Ole Werner appointed RB Leipzig coach
The deal was announced on Tuesday after Leipzig reached an agreement with the 37-year-old's previous club Werder Bremen, where he spent four years but was on gardening leave.
"Ole is a young, up-and-coming and highly ambitious head coach who will take the next step in his development with us," Leipzig's managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer said.
"Ole has a clear footballing philosophy. He likes to play structured possession-based football, encourages quick transitions after winning the ball, while he also wants his teams to be strong pressers,tactically flexible and to play in a bold, committed and combative manner."
Leipzig finished seventh in the past Bundesliga season, missing a place in Europe for the first time since being promoted to the topflight in 2016.
Marco Rose was axed as coach in March and Zsolt Löw acted as caretaker for the remaining matches. Former Liverpool maestro Jürgen Klopp is now head of global soccer at Red Bull and would have been involved in Werner's appointment. Werner's appointment came after other candidates such as Cesc Fabregas (Como), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Roger Schmidt(formerly Benfica) and Sandro Wagner (now Augsburg) were not available. Werner said after the season that he would not renew his contract in Bremen beyond 2026, which prompted the club to part ways with him immediately. They appointed second-tier Elversberg coach Horst Steffen having finished eighth last term under Werner.
"I am really pleased to now be head coach of RB Leipzig. During our very detailed discussions, it was immediately clear that both sides share the same ideas about how we want to play and work," said Werner, who coached Holstein Kiel before Bremen. "RB Leipzig stands for a bold, attacking style of play with a clear identity as well as professional and ambitious thinking.
"The club have big goals and high expectations and this is exactly the kind of environment that convinced me and one to which I want to contribute."
Werner joins Leipzig just as there is uncertainty over the futures two of their leading lights. Arsenal have been heavily linked in the media with Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, while playmaker Xavi Simons also wants to move, reports say. Leipzig are also yet to announce what they will do with the coach's namesake Timo Werner, who has returned to his parent club after a poor loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur.
Coach Werner will be presented at an official press conference in the"near future."
Assistants Patrick Kohlmann and Tom Cichon will be part of his coaching team. All Bundesliga sides needing new coaches have now announced their plans for next season. Bayer Leverkusen appointed Erik ten Hag,Wolfsburg brought in fellow Dutchman Paul Simonis and promoted Cologne named former Paderborn boss Lukas Kwasniok. — dpa
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
12-07-2025
- Observer
Pogacar back in yellow after winning stage seven of Tour de France
FRANCE: Defending champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is back in the yellow jersey after the Slovenian fought off Dane Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) to win stage seven of the Tour de France on Friday. Pogacar, three-times winner, claimed his second stage of this year's Tour at the end of a 197-km ride from Saint-Malo to Mur-de-Bretagne, outsprinting Vingegaard at the summit finish, with Britain's Oscar Onley taking third place. Mathieu van der Poel began the day with a one-second lead over Pogacar but the Dutchman finished 22nd on the stage and slipped to fifth overall, with Belgian Remco Evenepoel now in second place and 54 seconds behind the Slovenian. Van der Poel won his first Tour de France stage, and claimed his first yellow jersey, at the Mur-de-Bretagne finish in 2021, but there was no repeat for the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider, after he was dropped on the steep climb to the line. "I was quite sure I would lose the jersey today so I tried to enjoy it as much as possible," Van der Poel said. "Coming back here to Mur-de-Bretagne is quite special wearing the yellow jersey after four years." After several early attacks, a five-man group -- containing 2018 winner Geraint Thomas, with the 39-year-old Welshman riding his last Tour -- got away with over 140 km still to race. LOUD CHEERS With the peloton upping the pace, the leading group began to crack, leaving Ewen Costiou (Arkea-B&B Hotels) out alone as the race reached the Mur-de-Bretagne for the first time with the peloton just 20 seconds behind as they crossed the summit. Costiou was soon swallowed up by the bunch, but the 22-year-old Breton had his moment of glory, the local rider greeted with loud cheers from the huge crowd gathered at what would also be the finish line. With six kilometres remaining, a crash at the back of the peloton brought down several riders, including Pogacar's team-mate Joao Almeida, who was seventh overall in the standings, and stage six winner Ben Healy. The action was always going to come in the finishing circuit, where the riders faced the Mur-de-Bretagne twice, and Pogacar tried to get away from the reduced bunch in the final two kilometres to the finish. Pogacar was followed by Evenepoel and Vingegaard, and eventually eight riders were left battling for the stage win in the last kilometre, but Van der Poel was not among them, dropped on that final climb. That left Pogacar certain of taking back the yellow jersey which he had narrowly lost on Thursday and, after team-mate Jhonatan Narvaez led him out, Pogacar stole a march on his rivals by pouncing first. Vingegaard, twice winner, was the only rider able to go with Pogacar but the Slovenian punched the air in delight as he crossed the line ahead of the Dane. "I'm super happy with the win today, we did almost perfect, unfortunately Joao crashed and I hope he's okay," Pogacar said. "If he is okay then it's a perfect day, if not then this victory is for him." Saturday's stage eight is a mostly flat 171.4 km ride from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval. — Reuters
