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| Eckhard Krautzun | |
|---|---|
| Name | Eckhard Krautzun |
| Birth date | 26 October 1941 |
| Birth place | Heidenheim, Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Youthclubs | SSV Heidenheim |
| Managing clubs | Multiple clubs and national teams |
Eckhard Krautzun is a German former footballer and coach notable for an extensive international managerial career across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. He gained recognition for leading national teams and clubs in competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cup, and CONCACAF Gold Cup, while working with institutions like the German Football Association, Asian Football Confederation, and various national federations.
Born in Heidenheim an der Brenz, Baden-Württemberg, Krautzun began his youth development with local side SSV Heidenheim before playing at semi-professional level in regional leagues connected to the Bundesliga system and the historical Oberliga (football). During his playing years he interacted with contemporaries from clubs such as VfB Stuttgart, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, FC Bayern Munich, and 1. FC Nürnberg, and experienced the post-war restructuring that affected competitions like the DFB-Pokal and the Regionalliga. Krautzun combined studies in sports science tied to institutions like the German Sport University Cologne and practical roles within clubs connected to the DFB Academy and regional associations.
Krautzun's managerial trajectory included appointments at club sides and national teams across multiple confederations, beginning with roles in the 2. Bundesliga and moving to clubs linked to the UEFA network such as FC Schalke 04, FC St. Pauli, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Hamburger SV in advisory or coaching capacities. He later took positions in the J1 League and with clubs in Japan Football League and worked alongside figures from Jürgen Klinsmann, Rudi Völler, Berti Vogts, and Ottmar Hitzfeld in exchange programs and coaching clinics. Krautzun's club engagements extended to teams in Mexico, Canada, and the United States where interactions with organizations like Major League Soccer and the CONCACAF structure influenced his methods. At club level he navigated competitions such as the UEFA Cup, DFL-Supercup, and continental qualifying campaigns.
Krautzun held head coach and technical director posts for several national federations including associations from Canada, South Korea, Philippines, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, and Guam, as well as assignments with Chinese Taipei national football team and Korea Republic national football team youth setups. He managed in tournaments under FIFA jurisdiction such as FIFA World Youth Championship, FIFA World Cup qualification, regional competitions like the AFF Championship, AFC Asian Cup qualification, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifying stages. His international roles involved collaboration with entities like the Asian Football Confederation technical committees, CONMEBOL coaching delegations during exchange programs, and developmental missions tied to the International Olympic Committee pathways for football in multi-sport events like the Asian Games.
Krautzun's approach emphasized tactical adaptability influenced by trends in Total Football, Catenaccio, and Dutch football frameworks while integrating training methodologies from institutions such as the Coerver Coaching program, German Football Association coaching curriculum, and periodization concepts associated with the National Football Institute models. He prioritized youth development consistent with practices at academies like Ajax Youth Academy, FC Barcelona Escola, and the Sporting CP Academy, implementing technical drills used by coaches like Pep Guardiola, Arrigo Sacchi, Rinus Michels, and Johan Cruyff. Krautzun also incorporated sports science advances promoted by universities like the German Sport University Cologne and collaborated with physiologists linked to clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig to apply conditioning, recovery, and periodization regimes.
Krautzun is remembered for influencing football development across diverse regions, contributing to coach education and technical programs within federations like the Football Association of Indonesia, Korea Football Association, and Canadian Soccer Association. His protégés and colleagues include coaches who later worked with prominent clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and national teams including Germany national football team and South Korea national football team. Krautzun's cross-continental career linked football networks spanning UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF, and his methodological exchanges helped shape coaching practices adopted in academies like La Masia and national training centers such as the DFB Academy. His contributions have been cited in discussions involving FIFA technical reports, AFC development workshops, and coaching symposiums organized by institutions like UEFA Coaching Convention and the Asian Football Confederation Technical Committee.
Category:German football managers Category:1941 births Category:Living people