Dante returns to Bayern Munich as reserves team coach

Former Bayern Munich defender Dante returns to the Bundesliga champions as coach of their reserves team.

Bayern said that the 42-year-old Brazilian takes over the U23 side from Holger Seitz for the new season in what is his first coaching job.

Dante played for Bayern 2012-2015, winning the treble with them in 2013 and becoming a fan favourite. He ended his long career last weekend after helping Nice, where he had played since 2016, stay in the French top flight.

"Dante has experienced almost all you can in football and was still a role model for teammates at Nice at 42 years of age in terms of his attitude and professionalism. He convinced us with that mindset in our talks," Bayern director for youth development Jochen Sauer said.

Dante said: I’m so incredibly excited for this role at my former club Bayern and want to thank the management for their trust in me.

"Lots of good young players are developed at the Campus and first need to prove themselves in senior football with the reserves. My coaching staff and I want to guide them as best we can in that important step and try to get them closer to their goal of professional football."

Dante also won 13 caps in his career, the last one being a shock 7-1 semi-final defeat against eventual champions Germany at Brazil's home World Cup in 2014.