Roger Schmidt returns to Red Bull and visits Leipzig in new role

Roger Schmidt returns to Red Bull and visits Leipzig in new roleRoger Schmidt visited Leipzig on Thursday for the first time since taking up his new role as Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull. The 59-year-old introduced himself to RB Leipzig staff at an internal event, sharing his first impressions of the job and his plans for the future.JürgenKlopp, who left to become Germany head coach following the World Cup. Alongside Florian Scholz, Head of Global Soccer Commercial, he will help oversee the continued development of Red Bull’s international football network.A wealth of experience to draw onFor Schmidt, the move marks a return to familiar surroundings. He previously coached Red Bull Salzburg from 2012 to 2014, winning the Austrian league and cup double in his final season. He went on to coach Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Beijing Guoan, PSV Eindhoven and Benfica before most recently working as Global Football Advisor for Japan’s J.League.“It's great to be back. I had a really special time in Salzburg and have obviously kept an eye on how Leipzig have progressed and how Red Bull have developed internationally. Perhaps those years away have given me exactly the experience I need for this job.”After more than 20 years in coaching, Schmidt made a conscious decision not to take another job on the touchline. He still wanted to remain closely involved in football, however, and his new role offers him a different perspective on the game.“I’m looking forward to supporting my colleagues and the coaches and simply sharing my experience.”Building connections and driving developmentIn his new role, Schmidt will work closely with the clubs’ coaching staff and management teams to further develop Red Bull’s playing philosophy. He will also use his international network to help scout top young talent and support the training and development of coaches.One of his main priorities is to strengthen cooperation between the clubs across Red Bull’s football network. “There are opportunities for us to work together and benefit from each other’s expertise. Bringing the clubs closer together is one of the most important tasks for our Global Team.”Schmidt made the most of his first visit to Leipzig, taking the opportunity to see how things work at the club, meet the staff and get a feel for the atmosphere at Cottaweg.Welcome back to the Red Bull family, Roger!Discover moreFixtures Red Bull Arena Men's first team Tickets Fan Zone