Wagner, Klopp's confidant, appointed Head of Youth at RB Leipzig
New Youth Coordinator at RB Leipzig: David Wagner
David Wagner has stepped in as the new youth coordinator at RB Leipzig, replacing Manuel Baum who left the club unexpectedly. Marcel Schäfer, the sporting director, expressed their desire to work with Wagner to improve the permeability into the professional ranks. This move comes after Wagner's helpful discussions with Jürgen Klopp on youth development and transitions into the professional ranks, both coaches having played together at Mainz.
Bonding Times in Mainz and England
Wagner, who was previously without a club after parting ways with Norwich City in May 2024, shared insights on football development with Klopp during the Wings Cup in Leipzig. Their bond goes back to their time at Mainz, where they were teammates and, interestingly enough, Wagner served as Klopp's best man at his wedding. Now, having taken on the role at Leipzig, Wagner reconnects with Klopp as the latter is responsible for global soccer at the Red Bull company.
Success and Challenges: A Coaching Journey
The duo's paths crossed again in England when Wagner coached Huddersfield Town from 2015 to early 2019, even promoting the club to the Premier League in 2017. Although he met with troubled spells at Schalke 04, Young Boys Bern, and Norwich City, Wagner's coaching career is marked by his ability to revitalize struggling teams and accomplish the seemingly impossible.
Wagner transformed struggling Huddersfield Town into a Premier League team with one of the smallest budgets and led them to avoid relegation in his first season. In 2017, he secured them a promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, a remarkable underdog tale in football. Despite securing survival the following season, he left the club after a series of poor results that saw them at the bottom of the Premier League.
Wagner's tenures at Schalke 04 and Young Boys Bern were short-lived and were cut short due to underperformance. Details surrounding his departure from Norwich City are not readily available. Despite these setbacks, Wagner remains one of football's most intriguing coaches with a proven track record of turning teams around.
With Wagner now on board at RB Leipzig, the youth ranks can look forward to gaining from a coach known for his transformation and perseverance in the face of adversity.
David Wagner's extensive experience in revitalizing sports teams, particularly in football, will be invaluable as he focuses on European-leagues development within RB Leipzig's youth ranks. His successful promotion of Huddersfield Town to the Premier League showcases his knack for transforming underdog teams into formidable competitors.
