Leipzig manager Schröder switches to Salzburg

RB Leipzig confirmed on Sunday that front-office administrator Rouven Schröder would be moving to sister club RB Salzburg. 

As questions around the club’s current coaching regime continue to mount, RB Leipzig will enter the week with once less manager working in the front office. Former FC Schalke 04 and FSV Mainz 05 sporting director Rouven Schröder signed on as a club sporting director in March of 2023. 

Initially slated to work under sporting CEO Max Eberl, Schröder served as the club’s top personnel boss for almost a full season after Eberl was sacked in September 2023 amid rumors that he wished to move to Bayern. After the 2023/24 campaign, he took a back seat to new hiring Marcel Schäfer.

Leipzig confirmed on Sunday that Schäfer will be moving to sister club RB Salzburg to serve as sporting director. The switch counts as a lateral promotion for the 49-year-old executive and has nothing to do with the German club’s current sporting plight.

“Rouven has always been fully committed to his tasks and to the club and has always stepped up [when needed],” Schäfer noted in a Leipzig statement, “The discussions about his desire to leave were also very transparent and professional. We would like to thank Rouven for his commitment and hard work and wish him all the best and much success in his new challenge.”