RB Leipzig have fired manager Marco Rose with immediate effect. The decision comes after a disappointing campaign both domestically and in Europe, with the club currently sitting sixth in the Bundesliga table.
Leipzig's recent 1-0 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach proved to be the final straw. That loss saw Gladbach leapfrog them into fifth place, further damaging their Champions League qualification hopes.
"We have believed in our co-operation with Marco for a very long time and tried everything to turn things around together," said Marcel Schäfer, Leipzig's managing director for sport. "Given the continued lack of results, we're firmly convinced that we need new impetus to achieve our aims."
Champions League qualification hanging in the balance
The timing of Rose's dismissal highlights Leipzig's desperation to salvage their season. Germany is expected to receive four Champions League spots next season, but Leipzig now sit three points behind fourth-placed Mainz, who also have a game in hand.
Missing out on Champions League football would be a significant blow both financially and in terms of attracting and retaining top talent. The club has clearly decided they can't risk waiting until the end of the season to make a change.
Leipzig's European campaign this year was nothing short of disastrous. They won just one of eight matches in the Champions League league phase, finishing 32nd and making an early exit from the competition.
Could Glasner make a Bundesliga return?
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has emerged as a potential replacement. The 50-year-old Austrian is no stranger to German football, having previously managed both Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Interestingly, Jürgen Klopp, now Red Bull's head of global soccer, is reportedly an admirer of Glasner. The connection could be significant as Klopp begins to influence sporting decisions across the Red Bull football network.
Glasner's stock in Germany remains high after leading Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory in 2022. That European pedigree might be exactly what Leipzig are looking for to revitalize their continental ambitions.
Rose, who was appointed in September 2022, did enjoy some success at Leipzig. He guided the club to German Cup glory in the 2022-23 season and added the German Super Cup in 2023.
Leipzig remain in this season's German Cup, with a semi-final against Stuttgart on Wednesday. Whoever takes charge will have an immediate opportunity to salvage something from a disappointing campaign.
The club has also parted ways with Rose's entire coaching staff, including assistants Alexander Zickler, Marco Kurth and Frank Geideck, along with the head of first-team football, Frank Aehlig. This clean sweep suggests Leipzig are planning a complete reset of their technical approach.
