FIFA World Cup record goalscorer Miroslav Klose takes shock managerial job

Bayern Munich and Germany great, Miroslav Klose

World Cup winner and Germany’s all-time greatest goalscorer Miroslav Klose will begin his managerial career with Austrian club SCR Altach.

Klose, who has most recently worked as Bayern Munich's assistant coach, is set to sign a contract with the top-tier Austrian side before being officially presented on Monday.

The 44-year-old finished his playing career in 2016 and immediately found a role in the national team as assistant coach, working under former manager Joachim Loew.

In 2018, Klose returned to former club Bayern Munich in order to take over as the head coach for the under-17 side.

Once his two-year spell with the youth team came to an end, Klose began to work as the assistant to former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick.

Following a highly successful season, which saw the club claim the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup titles, the former striker left the club in May 2021.

In SCR Altach, Klose takes over a club who avoided relegation from the Austrian Bundesliga last season by the tightest of margins.

???????? ????? ?? ??? ??????

Ein großer Name im Weltfußball und ab sofort unser neuer Cheftrainer: Herzlich Willkommen Miroslav Klose!

➡️ https://t.co/nKm6GRBLwK pic.twitter.com/MoMta13JhW
— SCR Altach (@SCRAltach) June 17, 2022

The club were bottom of the table heading into the final round of games, but managed a 2-1 win over Tirol in order to secure their top tier status.

Klose expressed his excitement at joining the club, telling the club's website: "I'm really looking forward to my new job here in Altach! It was just that positive feeling right from the start that I have to have, that I'm in the right place here.

"The first discussions with those responsible were so open that it was clear to me that I want to do this! Now I can hardly wait to get to know the team, the people in the club and of course the fans."

This will be Klose's first managerial position as he looks to make a name for himself in the dugout.

They weren't even KLOSE to being able to stop him! ?#Bundesliga fans, drop some ? for birthday boy Miroslav #Klose! pic.twitter.com/4bcePawDcU
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) June 9, 2022

During his playing career, Klose became Germany's highest international goalscorer with 71 goals in 137 outings.

SCR Altach managing director Christoph Langle added: "Miro Klose is a very big name in football. But it's not about the name for us, it's about Miro Klose's personality, his skills as a coach and what is very important to us at SCR Altach: the people.

"Known as a hard, down-to-earth worker, Miroslav has risen to the world class. The values he stands for are a perfect match for our club and his football skills are undisputed anyway."