Nicolai Muller is head coach of Macarthur Bulls’ senior men’s academy team. The retired Germany international speaks to aleagues.com.au about why he is still in Australia and his coaching journey Down Under.
Nicolai Muller’s bags were packed. The former Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz and Hamburg star was on his “way back home” to Germany after an impressive stint in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
The two-time Germany international had just retired from professional football following his Central Coast Mariners departure at the end of 2021-22 when NPL outfit Hills United came calling.
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Muller has not looked back since taking his first coaching steps Down Under. After former Mariners boss Nick Montgomery brought him back to Gosford within the youth space in 2023, the 37-year-old is now head coach of Macarthur Bulls’ senior men’s academy side – Bulls FC Academy.
“It was exactly what I was looking for. I love to develop players. I love to give my experience to the younger players,” Muller told aleagues.com.au, having replaced Craig Noone heading into the 2025 season after Macarthur head coach Mile Sterjovski reached out.
“I see there is great potential in Australia. There’s very, very good players between 16 to even 18-20. Can I help to promote more players to the A-League or even to Europe?”
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Muller – who is currently doing his A License – is four months into his new role with the Bulls, and the club’s vision is clear in Campbelltown.
“We have some good kids there. I try to give my experience to them and also bring some new ideas to training. what I think is very important and also work very close with Mile. Sometimes players drop down,” the former Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers winger said.
“Our principles are almost similar to the A-League because the boys need to be ready if there’s a call-up for the weekend. Mile (Sterjovski) doesn’t have the time to explain everything, so they need to be ready to play an A-League game.”
Having worked with the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Joachim Low and Adi Hutter during an impressive playing career, Muller is bringing that experience and knowledge to the Bulls and the next generation in Football NSW League One.
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“My style is attractive, attacking football. I want to play attractive football. We are basically the youngest team in the league I think with Newcastle Jets, so the other team are more experienced,” he said.
“I want a high-tempo, high-intensity pressing attacking football. That’s my philosophy. It suits the young boys and the principles of Mile.”
It is all in line with Macarthur’s vision and their pathway for players.
This past January alone saw Jed Drew (TSV Hartberg), Ariath Piol (Real Salt Lake) and Oli Jones (Randers) depart, as well as star captain Valere Germain (Sanfrecce Hiroshima).
The transfers of trio Drew, Piol and Jones caught the eye in particular, highlighting Macarthur’s success in nurturing young talent and providing a pathway abroad.
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“They played NPL2 last season which is my space now. One is in America now (Piol) and the other (Jones) is in Europe. So there is a pathway, especially in our club at the moment. It’s great how quick it goes in football.
“It’s great to see and good for the club as well.”
So, what is the secret to producing players at that level?
“The communication. To bring players up for training, if there’s an opportunity to sign them as a scholarship player,” Muller said.
“Dean Bosnjak is a great example. He played last season 10-15 games in the 20s NPL2 and then 10-15 games in first grade and now he is on a scholarship and then he was at the Asian Cup with the Young Socceroos. That’s great to see.
“There’s great work in the youth space. I just want to continue that and help those boys be ready for the A-League.”
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Muller is now playing a role in the next wave of Bulls youngsters looking to crack the A-Leagues.
This season, Muller’s Bulls are seventh and eight points off the pace amid a four-match unbeaten run in NSW’s second tier after narrowly missing out on promotion to NPLM NSW in a relegation/promotion play-off against the Mariners.
Zane Helweh and Atiya Waraga are leading the way in attack for the Bulls with four goals and seven goals respectively across the U20 and first grade teams in 2025.
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“Atiya was new to the club from Canberra,” Muller explained.
“Great potential. I think he can be a very, very good player.
“Zane as well. Zane was in the bigger selection for the AFC Asian Cup U20s team. He was there when they (Young Socceroos) did the internal game.
“He needs to work on his consistency. He needs to score goals and be one of the best players in the team.
“We have some very good young boys. It’s a good mix.”
Another player to keep an eye on is Bulls defender Will McKay.
“He is one of the potential A-League players in my opinion,” said Muller, who “definitely” believes there are a number of players who could make the step up to the Isuzu UTE A-League.
It all forms part of an exciting period in Australian football and a a global “trend” amid the emergence of young talent across the competition.
With a background spanning over a decade at elite level, Muller has a deep understanding of the game and that is why he is impressed with the quality of players coming through the game.
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“Even at the U20 Asian Cup, they get more attention in Europe. Even to mention I played with Max Balard at Mariners. Now to see how he develops, now one of the best players in his team (at NAC Breda in the Eredivisie).
“The trend in the A-League at the moment is to give young players a chance. Even to compare to Europe, I think when I started my professional career the best age was 28-30. If I went older, no it went down even in the top leagues. If you’re good enough, you play. That’s the new way of producing young players. Give them a chance.
“We see the best examples at Macarthur at the moment. They play a couple of games in the A-League and then they’re in Europe.”
