Former New York Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber will end his time at Red Bull Salzburg less than one year after joining the club. Struber departed New York in May of 2023 after an atrocious start that required the team to dig their way out and into the playoffs on the last day of the season.
“I am disappointed of course,” said Struber about the decision. “Everyone knows how special this job in Salzburg was for me. We had an extraordinary amount of challenges this season, starting with losing some key performers in an extremely young side, and we have continually had injuries to key players. As a coach I take responsibility of course, for the bad results recently. It was an emotional time in which we were able to enjoy a lot of great moments.”
Struber joined Salzburg in July of 2023 following the departure of Mathias Jaissle. It was a stormy exit with the young coach deciding to join a Saudi Arabian club for big money. Struber, who had history with the club previously as a coach on the reserve side, stepped in to lead the club to their 14th consecutive Austrian Bundesliga title.
“We have become convinced of the need to bring a new drive into the team for the end of title race,” said Sporting Director Bernhard Soenbuchner. “We are putting our entire focus and concentration on staying at the top of the table and taking the Bundesliga title to Salzburg again.”
Struber finished the regular season with a 15-5-2 record, finishing four points clear of second place SK Sturm Graz. The playoff rounds have gone far less successfully with a loss and a draw in their last four games. Most recently a loss to LASK 3-1 was the final straw. Interim head coach Onur Cinel will step in to handle the remainder of the season while Salzburg looks for a replacement.
“I knew straight away that I wanted to come help the team,” said Cinel about accepting the position. “We have to form a strong unit in a short period of time and perform to the highest level in every match so that we meet the aims of our club.”
Salzburg were also eliminated from the Austrian Cup by Sturm Graz in early April, leaving the Bundesliga as the only competition left for them to win. Should they lose, it will be the first time in more than a decade that the club will not win a major trophy.