Mainz coach Bo Svensson signs up for Common Goal

Svensson is following a host of other Bundesliga players and coaches, including Bayern Munich's Julian Nagelsmann, Borussia Dortmund's Marco Rose and Eintracht Frankfurt's Oliver Glasner, in pledging one per cent of his salary to the Common Goal's central fund.

According to the charity's website, this fund is then allocated to high-impact organisations that harness the power of football to advance the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

"It's important also to show the positive role of football," Svensson told Kicker. "Football gives young people the opportunity to enjoy a game and share this experience with other people, integrating socially and within a team.

"That often gets short shrift, but football can be a platform for so many positive things."

Svensson delivered plenty of positives on the field for Mainz last term, taking them from a seemingly certain relegation position to a safe, mid-table finish. Ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, the 41-year-old says he has enjoyed the opportunity to go into greater detail preparing the new season over the summer, and wants to kick on from where he and Mainz left off last term.

"This has been the time to plan, establish structures and build something," he said. "It's been an enjoyable task and, as a coach, you like to have this time at your disposal."

Borussia Mönchengladbach and Germany defender Matthias Ginter was the latest Bundesliga player to join Common Goal, following Eintracht Frankfurt's Sebastian Rode, who also joined in 2021. RB Leipzig's Konrad Laimer and Dani Olmo both signed up in 2020, together with Wolfsburg duo Maximiliam Philipp and Xaver Schlager.

Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels was the first Bundesliga player to join in 2017, followed by Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry.