whore." That's not meant negatively at all, but actually a nice paraphrase for the football business the lowest levels.

Coaches change clubs every few years, often hiring from competitors.

Nevertheless, "we have to be loyal and flexible in our minds," says Fahrner.

Now he is 100 percent committed to ESV Penzberg.

His contract initially runs until the end of the season.

In two months, the board and coach will talk about the future.

"Then we'll see." So far, the ESV is only two points behind the saving places.

There isn't much time to get up.

But enough.