Roger Schmidt begins role as Red Bull Head of Global Soccer

Roger Schmidt has officially commenced his role as the Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull, succeeding Jürgen Klopp. Schmidt, the former coach of RB Salzburg, Bayer Leverkusen, and Benfica, will oversee football development across the company’s multi-club network, which includes RB Leipzig, Red Bull New York, Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil, and RB Omiya Ardija in Japan.

Unlike his predecessor, who managed operations from Munich, Schmidt will be based in Salzburg. He will be accompanied by Oliver Noe, the Head of Sporting Operations, but will not bring an extensive personal staff. His initial responsibilities involve visiting various clubs to meet coaching staffs, sporting directors, and academy leaders to understand their current operations and help shape future strategies.

Schmidt’s appointment comes as RB Leipzig faces challenges in the Bundesliga. While he has not yet fully assumed his duties, reports indicate he has already provided input regarding coaching personnel, specifically expressing support for Leipzig’s current manager, Martín Demichelis.