Impossible to deny that the New York Red Bulls have done more than anyone expected in 2024 but even fewer people expected them to be the most successful of the current crop of teams. RB Leipzig is languishing in the Bundesliga, crippled by injuries and poor tactical management. Red Bull Salzburg have seen their hopes of continued success disappear under new head coach Pep Lijnders and a crop of young talent unable to live up to expectations.
Then there is the New York Red Bulls. A team that many fans perceived was an afterthought of Red Bull Global Sports. Leipzig, Salzburg and even Bragantino appeared to be more of a priority as New York toiled at developing local players and fighting a rigidly encumbering list of league rules. Fans got a glimpse of what expectations were at the end of last season. Head of Sport Jochen Schneider shared his thoughts on the season and how it wasn’t up to what he or Red Bull expected.
“We need to get better,” said Schneider after a disappointing first round exit in last year’s playoffs. “I remember our great fans in the South Ward one day holding up a banner saying ‘Just Not Good Enough.’ Sometimes the fans have the best feelings for the situation. Looking back, the moment you see that you think, I don’t really like that. But I’m looking back now to say, they were completely right.”
That mindset entered the off-season where Red Bulls targeted Leipzig legend Emil Forsberg and bolstered the young defense with Noah Eile. New head coach Sandro Schwarz arrived with little fanfare given his experience in places that the US fanbase knew almost nothing about. The German-born coach quickly showed his ability to learn the league tactically but ran into the usual roster problems that hinder teams midseason. Adjustments leading into the players showed that his appointment was not just the right move, but one that could lead the team to their ultimate goal of their first MLS Cup.
“For me that is, to be honest, the main part of why I’m doing this job,” said Schwarz when asked about his playoff run. “I’m very happy about the whole group, about the mentality, about the whole behavior and that makes me happy. It’s not only because of the result last week.”
The combination of results and the nature of the New York market has once again catapulted the Red bulls into the top spot for Red Bull Soccer. The decline of fellow teams Leipzig and Salzburg present yet another opportunity under the leadership of Schneider, Schwarz and upper staff such as Mario Gomez to make the Red Bulls not just the premier team for the Red Bull profile but also one that can define success across their world portfolio.
photo by Matt Kremkau