Danny Rohl has broken his silence after Rangers insisted his departure was their decision, stressing he is delighted to have joined Red Bull Salzburg because they have a 'clear identity.' The German boss quit Ibrox to take charge of the Austrian side after Rangers could only finish third in the Premiership following a post-split collapse. Rangers chief executive Jim Gillespie later stated that Rohl leaving was their decision so they could bring in Derek McInnes from Hearts as their new boss.
Rohl hints at Rangers' leadership issues
Now Rohl, in an interview in Austria, has hinted Rangers were lacking leadership. He said: "The nice thing about being here is that there's a sporting director. Previously, I've always been the one conducting these talks. Now Marcus Mann and I will do it together. That's also the difference between Salzburg and Rangers: I find the collaboration with Marcus extremely positive."
"Marcus was a key factor in me coming here. He made his decision very early on and was very clear about what he wanted. It was very noticeable that the people in charge in Salzburg, and also within the global network, were of one mind and had a positive attitude. Fundamentally, you can't compare the two clubs."
Salzburg's clear identity vs Rangers' journey
"Salzburg represents a team with young talent and an environment with a clear identity. At Rangers, we embarked on a journey to forge our own identity. Working in such a well-established environment was a key reason for coming here. However, I enjoyed my time at Rangers and learned a great deal there."
"It was a rollercoaster of emotions in Scotland. There, you play in front of 51,000 supporters every few days. Here, our goal is to play attractive football and be successful again so that we fill the stadium once more. We have a very enthusiastic fanbase who, after ten consecutive league titles, between 2014 and 2023, have certain expectations. We want to win titles and qualify for European competition."
Jurgen Klopp's influence on Rohl's move
And the former Sheffield Wednesday boss confirmed Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp - now Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer - played a big role in persuading him to move to Austria. He said: "It's correct that Jurgen Klopp played a part. Shortly after my initial phone call with Marcus Mann, I had a very good conversation with Jurgen Klopp."
"For a long time, it wasn't entirely clear whether Salzburg would reach an agreement with Rangers. But we have a clear idea of how we want to operate here, leveraging all the advantages that Red Bull Salzburg offers. I benefit from my experience at various clubs - RB Leipzig, Southampton, Bayern Munich, the German national team, Sheffield Wednesday, and Rangers."
"And I try to pass that on to the young players. I stand for making bold decisions both on and off the pitch. It's important that we develop the lads off the pitch as well. We don't just want to generate followers, but also leaders."
