Marwin Bolz is a rising German football coach, known for his modern tactical mindset and rapid ascent within women’s football. Born on February 7, 1998, in Hamburg, Bolz began his football journey as a youth player, developing through the academies of clubs such as FC Eintracht Norderstedt, FC St. Pauli, Eintracht Braunschweig, and Niendorfer TSV. As a player, he primarily featured as a centre-back and occasionally as a right-back, bringing physical presence and positional discipline to the backline.
His senior playing career included stints at regional clubs like TSV Sasel and Eimsbütteler TV, competing in Germany’s lower divisions. His coaching journey began with Hamburger SV’s women’s team, where he made an immediate impact. Under his leadership, the team achieved promotion to the 2. Frauen-Bundesliga, showcasing a playing style defined by structured buildup, high pressing, and positional discipline. He also contributed to the club’s broader success with a promotion to the 1. Bundesliga, further highlighting his role in HSV’s development and competitiveness.
Bolz quickly earned recognition for his analytical approach and ability to develop players in a professional environment, bringing a fresh and organized identity to the team. In May 2025, he took the next major step in his career, becoming the head coach of SC Braga’s women’s team in Portugal. At just 27 years old, he now leads one of Portugal’s most ambitious women’s clubs, with a clear mandate to elevate the team’s domestic performance and compete for UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification.
His appointment marks a new chapter not only for SC Braga but also for Bolz, as he brings his blend of German structure and tactical innovation to the Southern European stage. Known for his dedication to continuous improvement, multilingual ability, and capacity to lead with clarity and conviction, Marwin Bolz represents a new generation of football coaches who combine on-field experience with sharp tactical acumen and a deep understanding of the women’s game.
Our Exclusive Interview with Marwin Bolz
Who is Marwin Bolz outside of football, and how have your personal experiences shaped your path as a coach?
I have always been someone you can count on. For me, this has been one of the most important values in life. Science has also consistently played a role in my journey. After graduating from school, I began studying biology, focusing on the tiniest molecules to understand life. In this field, I concentrated on plant viruses and how they infect plants. This period taught me discipline and persistence. I often had to repeat experiments more than a hundred times, continuously optimizing the process until it produced consistent results. It required precision and a deep love for detail, qualities that now drive me as a coach to achieve the goals and results we aim for, time and time again.
What drew you to coaching women’s football, and what have you learned from working with female athletes?
When I started coaching, I was fortunate that someone from the federation where I earned my license had the idea to appoint me as an assistant for the U14 girls’ selection team in Hamburg. That was the beginning of the journey. Several players from that group went on to play professional football, and some of them later became part of my teams in Hamburg. That group left a lasting impression on me and shaped how I see women’s football.
What stood out was their quality, passion, and the way we trained and spoke about the game. I have always felt that we can achieve meaningful things in women’s football. In Hamburg, we were able to work with great detail on principles and how we wanted to play. I appreciated the ambition of the players and their desire to understand every aspect of the game. Emotion has always been the driver of energy, and that energy has consistently been present in the women’s teams I have coached.
Your teams are often praised for their tactical discipline. What do you look for when building a game model?
At first, the core of the game model reflects who I am and what matters to me as a person and as a coach. I value clarity and directness. I like to be straightforward about our goals and avoid wasting time. I prefer a style of play that uses one or two touches to overcome the opponent, while changing the rhythm at the right moment to create one-on-one situations in specific zones.
Equally important is how we work without the ball. I want the team to be well-prepared to defend with intensity, using an aggressive and active approach. Preparation is something I value deeply, and defensive organization has always been important to me, likely influenced by my experience as a defensive player.
Ultimately, I focus on the people around me. I look at the demands and strengths of the players and staff, and I ask which spaces and situations help them perform at their best. Training is about building connections. These connections evolve over time. New players and staff join the group, and the network shifts. The game model must stay fluid, adapting to the changes within the team.
How do you approach leadership in a dressing room, especially with players from different backgrounds and cultures?
Every team has its own culture, and it is the responsibility of everyone to uphold its values within the dressing room. I believe in listening to players and empowering them to contribute to our shared culture. We must embrace each individual’s perspective while pushing together in the same direction. The big picture matters most. The team comes first, but every person plays an important role.
What excites you most about this new chapter at SC Braga, and what kind of identity do you hope to build there?
When I arrived in Braga, I felt that we could achieve something meaningful here. We have the foundation for high-level performance and the structure to work in a truly professional environment. I believe we can instill a winning mentality. We want to be highly professional while also finding joy both on and off the pitch. Alongside our playing style and collective mindset, I also want to push every player on an individual level, both as athletes and as people. In the end, individual growth will lead to the team’s overall improvement.
Looking ahead, what personal goals do you still have in football, and where do you see yourself growing next?
Braga is a great club. I want to develop our own unique style of play and instill a winning mentality. With this attitude and ambition, we aim to prepare ourselves to win titles. The road ahead will be challenging, but that’s exactly what I’m looking for: challenges.
