Miroslav Klose's FC Nuremberg side sit second in the 2. Bundesliga

It is no surprise Miroslav Klose recognises the value of a true goalscorer.

He is, after all, Germany's all-time leading marksman and until this summer had netted more than any other player in men's World Cup history. Even now, only Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi can top his 16 across four tournaments.

But of the more than 300 goals Klose scored in a career that began in Germany's amateur leagues and spanned Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Lazio, he reckons all but two came inside the penalty area.

"Thankfully, we've moved away a little from the idea of the false nine or having a second striker playing around the main striker, with everyone coming towards the ball," explains the FC Nuremberg boss.

"For me, the most important thing is that you need someone who is there to score goals. You need someone in the box because that's where you're closest to the goal. That's why I'm a big believer in practising the final ball, whether it's a cross, a shot or something else.

"That's crucial. How do you create that final ball? When you develop automatisms and players get to know each other better, that's when you see harmony on the pitch.

"It can make things look effortless, but it involves a huge amount of work. A lot of work in training and attention to detail, making sure the players communicate with each other and understand their team-mates' strengths and weaknesses."

That focus on detail stems from Klose's diligence during his playing days. He would study opponents' movement, analyse a goalkeeper's position and shape when facing certain shots - do they make themselves big? Are their hands high or low?

"When goals are scored, the whole team deserves credit," adds the 48-year-old, who was as selfless as he was ruthless. "But you still need someone who has that ability in their feet or in their head to put the ball in the net."

"He's a great role model for me" - Former German forward on Harry Kane

Klose was 36 when he won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 - surpassing Ronaldo's goal record in a 7-1 semi-final thrashing of hosts Brazil.

It was the culmination of a career built on hard work after a series of near-misses - something that may offer solace to Harry Kane and England that a major tournament triumph remains possible.

Born in communist Poland, Klose's father Josef - also a footballer, most notably for Auxerre - moved the family to West Germany when his son was eight.

He was never in a big academy, playing in the lower leagues while training as a carpenter before eventually joining Kaiserslautern.

Klose, like Kane, was in his early 20s by the time he established himself in top-flight football, but just two years after his Bundesliga debut was starting a World Cup final defeat by Brazil.

The striker, 38 when he hung up his goalscoring boots, admires the way Kane has evolved as he has matured, using him as an example to his own young prospects.

"You could always see his quality, and he's worked incredibly hard to get where he is," says Klose of the Ballon d'Or winner.

"He's also a great role model for me, particularly because he has stayed in Germany. I often tell my players that they should look at someone like him as an example.

"Young players can't yet have the instinct and experience he has developed, but that's where it starts - thinking about what you can and can't do as a footballer. You have to keep learning. That's the crucial thing for me.

"If you understand that you train to become better, then in five years' time you'll naturally be a different player. But if you think everything will happen automatically just because 10 people around you tell you that you're a fantastic player, I don't think you'll continue to develop."

Klose's Nuremberg have the youngest average age in the 2. Bundesliga

Klose has a knack for working with young talent, previously coaching Bayern Munich's under-17s. His Nuremberg side are the youngest in the German second tier with an average age of 23.3 years, according to Transfermarkt.

"You need that balance and a certain core of experienced players," he explains. "But we're very brave in that respect. Over the three years I've been here, we've made progress in how we assess young players and in the conversations we have about them.

"How do we rate them? How far along are they? What do they need to work on to take the next step? Is it perhaps more about their physical development? Because from a footballing perspective, we're already producing some really good players."

Klose's coaching journey began with the national team before he joined Bayern, briefly becoming Hansi Flick's assistant, and then took his first managerial role at Rheindorf Altach in Austria.

He joined Nuremberg, historically one of Germany's most successful clubs, in 2024 and steered them to 10th and eighth-placed finishes.

This season they sit second, behind Hertha BSC, and are the league's joint-top scorers, with eyes on a return to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2019.

"When I first arrived, I spoke to the youth coaches about the club's DNA and its coaching philosophy, and what they focus on," adds Klose.

"There was already a lot of common ground. We suggested trying certain things because we wanted to do a little more in particular areas, and they were open to that.

"That's important. We benefit from this because our young players are getting opportunities in the first team, and everyone is paying attention to their development.

"But that journey starts with the youth coaches. I know how important it is to take those steps. We're benefiting from that now because we have access to so many young talents.

"As a coaching team, we're brave enough to give them opportunities when we see that they can compete at this level. That's the first step."

Among the 11 to play the most minutes for Klose's side this season, seven are 22 years old or under, including top scorer Mohamed Ali Zoma, already capped by Italy.

"Of course, everyone gets a lot of praise, as is currently the case with Marc Kornwachs," says Klose of a 17-year-old midfielder also catching the eye.

"But his journey isn't over yet. Now it's about helping him become more consistent and establishing himself, while continuing to develop his game and take further steps forward.

"These players are so talented that we have absolutely no hesitation in giving them opportunities, regardless of the scoreline."

Klose was still playing fifth-tier amateur football aged 20 before becoming the World Cup's all-time top goalscorer in 2014

Klose also understands his managerial career is still young - mirroring the humble nature that earned him fair play awards in Germany and Italy.

"I'm very comfortable with the steps I've taken, even though it involves a huge amount of work," he says about his progress. "You learn something every day.