Renowned as the creator of ball-oriented zonal marking in football, Helmut Groß greatly influenced many German coaches, including Ralf Rangnick. He recently passed away unexpectedly at the age of 77, as reported by Stuttgart News.
Despite his significant contributions to the sport, Groß never received widespread fame as he chose to remain in the background, avoiding the limelight that comes with coaching high-profile teams.
Groß, affectionately known as “Dr. Lobanowski” in Baden-Württemberg during the 1980s, acquired and further improved tactical methods such as zonal coverage and the back four from Soviet national coach Valery Lobanovsky. His passion for tactical details was renowned.
Klopp, Tuchel, Nagelsmann
He also adopted the element of attacking pressing from the Dutch and their coach Rinus Michels, incorporating it into his unique approach to football.
Groß’s tactics greatly inspired Ralf Rangnick, along with a number of other successful German coaches. Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, and Julian Nagelsmann were also directly or indirectly influenced by Groß’s strategies.
Ralf Rangnick, who is currently Austria’s team boss, held a uniquely close relationship with Groß. They first met at a coaching conference in 1984, after which Rangnick invited Groß to join him at several clubs as a consultant or scout. This included stints at Hoffenheim, Leipzig, and even Manchester United, where Rangnick worked prior to his role at ÖFB.
“Helmut is one of the most fascinating people I have ever met,” Rangnick once said about Groß. Currently, Austria’s team boss is mourning the loss of his personal mentor and friend, who greatly shaped his career.
