Danny Rohl Reflects on Career Change After Joining Red Bull Salzburg
Danny Rohl has confirmed his decision to leave Rangers and join Red Bull Salzburg, deeming it a positive move for his career. The 37-year-old coach, currently based at Salzburg’s training ground in Taxham, shared insights about his transition during an interview, highlighting the contrasts in his last year.
In a year filled with ups and downs, Rohl moved from navigating a crisis at Sheffield Wednesday to experiencing the relative stability of Salzburg, following a brief, tumultuous stint at Rangers. During his time at Ibrox, he nearly orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the club, managing their return to title contention after taking over when Rangers were sixth in the Scottish Premiership with only one win from eight games. Unfortunately, a difficult finish to the season, with four defeats in five matches, left them in third place.
Rohl, who had anticipated staying with Rangers, received a call about Salzburg’s interest while vacationing in Hawaii in June, prompting this significant career shift. “It was unexpected, but I have no regrets,” he explained. While reflecting on his situation, Rohl noted the beauty around him but acknowledged the need to think about the future.
“I spoke openly with Rangers,” Rohl added. He emphasized the strong connection he felt with Salzburg, especially with sporting director Marcus Mann, who communicated the potential opportunities within the club. Rohl announced, “If there’s no agreement, we carry on,” out of respect for Rangers.
Following his departure, Derek McInnes has stepped in as the new manager for Rangers but faces challenges, having not secured a win in his first four matches, including a recent exit from the Europa League against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Rohl focused on the demanding atmosphere at Salzburg, noting, “The environment is really demanding… this creates a lot of pressure on people to make the right decisions.” He underscored that no one can fully prepare for such a step until they are immersed in it.
Now settled in Austria, Rohl’s career path has taken a bold turn as he steps into a role with Salzburg, a club in need of a revival after failing to claim the Austrian Bundesliga title for the past three seasons. Rohl commented, “This is the main part of my character, be brave,” and expressed his ambition to win titles and develop young talent during his time at Salzburg.
Salzburg, currently preparing for a Europa League play-off round against Sweden’s Mjallby, has collected four points from their opening two matches. Rohl remains focused on building consistency and clarity within the squad and is looking forward to the challenges ahead.
While adjusting to life in Salzburg, Rohl finds solace and anonymity in the city, reflecting on how this environment contrasts with the intensity he experienced in Glasgow. He embraces the balance it offers, as he hopes to make an impactful return to European football with his new team.
“Some people were asking why but I felt this is the right one now. I can confirm, it’s a good move,” says Danny Rohl.
The 37-year-old is discussing his decision to leave Rangers and join Red Bull Salzburg in June.
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These days, his base as an immaculate office at the club’s training ground in Taxham, part of Salzburg’s suburbs.
The towering Berchtesgaden Alps provide the backdrop as Rohl details his eventful 12 months, in which he went from crisis at Sheffield Wednesday to the relative calm of Salzburg via Glasgow.
In eight months at Ibrox, Rohl nearly produced a stunning turnaround during a chaotic season, taking over when Rangers were sixth in the SPL after one win in eight games.
He brought them back into title contention, only for four defeats in their final five games to leave them third.
Rohl was expecting – and expected – to stay at Ibrox but a call about Salzburg’s interest while on holiday in June changed his course again.
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It was unexpected but he has no regrets.
“I was not prepared for this change in the summer,” he tells BBC Sport.
“I was in Hawaii, the time difference was 12 hours and I was often on the main deck on the cruise around five or six in the morning. I had some calls and I thought about the situation.
“I have all these situations in my mind. I saw the beautiful sea, I saw the sun and then you think: ‘OK, what is the future?’
“I spoke, of course, with Rangers. I was really transparent and open on how I feel, how I see it. On the other side there was Red Bull Salzburg, especially Marcus [Mann, sporting director] – he really gave me the feeling of what we can do here.
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“I said from the first day to both, if there’s no agreement then we carry on, we move on because I have big respect to Rangers. It was also clear, our story was not finished.
“I saw a lot of opportunities, what we can do in the summer, what we should do but on the other side, I saw also a good opportunity to restart, to start from zero with a group of players with high quality.”
Derek McInnes – who took Hearts to the brink of the title only to lose out on the final day to Celtic – replaced Rohl.
After Thursday’s Europa League exit to Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok, McInnes has now failed to win his opening four games.
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Rohl, speaking before that defeat, says: “Consistency, this is the most important thing. The environment is really demanding.
“Everyone who goes there, it doesn’t matter if it’s a manager, a player, a staff member, you have to understand this club is demanding and this creates a lot of pressure on people to make the right decisions.
“Nobody can prepare [for] this step. I cannot speak for the new manager but you can’t prepare. You have to be there and if you are there, then you really feel what it means.”
Rohl is focused and settled in Austria, returning to Salzburg after starting his coaching career at RB Leipzig under Ralph Hassenhuttl, before following him to Southampton.
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He joins with Salzburg having failed to lift the Austrian Bundesliga title for the past three seasons – after winning the previous 10 in a row. They finished third last season.
Rohl’s move to Austria continues his history of bold career choices.
“This is the main part of my character, be brave. In the last three years I always pushed the limit,” says Rohl, who describes saving Sheffield Wednesday from relegation in 2023-24 as a miracle.
“I want to win titles and, after the season, I will measure myself on this result.
“When you take over, the main part is winning titles, the cup and the league and in the last few years we couldn’t win this as a club, this is one big goal.
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“The second is of course developing young players.”
Lucas Gourna-Douath is the latest, the midfielder close to joining Hull, but a recent list underlines the quality of the production line at Taxham.
Karim Adeyemi moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and joined Barcelona this summer while Erling Haaland’s season at the club in 2019-20 gave him the platform to join Borussia Dortmund. Sadio Mane, Dayot Upamecano and Dominik Szoboszlai are all alumni.
Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Rohl adds: “Ten years ago we were the model for other clubs and now you see more and more on the market have this multi-club ownership and this is also now a competition for us.
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“I want to win titles, develop young players, be attractive and I want to bring Salzburg back into the light in Europe.”
Theatre trips and anonymity
Thursday’s Europa League comeback in Pafos – coming from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 and progress 4-3 on aggregate – ensured Salzburg reached the Europa League play-off round against Sweden’s Mjallby.
They go to WSG Tirol on Sunday having collected four points from their opening two matches – a win over Hartberg and a frustrating 1-1 draw at Wolfsberg, where Salzburg dominated.
“Nobody spoke directly about the eight changes or the reason why we didn’t win,” Rohl smiles. “We analysed the game, we had greater chances, and we really focused on the content and we were not looking for some headlines.
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“The main focus is on the football.”
That stance allows Rohl more perspective and clarity. His family are still in Leipzig, just a few hours away, and he has just been to the theatre to watch Jedermann, a play by Austrian playwright Hugo von Hofmannsthal – one of the centrepieces of Salzburg’s festival which has been running for 106 years.
The city allows Rohl to enjoy some anonymity and serenity after his whirlwind year, at least for now.
“You can’t compare, especially in Glasgow – it’s all about football,” said Rohl, who speaks with affection for Rangers and Wednesday. “Let’s look just how many podcasts you have after every game. So many opinions.
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“Here you are a part of the city. You have loyal supporters but you will have not these [fan] handshakes in the city because this is not usual here.
“It’s also enjoyable after three intense years. Ask me – hopefully – after three years here what I like more then I will tell you. But at the moment it’s great to go through the city, to have dinner and you are a little undercover.”
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