RB Leipzig made a shock move this week, parting ways with head coach Ole Werner after just one season with the club. His time in the Bundesliga saw Leipzig return to the UEFA Champions League following a third place finish. Early indications were that he would remain with the club after working hard with many of the new players to make Leipzig one of the more exciting teams in Germany.
“We decided that a change of head coach was needed,” said Managing Director of Sport Marcel Schafer. “We believe the challenges ahead require new ideas and a different approach. We wish Ole, Tom and Patrick every success and all the best for the future.”
Werner, 38 years-old, took up the position last year after Leipzig failed to make it into European competition. He worked with the likes of emerging starts Christoph Baumgartner, Yan Diomande and Antonio Nusa. All together the team was able to stabilize results, potentially building a Bundesliga contender.
One of the bigger issues in the past has been the club’s inability to hold on to high-potential players. Dominik Szoboszlai, Josko Gvardiol, Dayot Upamecano, Konrad Laimer and many others have found themselves on teams around Europe with various levels of success. For Leipzig it has been two DFB Pokals to their name but still hunt for their first league title.
Rumors are now swirling over who will replace Werner. A group consisting of Global Head of Sport Jurgen Klopp and Mario Gomez are expected to make their decision shortly. Expectations are that the new coach will be with the club before players return for the World Cup.
photo from RB Leipzig