RB Leipzig part ways with coach Rose; Low appointed as interim successor

RB Leipzig have parted ways with coach Marco Rose just days ahead of a German Cup semi-final against Stuttgart, the club announced in a statement on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp, the Head of Soccer at their parent company Red Bull, was not mentioned in the announcement and has previously indicated he would not step in as coach, whether on a full-time or temporary basis.

On Sunday, Leipzig announced Zsolt Low as Rose’s interim successor until the season’s end.

Low has a history with Leipzig, having previously been an assistant coach there, as well as at Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea.

Following a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday, Leipzig have dropped to sixth place in the table, marking their sixth consecutive away match without a win.

The Saxony club currently sits just three points off the top four and Champions League qualification for the next season.

They are in a competitive race for the final two Champions League spots, with league leaders Bayern Munich and reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen seemingly secured for next season’s tournament.

Leipzig native Rose took charge in September 2022, leading the team to a German Cup victory in his first season and finishing third in the league.

The club also claimed victory in the DFL Supercup, akin to England’s Charity Shield, with a 3-0 win over Bayern Munich at the start of the 2023/24 season.

Last season, Leipzig finished fourth, with Germany allocated five Champions League spots due to UEFA coefficient rankings.

“We had faith in Marco and his team for a long time and endeavoured to turn things around together until the very end,” stated sporting director Marcel Schaefer.

“However, given the current circumstances and the results, we strongly believe that a fresh impetus is required for the remaining matches to fulfil our aims for this season.”

Leipzig expressed their gratitude to Rose for his contributions to the club, though the coach was not quoted in the announcement. The entire coaching team was also let go.

The 48-year-old, previously in charge at Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Borussia Dortmund, had a contract that was set to run until June 2026.

In addition to their faltering league performance, Leipzig faced setbacks in the Champions League, losing seven of eight games and failing to reach the knockout rounds.

The two-time German Cup winners are set to face Stuttgart in the semi-finals of the competition on Wednesday.

Since being acquired by Red Bull in 2009, Leipzig has only missed Champions League qualification once since the 2016/17 season in the Bundesliga, even reaching the semi-finals of the tournament in 2020.