Observer
02-07-2025
- Observer
Liverpool defender Quansah signs for Bayer Leverkusen
MUNICH, Germany: Centre-half Jarell Quansah has joined Bayer Leverkusen from Premier League champions Liverpool for a reported club record fee, the Bundesliga side announced on Wednesday. According to British and German press, the transfer fee for the 22-year-old could go up to 40 million euros ($47 million), including 10 million euros in add-ons. German specialist media Kicker and The Athletic also reported the inclusion of a 60-million-euros buy-back clause in the contract, which Liverpool could activate from summer 2027 to re-sign Quansah. "We are very happy to be able to sign Jarell Quansah, one of the most promising English central defenders," said Leverkusen managing director of sport Simon Rolfes. "He made a very impressive contribution to a Liverpool defence full of world-class players. Jarell will give our defence extra dynamism, tempo and strength." Quansah becomes the most expensive signing in Leverkusen's history, following on from the previous record arrival of midfielder Kerem Demirbay for 32 million euros in 2019. The 2025 European under-21 champion with England joined Liverpool's academy as a five-year-old, and rose through the ranks before making his first-team debut in 2023. He went on to appear 58 times for the Merseysiders, winning the League Cup in 2022 and 2024, as well as the Premier League title last season. After playing second fiddle to first-choice defensive duo Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate for much of the 2024/25 campaign, Quansah arrives at Leverkusen to replace departed former captain Jonathan Tah at the heart of the Bundesliga club's defence. "The ambitious targets here were clearly explained to me during the negotiations. It's a great role and challenge for me to be part of the current Leverkusen rebuild," said Quansah. After creating league history by winning the Bundesliga undefeated in 2024, Leverkusen endured a difficult title defence last term, finishing 13 points adrift of winners Bayern Munich. Stars of their league-and-cup double from two seasons years ago, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, have recently gone in the opposite direction from Quansah, joining Liverpool from Leverkusen this close-season.— AFP
Observer
29-06-2025
- Observer
McLaren's Lando Norris wins Austrian Grand Prix
*Norris wins from pole, Piastri second *Australian's points lead cut to 15 *Norris's third win of the season *Leclerc third and Hamilton fourth SPIELBERG, Austria: Lando Norris resisted vigorous attacks from team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri to claim a masterful McLaren 1-2 in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix. In torrid heat at the Red Bull Ring, the 25-year-old Briton came home 2.695 seconds clear of the 24-year-old Australian to trim his lead in the title race by 15 points It was Norris's first win in Austria, his third win this year and the seventh of his career. It was McLaren's first win in Austria since David Coulthard triumphed in 2001. The McLaren pair battled throughout the race to provide thrilling racing for the packed crowd and put behind them their collision in Canada two weeks earlier. Charles Leclerc was third ahead of his Ferrari team-mate seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, their best result of the year, with George Russell finishing fifth for Mercedes. "It was a tough race," said Norris. Liam Lawson came in a career-best sixth for RB on a desultory day for the senior Red Bull team after four-time champion Max Verstappen retired on the opening lap after being hit by Mercedes' teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli. He is now 61 points behind Piastri. Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was seventh ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto and his Sauber team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, the future Audi outfit showing their huge potential, with Esteban Ocon finishing 10th for Haas. After a frantic prelude, during which Carlos Sainz's Williams failed to leave the grid and then caught fire in the pit lane, the race was delayed for 10 minutes - before delivering immediate drama at the second attempt. Norris made a clean start while, behind him, Piastri passed Leclerc on the outside of Turn One before Antonelli locked up and lost control at Turn Three and hit Verstappen's Red Bull. A safety car was deployed as both drivers retired on lap one ending, for the defending champion a run of 31 races in the points. "I got hit," said the Dutchman on team radio. The teenage rookie apologised. "I locked the rear. Sorry about that," he told Mercedes. The race resumed after a two-minute slowdown and Norris was forced immediately to defend as Piastri, looking sharp, attacked as also did Russell on Hamilton for fourth. Both were thwarted by defensive driving. By lap 12, the McLaren duo were four seconds clear and delivering a show of their own. Unhampered by any embarrassing hangovers from their collision in Montreal, they raced side by side and wheel to wheel, but each time the Australian attacked, the Briton hung on. In scorching heat of 32 degrees (air) and 55 (track), it was a perfect advertisement for the historic venue in the Styrian Alps which had secured a 16-year contract extension to 2041 before the race. Norris pitted, taking hards, after surviving another Piastri lunge, at turn four, on lap 20. Piastri then followed suit, emerging fourth until Leclerc pitted. After the leaders out on track also changed tyres Norris led Piastri by 6.5 seconds. Red Bull's misery intensified on lap 30 when Yuki Tsunoda hit Colapinto, sending both to the pits for repairs. The Japanese rejoined 16th and last of the runners with a new front wing before being handed a 10-second penalty. As the field settled Norris led Piastri by 3.2s. Russell began the second round of stops on lap 46, followed by the rest of the leaders, leaving Norris to complete a near-perfect day in the Styrian mountains. — AFP
