Elite Youth Soccer Development in Europe
International Soccer Academy’s new Borussia Mönchengladbach Integrated Academy team is set to launch this August under the leadership of highly experienced German coach Jens Bäumer. With a professional playing career spanning Germany’s top three leagues and fresh off of winning the Germant U17 Bundesliga Championship, Bäumer brings invaluable expertise to the academy’s mission of developing elite American youth players in Europe. Borussia Mönchengladbach U17s beat five-time champions Bayern Munich 3-1 to defeat RB Leipzig in the final.
Borussia Mönchengladbach academy’s rise to top tier power is no longer just on the horizon—it’s here.
SoccerToday caught up with Coach Bäumer to learn more about his background, coaching philosophy, and what excites him most as he takes the reins of the inaugural Integrated Academy team at Gladbach.
Former Pro and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s U17 Triumph: How Jens Bäumer Built a Title‑Winning Team from Within
This Bundesliga powerhouse has a legendary player development academy but had not lifted a Bundesliga youth championship trophy in decades. In fact, Bäumer’s most recent team at the club just captured the B-Junioren Bundesliga crown, marking Borussia Mönchengladbach’s second national U17 title—the first since 1980–81.
In a season that rewrote expectations, Bäumer not only helped lead the young Foals to glory—he and the coaching staff delivered a long-overdue payoff for the academy.
Winning the Bundesliga U17 Championship: A 3-1 Final Over RB Leipzig
The atmosphere was electric. With a record-breaking crowd of 11,800 spectators, Gladbach overcame RB Leipzig with a 3–1 victory. Substitute Can Armando Güner delivered two late goals to seal the historic win.
The atmosphere was amazing. There was a record-breaking 11,800 spectators, our Gladbach team overcame RB Leipzig with a 3–1 victory. Substitute Can Armando Güner delivered a two goals to seal the historic win.
“Seeing the joy on the players’ faces when the final whistle blew, I was taking in the atmosphere… wow.”
— Jens Bäumer
Through our interview, Bäumer revealed how deeper bonds—on and off the pitch—became the baseline for success:
Team bonding through experience: “The most important thing is… when the players experience it for themselves.”
Organic team building: “A couple of the players I had coached before… they were ranked highly… the other clubs were spending money to buy better players—most of the players on our team have been playing together since U11, which is fairly rare in Germany.”
Unshakeable belief and resilience: “If you believe in each other, then anything is possible… you lose games that you shouldn’t lose… but as long as there is time on the clock and you believe in each other, then anything is possible.”
The moment that fueled belief: “There was one game that was a turning point, We were ahead two goals… Bochum equalized in two minutes. We scored another goal which showed the players … even if you concede two goals, you can still win.”
Interview: What’s Next for Jens Bäumer?
Diane Scavuzzo: Congratulations on winning the U17 Championship and becoming the head coach of the Integrated Academy team. Can you share your journey in football—both as a player and a coach? And what was it like for Borussia Mönchengladbach U17 to win the national youth title?
Jens Bäumer: I was a pro player for 13 years in Germany’s three highest leagues and was selected to represent the German U21 National Team. I played for Borussia Mönchengladbach from July 2000 through June 2003, and it is wonderful to coach at the same club where I once played.
I am excited for the upcoming season and to be the head coach for the Integrated Academy team at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
I want to get to know the players on and off the field. Everyone is new and away from their homes. At Borussia Mönchengladbach, we are a big family. If you don’t feel good, you will never be able to develop as a player.
We have to create an atmosphere of a family, and to do this, I need to be with them.
Together we build, together we win. I look forward to helping every single player get better.
Diane Scavuzzo: Have you ever coached soccer in America?
Jens Bäumer: Yes, I have coached in the USA. I started at US Youth Soccer’s ODP Europe, then coached various age groups in the U.S., including NPSL and WPSL for three years before returning to Germany.
READ: NEW INTEGRATED ACADEMY TEAM FOR BORUSSIA
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you like most about coaching?
Jens Bäumer: When I see things coming together… seeing the players believe that what we as coaches are doing actually works… you can see it in their face. The joy fuels my coaching.
I want to pass on my experience as a player and help young players get as far as they can in their soccer careers.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you look for most in a player, and why?
Jens Bäumer: I look at whether a player shows up to every practice with the right mindset. Are they there to get better or just to be there? Players only truly improve if they work on it every day, not if the coach has to force them to work hard in every session.
Diane Scavuzzo: What are your short-term and long-term goals for the Integrated Academy team starting this August?
Jens Bäumer: Short-term, it’s about forming a team — it only works if we are a team on and off the field.
Long-term, it’s about developing every player individually to reach their highest potential.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is your most memorable moment as a player?
Jens Bäumer: As a player, it was the promotion from the 2. Bundesliga to the 1. Bundesliga in 2001.
READ: Borussia Mönchengladbach and International Soccer Academy launch partnership to develop U.S. talent
Diane Scavuzzo: What did you miss most about playing when you stopped?
Jens Bäumer: I missed the locker room and the interaction with my teammates the most.
Diane Scavuzzo: How old were you when you signed your first professional contract?
Jens Bäumer: I was 18.
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you obtain your UEFA A License, and what was the process like for you?
Jens Bäumer: It was in 2018. It was great to talk and learn from the other coaches in the course.
Diane Scavuzzo: In your opinion, what distinguishes Borussia Mönchengladbach’s youth academy from others in Germany?
Jens Bäumer: We have a consistent style of play from the youngest teams to the oldest.
Diane Scavuzzo: What advice do you have for elite youth soccer players who want to play at the Bundesliga Academy levell?
Jens Bäumer:Everything gets quicker on the field. Players must find solutions quickly and in small spaces. They need good technique to execute quickly. Technical skills are the foundation of every session and are fundamental to getting to the next level.
Diane Scavuzzo: From your perspective, what are some unique strengths and areas of growth you’ve observed in American youth players compared to their European counterparts?
Jens Bäumer: American players usually have good athleticism and work ethic.
