The Rise of Mainz: From Relegation Fighters to Champions League Contenders
Known as Der Karnevalsverein (carnival club), Mainz has truly lived up to its name over the past two seasons, putting on an incredible show. Last season, they had just 11 points after 17 games and were sitting in 16th place under long-term manager Bo Svensson. The board had held him in high regard for his work up to that point, but after doubts emerged about whether he was still the right person for the job, he ultimately decided to step down.
Following a disappointing 3-0 loss to 2. Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, Svensson resigned on November 2, 2023. Jan Siewert, who had previous coaching experience at Mainz, was appointed as his replacement. Siewert had a strong start, winning his debut match 2-0 at home against RB Leipzig. However, despite being defensively solid—conceding one goal or fewer from matchweeks 11 to 20—the team struggled in front of goal, scoring only four times in that period.
This goalless run left Mainz winless, and after a 3-1 defeat away to Stuttgart left them with just 11 points by mid-February, the club decided another change was needed. Bo Henriksen was brought in, carrying a strong reputation from his tenure at FC Zürich, where he lifted the club from bottom of the table (4 points in 10 matches) to an 8th-place finish within a year.
Henriksen faced immense pressure, not just due to Mainz’s relegation battle but also to prove that his prior success at Zürich wasn’t a fluke. He started well with a 1-0 home win against Augsburg but then went on a three-game winless run, losing to Leverkusen, Gladbach, and an 8-1 thrashing away at Bayern Munich.
When morale is low, it is often difficult for struggling teams to turn things around, but Henriksen remained confident. Facing a crucial match against fellow relegation contenders Bochum, Mainz secured a vital 2-0 home win. They followed this with a 0-0 draw against Leipzig and then went unbeaten in the next six games, winning three and drawing three, including two four-goal victories and a stunning 3-0 win against Borussia Dortmund.
Heading into the final game of the season, Mainz needed just a point against Wolfsburg to secure their Bundesliga status. A loss could have sent them into the relegation playoffs. The pressure was immense when Wolfsburg struck first in the 18th minute, but Mainz equalized in the 24th. Two second-half goals sealed a 3-1 victory, securing their place in the Bundesliga for another season as they finished 13th.
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Heading into the Current Season
Ahead of this season, Mainz was expected to finish mid-table by most pundits and as high as 8th according to Opta’s supercomputer. The club did smart business in the transfer market, signing key players like Kaishu Sano—who has played every game this season and is crucial to Henriksen’s system—and bringing in Armindo Sieb on loan to strengthen the attack, all for under €5 million combined.
However, despite the high expectations, the season started on a rough note, with Mainz failing to win any of their first three games, drawing against Stuttgart and Union Berlin before losing to Werder Bremen. Their first win came against Augsburg, but by matchday nine, they had only two wins and four defeats.
Things finally clicked for Henriksen’s team after a 0-0 draw away to Freiburg. Since then, they have won 11 of their next 16 games, averaging roughly 2.2 points per game (PPG). Even the games they lost were by narrow one-goal margins. So what changed? To understand, we need to analyze Henriksen’s tactical setup.
Henriksen’s Tactical Approach
Henriksen, like his predecessor Svensson, took over while Mainz was deep in a relegation battle. Both managers favored a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 formation, emphasizing high pressing and defensive solidity. However, the key difference lies in the attack. Svensson’s team relied heavily on long balls behind the defense for forwards to chase, whereas Henriksen’s attack is more structured. The long balls remain, but midfielders now play a more active role in supporting the attack.
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Despite being direct in their approach, Mainz is not a possession-based team. They rank 11th in the Bundesliga for both possession and total passes per 90 minutes but 3rd in forward passes (excluding final-third passes). They create chances quickly, with roughly 32% of their goal kicks going long. Typically, Mainz reaches the final third within four passes, contrasting with high-possession teams like Bayern Munich or Stuttgart, who take longer to progress.
Jonathan Burkardt plays a crucial role in this system. His ability to hold up play allows him to win aerial duels and knock the ball down for supporting forwards or midfielders. This enables Mainz to attack before opponents can fully organize their defensive shape. While 32% of their attacks originate from direct long balls, the rest involve more structured buildup.
When playing out from the back, Mainz shifts from a 3-4-2-1 to a hybrid 4-2-4. The right center-back pushes wide to a full-back position, while the left wing-back (Caci) constantly makes runs in behind. This tactic has been highly effective, with Caci recording seven assists at the time of writing. Mainz often overloads the right side to provide support, but to avoid predictability, they occasionally bypass Caci’s run to play centrally.
Defensive Structure and Pressing
While Henriksen’s team presses high like Svensson’s, there are key differences. Mainz employs a man-to-man pressing scheme, which might seem risky, but intelligent defensive rotations from the midfielders and backline prevent the structure from being disjointed. Opponents often struggle to progress through midfield and are forced to play long balls, which suits Mainz, given their aggressive second-ball recovery and quick transitions.
When their high press fails, Mainz drops into a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 low block. They are quick to get numbers behind the ball, making them difficult to counter. Their defensive intensity remains high, as players aggressively close down space, forcing opponents to play backward.
The defensive midfielders track runners into half-spaces, preventing wide progression. The results speak for themselves—Mainz has conceded the second-fewest goals in the Bundesliga (28) behind only Bayern Munich (24). They also have the lowest non-penalty expected goals (xG) conceded per shot (0.09), indicating that opponents struggle to create high-quality chances.
Henriksen’s Impact and Legacy
Henriksen follows in the footsteps of previous Mainz coaches who made history: Bo Svensson (first coach to beat Bayern in the Bundesliga and best PPG record), Jürgen Klopp (led Mainz to their first-ever Bundesliga promotion), and Thomas Tuchel (secured Mainz’s first European qualification). If Henriksen can sustain this form and guide Mainz to the Champions League, he will be held in similarly high regard.
His excellent man-management skills have been widely praised:
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- Nadiem Amiri (Mainz midfielder): “I’ve never experienced a football coach like Henriksen. He’s a very positive person, full of energy, and very good professionally. The way he approaches the players, the whole club, is unique. Everybody loves Bo. He’s positively crazy and exactly the kind of coach Mainz needed.”
- Christian Heidel (Mainz sporting director): “He’s a coach who has consistently succeeded in his career under very different conditions. Bo is a very emotional, open, and opinionated character who radiates incredibly positive energy and fits very well with Mainz 05.”
Henriksen himself highlights his player-first philosophy:
“I don’t play the game, they do. So, I ask my players a lot: what do they trust? What have they tried before? If I go into the dressing room and say, ‘We have to do this, this, and this,’ and the players are not comfortable, then I’m going to look stupid. I don’t have to look good. I don’t look good anyway. I haven’t looked good in 49 years, so why should I start now?!”
If he continues on this trajectory, Henriksen could soon be regarded as one of Europe’s next top managers.
By: Sekwila Mumba / Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s3kwila
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Maja Hitij / Getty Images