The OGC Nice defender prepares for the next step in his career. At the end of the 2025-2026 season, Dante is set to join Bayern Munich to take charge of the U23 team.
The end of career is approaching for Dante. The central defender of OGC Nice announced in February his intention to retire at the end of the 2025-2026 season. After more than twenty-four years in the professional world, a new phase is already being planned. The Brazilian player is expected to become the coach of Bayern Munich’s U23 team starting the following season.
This transition occurs seamlessly. The schedule is organized around a direct transition from the field to the bench. At 42 years old, Dante is about to turn an important page. His journey at OGC Nice is nearing its end after nearly a decade marked by a central role in the locker room. Having arrived in 2016, Dante has established himself as a captain and a collective reference for several generations of players.
The decision to end his playing career is part of a process initiated over several seasons with a coaching project that has been gradually developed until he earned his diploma earlier this year.
A return to a club well known to Dante
Next season, Dante will succeed Holger Seitz in this role. The position concerns a key team in the Bavarian club’s organization. The U23s generally serve as a bridge between training and the professional squad. His experience in locker rooms, similar to OGC Nice where the average age is fairly young, should be an asset in his coaching approach.
This role involves daily work with developing young players. The objective remains clear: to prepare talents to reach the highest level. Coaching requires both rigor and pedagogy. Bayern is betting on Dante’s profile to meet these demands.
The choice is based on several factors. The experience accumulated at the highest level provides a solid foundation. Knowledge of the club is also a critical factor. Dante played in Munich between 2012 and 2015. This period was marked by several significant titles, including a Champions League won in 2013.
His time in Germany has left a lasting mark. Dante participated in three Bundesliga titles and one German Cup, giving him considerable credit in Bavaria. The defender had a regular role in the squad with over 80 first-team appearances.
An almost logical continuity
Returning to Bayern Munich is not a coincidence. The club seeks coaching capable of ensuring continuity between teams. Dante fits this profile. The former defender understands high-level demands and the expectations of a structured institution.
The role of the U23 coach requires accompaniment skills. Young players evolve during a pivotal phase. The task involves adjusting tactical and mental demands. Dante will need to transmit guidance while adapting to individual profiles.
At Nice, his role as captain has prepared him for this transition. His end of career at Nice arrives as anticipated. Dante remains committed until the end of the 2025-2026 season, which will not be remembered as the best of his career due to injuries. The Azur club will have to manage the departure of a player integral to the project for several years during a significant restructuring period around the returning president duo, Jean-Pierre Rivère and Maurice Cohen.
The locker room will lose an important pillar that will be sorely missed during this final season with the Eagles. The captain has not appeared in an official match with the Gym since April 4 against Strasbourg. A club that OGC Nice will challenge again tonight at 9 PM in the semi-final of the Coupe de France, which will once again take place without Dante.
