Former Schalke coach, a close confidant of Jurgen Klopp, will no longer hold coaching roles in the future following his tenure with the club.
David Wagner, the former coach of FC Schalke 04, Huddersfield Town, and Norwich City, has taken on a new role within the Red Bull football family. He is now leading the youth department at RB Leipzig, a change that has brought him a fresh sense of excitement.
Wagner's goals and vision for the youth department focus on strengthening the connection between the academy and the first team, integrating fresh ideas, and fostering international collaboration. He aims to create a seamless pathway for youth players to transition into the senior team while providing them with top-level exposure and competitive opportunities.
One of Wagner's key priorities is building stronger links between the youth academy and the first team. He believes this will ensure promising academy talents can advance effectively to professional play. Wagner also emphasises the importance of bringing fresh ideas and a clear plan to youth development, reflecting his experience with youth teams and clubs in the past.
International collaboration is another crucial aspect of Wagner's vision. He plans to unite youth talents from RB Leipzig, RB Omiya (Japan), Red Bull Bragantino (Brazil), and New York Red Bulls (USA) in tournaments like the Otten Innovation Cup, giving players valuable international experience against top competition.
Wagner also stresses the importance of offering youth players chances to prove themselves at a high level and gain exposure in important games. He combines competitive match time with developmental support, ensuring that the young talents are well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
Wagner's big goal in Leipzig is to become the best academy in Germany. He believes changes are necessary to achieve this, and he is working closely with Jürgen Klopp, the global football chief of Red Bull, to make it happen. Wagner made these comments in an interview with Sport1.
Wagner's new role at RB Leipzig began in July. He made the decision to do something new after the elimination in the semi-finals of the playoffs with Norwich. Despite experiencing motivational problems before taking office in Norwich, Wagner finds every day new, exciting, and thrilling in his new position, which was not the case as a coach anymore.
Wagner's dream is to integrate a player from their academy into the first team who plays in the Bundesliga for years and takes on a real role. He believes this challenge has not been achieved in over ten years, and he is determined to make it a reality.
It is not specified what Wagner was doing before joining RB Leipzig, but it is clear that he is excited about his new role and the opportunities it presents. He is doing something new, and he thinks that's great.
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- Wagner, now at RB Leipzig, seeks to align the academy with the first team, fostering a seamless pathway for youth players to transition into professional play.
- In his new role, Wagner joins teams from Japan, Brazil, and the USA, aiming to boost international collaboration and cultivate a global dynamism in youth football.
