Danny Rohl believes he will be a better fit at RB Salzburg than he was at Rangers. The German manager has signed a three-year deal with the Austrian Bundesliga giants after leaving his troubled role at Ibrox. He took his first training session with his new squad on their return to pre-season.
Reunion with Red Bull
Rohl's move reunites him with the Red Bull hierarchy, who also operate RB Leipzig, where the 37-year-old began his coaching career. He hopes for an easier time than he experienced in Scotland. Rohl was hired last October to clean up the mess left by Russell Martin at Rangers. While he initially propelled the team back into the title race, he lost the trust of fans after a late-season collapse.
The former Sheffield Wednesday boss, whose move earned Rangers around £2 million in compensation, said: "Yes, I think the task in Glasgow was also difficult. I stand for brave decisions. I stand for brave football. That's why Red Bull Salzburg is just the right fit for me, for us, for my team."
He credited sporting director Markus Mann for convincing him of the club's vision. "Markus Mann, the sporting director here at Salzburg, really convinced me of the idea how we want to perform, what we want to do. And I think that Markus was already quite active. We had a great exchange the last few days. And Markus was certainly also a decisive factor why it worked."
Rohl added: "I had a great time in Glasgow. It was relatively short but now I’m looking forward. As I said, there is a connection when you have worked for Red Bull for nine years. I was allowed to take my first steps there. I was allowed to work from the academy to the first team in Leipzig at the time, to get to know many facets. Red Bull stands for a good organisation, for a clear identity. And above all, Red Bull Salzburg, I have to say, stands for a lot of quality with a very high demand for a title. I think that's very important for me, that we are an ambitious club that wants to win a title. And for that we will do everything."
New Challenge in Austria
Rohl replaces Daniel Beichler after Salzburg finished third last season, behind Lask and Sturm Graz. He believes he can achieve success in Austria after missing out on silverware in Glasgow. "I think the last three years there has been a lot of hunger again here at the club," he said. "And that's exactly what I feel in me. I am ambitious and look forward to working with a great club and with great people again. I'm glad to be part of it now. For me, it's just about bringing back a lot of success to the club. I always know Salzburg is famous for offensive, brave football. That's also why I'm really happy to be back. That's exactly the way we want to take the team."
Rohl has been joined in Salzburg by Rangers first-team coach Sascha Lenze and analyst Tristan Steiner, but his Ibrox assistant Matthias Kaltenbach remains in Glasgow for now. News of the approach first broke last Thursday, and the deal took a week to complete. RB chief Mann expressed delight at finally securing Rohl.
He said: "Yes, it is in fact the case that we have been with Danny, I don't even know how long, it’s probably been agreed for a week that we want to do this. We had an agreement sorted with Rangers for a few days from our point of view. Over the last few days there were still a few little things and sometimes a few bigger little things that had to be clarified. And that's why it took a little longer. But it was nothing where we had the fear that it could burst again. Yes, we would have liked to have taken it a few days earlier. But it is simply important to us that it worked and that Danny is here. Everything has been signed on time for him to take training this morning. And that's the most important thing."
