After much speculation the past month, first reported by BILD back on November 16th, Red Bull New York has officially announced they have hired Sandro Schwarz as their newest head coach.
In a press release provided by the club this morning, Head of Sport Jochen Schneider provided the following statement about the hire.
“We are very pleased to welcome Sandro [Schwarz] to the club,” said Schneider. “Sandro is a great leader that fits our culture and his head coaching experience in Europe fits with what we are trying to accomplish. We are excited to get him here and begin to work towards success in 2024.”
Schwarz will take over the helm as head coach in New York for the first time since he was fired 29 games into the 2022-2023 season which saw Hertha Berlin relegated to the 2. Bundesliga for the first time since the 2011-2012 season. For context, Hertha would have gone down no matter the coach, due to the situation surrounding the club off the field.
In addition to managing in Berlin, Schawrz had stints at Dynamo Moscow in Russia (2020-2022) and Mainz in Germany (2017-2019). Previous to his coaching career, Schwarz played under the legendary Jurgen Klopp at Mainz, and two other clubs before retiring in 2009.
The 45-year-old Schwarz talked about his newest adventure across the Atlantic. “I look forward to joining the club and getting started soon,” said Head Coach Sandro Schwarz. “I have a lot of motivation to accomplish many great things with this club and I am excited to get to work for the upcoming season.” The German coach finished by saying, “We want everyone to feel right from the start that my staff and I will work for this club with heart, brain and passion,” said Schwarz.
For Jochen Schneider, this is the first time he was able to hire “his guy” since taking the job at Red Bull in a year and a half ago. Schneider inherited a front office that included Denis Hamlett, who has since been let go and a coaching staff of Gerhard Sttruber and Troy Lesesne, with both being let go a different points this past season.
This news also coincides with the news that Leipzig legend and Swedish international midfielder Emil Forsberg is one step closer to signing with New York. “Emil Forsberg will join New York Red Bulls from RB Leipzig, deal agreed and confirmed,” according to Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Also this winter, Red Bull has traded midfielder Dru Yearwood to Nashville for 150k GAM and is rumored to be trading striker Tom Barlow to Chicago as Jochen’s re-tool of the roster is just beginning.
This is a new era at Red Bull in New York with Schneider at the top and he is putting his faith in a manager, whether you like the hire or not, who he believes will take Red Bull to an MLS Cup in the future.
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