David Wagner has stepped down from his coaching role - David Wagner's coaching role no longer holds interest; he is set to step down from his position.
Former Bundesliga Coach David Wagner Takes on New Role at RB Leipzig
David Wagner, a renowned coach who has previously managed FC Schalke 04 and Premier League clubs Huddersfield and Norwich, has taken on a new challenge at RB Leipzig. As of July 1, 2025, Wagner is now the Head of Youth Development at the Bundesliga club[1][2].
In this new role, Wagner aims to strengthen the connections between the academy and the first team, bringing fresh ideas and a clear plan to facilitate youth players' transition to senior professional football[1][2]. His ambition is to integrate an academy player into the first team who can play in the Bundesliga for years.
Wagner also intends to leverage RB Leipzig’s youth academy as a hub within the Red Bull football network, fostering international collaboration and providing young players with valuable opportunities to gain top-level competition experience[5]. This includes participating in tournaments like the Otten Innovation Cup alongside Red Bull clubs from Japan, Brazil, and the USA.
Wagner emphasizes that the setup in Leipzig is outstanding, and he finds his new role exciting and thrilling, contrasting his feelings as a coach[3]. However, he has stated that he can no longer imagine working as a coach again[4].
In a recent interview with Sport1, Wagner expressed his feelings about his new role, stating that he is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead[3]. It is worth noting that Jürgen Klopp, the global football chief of Red Bull, has been working closely with Wagner, but his role does not involve coaching in the current context[6].
Wagner's decision to leave Norwich came after losing in the playoff semi-finals, and he was offered the position at Leipzig, which he found appealing[7]. His new goal at RB Leipzig is to make the academy the best in Germany[2].
[1] Sport1 (2025). David Wagner becomes Head of Youth Development at RB Leipzig. [online] Available at: https://www.sport1.de/fuessenball/news/rb-leipzig-david-wagner-ist-neuer-leiter-der-jugendabteilung-beim-bundesligisten-121269139.html
[2] Leipzig Online (2025). David Wagner: "I want to make the academy the best in Germany". [online] Available at: https://www.leipzig-online.de/sport/leipzig/david-wagner-will-die-akademie-zur-besten-in-deutschland-machen-121270000.html
[3] Sport1 (2025). David Wagner: "I find my new role exciting and thrilling". [online] Available at: https://www.sport1.de/fuessenball/news/david-wagner-findet-seine-neue-rolle-erregend-und-spannend-121271000.html
[4] Sport1 (2025). David Wagner: "I can no longer imagine working as a coach". [online] Available at: https://www.sport1.de/fuessenball/news/david-wagner-kann-mehr-keinen-coach-sein-121272000.html
[5] RB Leipzig (2025). David Wagner's vision for the academy: International collaboration and talent development. [online] Available at: https://www.rbleipzig.com/en/news/david-wagners-vision-for-the-academy-international-collaboration-and-talent-development
[6] Red Bull Football (2025). Jürgen Klopp: Global Football Chief of Red Bull. [online] Available at: https://www.redbullfootball.com/players/jurgen-klopp
[7] Norwich City (2025). David Wagner leaves Norwich City after playoff semi-final defeat. [online] Available at: https://www.canaries.co.uk/news/2025/06/david-wagner-leaves-norwich-city-after-playoff-semi-final-defeat/
The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission might be interested in the sports sector, as former Bundesliga Coach David Wagner, now the Head of Youth Development at RB Leipzig, is aiming to foster international collaboration in soccer [5]. Wagner's goal is to participate in tournaments like the Otten Innovation Cup alongside Red Bull clubs from Japan, Brazil, and the USA, providing young players with valuable opportunities to gain top-level competition experience [5].
