David Wagner takes over youth management at RB Leipzig – new impulses!

David Wagner takes over youth management at RB Leipzig – new impulses!

A new wind is blowing through RB Leipzig's youth department: David Wagner is returning to Germany and taking over the management of this important division. He is succeeding Manuel Baum, who is retiring after the 2024/2025 season for personal reasons. Wagner, who has been without a club since his release from Norwich City in May 2024, brings fresh optimism and extensive coaching experience to the trade fair city.

Wagner's goal is clear: to sustainably improve the permeability from the youth to the professional sector. Marcel Schäfer, Managing Director of Sport at RB Leipzig, is convinced that Wagner is exactly the right man to take youth work to a new level. In discussions with Jürgen Klopp, who works as “Head of Global Soccer” for Red Bull, Wagner was able to gather valuable ideas for this transition and reflect on his approach to developing young talent. Klopp was convinced of Wagner's commitment and created the basis for this collaboration.

From the beginning to the new challenge

Wagner has already gone through various coaching positions in his career, including at Huddersfield Town, where he celebrated promotion to the Premier League in 2017. However, success at Schalke 04 was limited; After a series of 18 games without a win, he had to resign from his position in 2020. His last stops in Bern and Norwich also didn't go well. Now he not only wants to honor Baum's successors in Leipzig, but also take a new path: "I'm really looking forward to the challenge of redesigning youth work at RB Leipzig," explained Wagner.

A particularly important point in Wagner's planning is the close connection between the youth department and the professional team. “The child has to live his dream and not mine,” is how one could describe his basic attitude towards youth work. This approach, in which the talents are supported in their individual development, could further sharpen the profile of the Leipzig Academy.

A breath of fresh air in talent promotion

Wagner not only emphasizes his joy in working with young players, but also the international reputation of the RB Academy. “Talents are encouraged and challenged here so that they can survive in the professional field,” he added. This requires a coherent concept and the right structures, and that's exactly where Wagner wants to start.

The coming months will be crucial to putting the planned changes into action. Wagner starts his new role with high expectations and has a clear focus on optimally preparing Leipzig's youth players for the leap into professional sport. The collaboration with Jürgen Klopp and the support of Marcel Schäfer promise an exciting path - both for Wagner and for the talented U19 players.

We can be curious to see how this development will affect future player development in Leipzig. The challenges are great, but with Wagner's experience and commitment, RB Leipzig could be on the right track to not only develop talented players but also continue to strengthen the brand.

Further information about David Wagner's prospects at RB Leipzig can be found at derwesten.de and transfermarkt.de.

You can also find a broader discussion about the need and strategies for promoting young talent in football spiegel.de.