By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Mainz coach Bo Henriksen of Denmark was in high spirits and an unleashed party mood after his side secured its 11th win of the season, a 2-0 victory over St. Pauli, cementing its position among the leading clubs in the German top flight.

Since joining in February 2024, the coach with "flying long hair" has become a familiar sight at Mainz games - not to mention the upswing he has sparked in his first year, lifting the team from relegation spots into European competition contention.

"We Danes are said to be calm and maybe boring due to our restrained attitude," the former Zurich manager said. "Regard it as boring or not, but it's the upcoming game that always matters most."

His coaching comes with an abundance of passion, as he embraces football as a team sport.

Despite operating on a comparatively low budget, Mainz's current success is drawing attention.

Henriksen called it "the next step for Mainz to win games like that, I am talking about not-so-good games."

Meanwhile, fans' dreams are growing. "We must believe, the entire city, the fans in the arena, everyone," midfielder Nadiem Amiri said, while managing director Niko Bungert noted that the club won't turn down the opportunity to compete in European tournaments.

"But it's a long way to go despite the enthusiasm of our fans," the official added.

While pre-season expectations were low, the current high-flying run is fueling additional energy and confidence. Mainz is riding the wave with a relaxed mindset, as anything but a relegation battle is seen as a success.

Due to financial constraints, the club relies on developing young talent. Alongside SC Freiburg, Mainz has one of the highest numbers of academy-trained players in its squad.

First-team regulars such as Robin Zentner, Stefan Bell, Paul Nebel, Nelson Weiper, and Jonathan Burkardt exemplify the club's strong youth development system.

Technical director Meikel Schoenweitz called talent development a vital part of the club's DNA. The official said talent education "can be a success if all are living this way and not only talk about it."

The first team must be committed to consistently integrating young players, he added. Enditem

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