With Domenico Tedesco out of the sporting crisis: RB Leipzig has signed the former Schalke as a new coach.
Crashed in eleventh place in the Bundesliga, eliminated in the Champions League: Now Domenico Tedesco should lead the reeling runner-up RB Leipzig to success again.
On Thursday, the Saxons announced the commitment of the former successful Schalke coach as the successor to the American Jesse Marsch, who was released on Sunday. Tedesco receives a contract until June 30, 2023.
Tedesco had last worked at Spartak Moscow and left the club at his own request. Because of the corona pandemic, trips from Russia to Germany were and are hardly possible, the 36-year-old wanted to be closer to his wife and two daughters again.
To say goodbye to Moscow, Tedesco was celebrated frenetically, now RB managing director Oliver Mintzlaff and Co. are hoping that the new coach will spark another euphoria in Leipzig.
Tedesco: Debut against Borussia Mönchengladbach
After his time as a youth coach at VfB Stuttgart and TSG Hoffenheim, Tedesco moved to Erzgebirge Aue in March 2017 – only to take over Schalke 04 a few months later.
He led the Knappen to the runner-up in 2018, before he was dismissed on March 14, 2019 after being eliminated in the Champions League. Today – S04 has now crashed into the 2nd division – many fans are longing for a return.
Tedesco, however, is now taking over in Leipzig – and with it a team with huge potential that they called up far too seldom while marching. The new coach does not get any start-up time: on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) against Borussia Mönchengladbach he will be on the sidelines for the first time.
Beierlorzer released at RB Leipzig
The previous assistant coach Achim Beierlorzer, who looked after the team after Marsch was released, will not support him.
As announced by RB, after “good and constructive discussions with Beierlorzer they agreed on an exemption”. To do this, Tedesco brings Andreas Hinkel and Max Urwantschky to Saxony as assistants.
Until the short winter break, after the Gladbach game, they will go to Augsburg and at home against Bielefeld, the gap to the targeted Champions League ranks is seven points. Tedesco has to catch up with his new team, because a season without the premier class would not fit Leipzig’s self-image.
Tedesco: reasons for optimism
His predecessor Marsch was released on Sunday, the 48-year-old, who came from RB Salzburg at the start of the season, did not meet the high expectations of the Saxons. At no point was Marsch able to fill the large gap left by Julian Nagelsmann, who had migrated to Bayern Munich.
Now Tedesco should try this difficult task – and besides all problems there are also reasons to be optimistic.
After the end of the Champions League, RB senses its chance in the Europa League, in the DFB Cup Leipzig is a big favorite in the round of 16 on January 19 against second division Hansa Rostock. Tedesco has the opportunity to turn this messed up season into a good one.
