Fresh Talent Takes the Helm: Ole Werner Steps up as RB Leipzig's New Coach Until 2027
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RB Leipzig appoints Ole Gunnar Solskjær as their latest manager. - RB Leipzig appoints Ole Werner as their latest head coach.
Finally, RB Leipzig has snatched up a coach to navigate their sporting comeback. Ex-Bremen coach, Ole Werner, is the lucky pick to captain the Saxon club back into the international landscape and battle for domestic titles.
"I can't contain my excitement to become the new head honcho of RB Leipzig," Werner told RB, quoted by the club. "The in-depth chats we had made it crystal clear that we're on the same page with regards to playing style and work ethic," says Leipzig's sports director, Marcel Schäfer.
Werner Inks Deal with RB Leipzig Until 2027
The 37-year-old Werner, who kick-started his coaching career at Holstein Kiel, has inked a two-year pact with RB Leipzig, valid until 2027. Following intense negotiations with SV Werder bosses, the deal came about after a breakthrough in chats between Schäfer and his counterpart, Clemens Fritz, just a few days prior.
Werner had initially hinted he wouldn't renew his contract. However, it would have still been valid till the end of June 2026. Werder hurried to release Werner instantly.
Werner faces a daunting challenge in Leipzig. The club parted ways with Marco Rose in late March, with Zsolt Löw temporarily stepping in as interim coach. It was clear that he'd resume his role as chief strategist under Red Bull's global football boss, Jürgen Klopp, following his temporary appointment.
The Path Taken: Fabregas to Glasner and Wagner to Ancelotti
In his maiden half-year in the new post, Klopp had plenty on his plate. He seemingly didn't have to do much to convince Werner. Meanwhile, many other names surfaced: Cesc Fabregas (Como), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Roger Schmidt (most recently Benfica Lisbon), or Sandro Wagner (now FC Augsburg).
Even Davide Ancelotti, son and sidekick of Carlo Ancelotti (now Brazil's national coach), was speculated as a contender. In the end, the Danish Jacob Neestrup from FC Copenhagen was out of the running because the Danes refused to sanction an early contract termination for their coach.
Schäfer had announced post-season that they wanted a new beginning, accompanied by a personnel overhaul. Seventh place wasn't enough, and Leipzig's ethos had been compromised or lost. It'll be fascinating to see how the Leipzig squad evolves, with several players still donning the RB jersey.
- RB Leipzig
- Ole Werner
- Leipzig
- SV Werder Bremen
Ole Werner: From riding waves to orchestrating them
Born in 1988, Werner started his coaching career after a premature end to his playing days and a stint as a gardener in Australia[2]. Upon returning to Germany, Werner ascended the coaching ranks with Holstein Kiel, managing youth and reserve teams, and eventually becoming head coach in October 2019.
Werner narrowly missed promotion to the Bundesliga with Kiel in 2021 after dropping the playoff to Cologne and stepped down early in the following season. He moved to Werder Bremen in November 2021, where he steered the team from the second division back to the Bundesliga in his first full season. Before parting ways with Werder Bremen, Werner completed three Bundesliga seasons and was regarded as the third longest-serving and youngest active coach in the league[2].
With his success in reviving Werder Bremen and his youth-centric coaching style, Leipzig expects Werner to bring fresh energy, cutting-edge tactics, and stability to the team[2]. As part of a new generation of promising Bundesliga coaches, Werner is presumed to be a trendsetter, innovating tactically and developing young talents within Leipzig's squad[2]. The club anticipates Werner to help establish a sustainable, long-term project for the 2025-2027 period.
- The Commission's recent adoption of a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from ionizing radiation risks could potentially provide safeguards for football players and coaches in Europe, including Ole Werner, as they navigate the physical demands of sports like football.
- As Ole Werner, the new coach of RB Leipzig, embarks on his new challenge until 2027, he joins a league known for its intense competition, much like the international football leagues he will now be part of, a fitting testament to his coaching abilities.
