Those responsible at Red Bull Salzburg have drawn conclusions from the sporting decline. On Monday, the series champion announced the early end of Gerhard Struber’s short coaching era. After less than a year in office, the Salzburger has to vacate his chair again. The previous Liefering coach Onur Cinel will take over until the end of the season.
15.04.2024 12.53
Online since today, 12:53 p.m
“After the development of the last games and a thorough analysis of the sporting situation, we have come to the conclusion that we need to give the team a new impetus for the championship finish,” said sports director Bernhard Seonbuchner in a press release explaining the decision to change coach. “We are putting all our focus and concentration on staying at the top of the table and bringing the Bundesliga championship title back to Salzburg.”
Struber only took over the coaching position in Wals-Siezenheim in the summer of 2023. Immediately before the start of the season, the 47-year-old Kuchler replaced Matthias Jaissle, who had surprisingly moved to al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. However, under Struber, Salzburg did not act as dominantly as in the past. In 35 competitive games, 20 wins were celebrated, there were seven draws and eight defeats. After Huub Stevens (2011) and Peter Zeidler (2015), Struber is only the third Salzburg coach in the Red Bull era to have to resign during the season.
GEPA/David Geieregger Onur Cinel moves volley from the 2nd league to the executive chair of the series champions
Until recently, everything in the championship looked like another title for the Struber team, especially after the 1-0 win on Easter Sunday at Sturm Graz. But in the next three games they were eliminated in the cup after a 3:4 home defeat against Graz and in the league a 1:1 home defeat against Rapid as well as the defeat in Linz. This means that the planned title defense in the championship is shaky, as Salzburg and Sturm are now tied in first and second place with the same points. Red Bull is currently ahead because of its better record in direct duels with the Styrians.
Cinel wants to form a “strong unity”.
By the end of the season, an internal solution was found with the previous Liefering coach Cinel. The 38-year-old German previously also trained the Salzburg Youth League team. “After the request from FC Red Bull Salzburg, it was immediately clear to me that I wanted to support the team,” said Cinel in a press release. “We have to form a strong unit within a very short time and need the highest possible level in every training session and in every game “so that we can achieve the club’s desired goal.”
For Seonbuchner, Cinel is the ideal person to achieve the goal. “Onur is a proven expert, which he recently demonstrated as coach of our cooperation club FC Liefering. “He also knows the way we want to play football, which is another reason for this solution,” said the German about his compatriot.
