Bender twins balance coaching ambitions with humility

Lars and Sven Bender, once the most prominent names in Bayern Regionalliga, now stand on the sidelines as coaches. The brothers' journey to the trainer's bench was paved with lessons from icons like Jürgen Klopp and Jupp Heynckes, but their path has not been without controversy.

From the pitch to the touchline

After a successful playing career, which saw them play in the German top flight with Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, the Bender twins made the transition to coaching. Lars signed with Wacker Burghausen in January 2025 as main training coach, while Sven joined SpVgg Unterhaching as head coach in March of the same year.

However, their progress has been met with skepticism, with some questioning whether they have the experience to lead teams. The brothers have responded with humility, acknowledging that they are still learning and that their focus is on developing young players.