Red Bull News Network

Red Bull Global Head of Sport and Development Ralf Rangnick has left his position and effectively leaves the organization that he helped to shape years ago. The move comes despite Rangnick not signing to coach AC Milan in Italy.  "Now is the right time to end my job at Red Bull," said Rangnick to Bild. "I would like to thank all employees especially Dietrich Mateschitz (owner) for their support and trust. He gave me the opportunity to build something unique here over the years. Red Bull Soccer stands for a highly successful organization that is very well position around the world." Rangnick was one of the main masterminds behind the ascension of Leipzig to one of the premier clubs in Europe. The 62-year-old German manager took over the club while they were still in the lower divisions. At first, he joined as Sporting Director for both Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig but later went on to coach the team in two separate stints. The first saw them promoted to the Bunde

(image from RB Leipzig) Defender Dayot Upamecano has deflected interest from England and Italy by signing an extension to remain at RB Leipzig through 2023. The move comes after months of rumors and even questions from players as to whether or not the Champions League side would open the wallet to keep the young Frenchman. "I feel right at home here in Leipzig," said Upamecano. "We had good conversations with Oliver Mintzlaff, Markus Krosche and Julian Nagelsmann, which showed me that extending the contract was the right decision for me to make." Upamecano has been part of a very successful defense along with Willi Orban, Ibrahim Konate and other. Despite being only 21-years-old, the defender has already played in over 100 games for Leipzig and contributed to two Champions League qualifying runs. All of this while also making an impression on the French national team which has yet to call him up to the main team. The signing puts the onus on other teams should they

New York Red Bulls II midfielder Kyle Zajec will miss the rest of the 2020 season after suffering a leg fracture in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The injury comes just as New York has rebounded following two losses to start the season. Zajec has been with the team since 2019 and played in 20 games for the club. He was a major part of the team's success in qualifying for the playoffs and continuing their streak of post-season appearances ever since their inception in 2015. Along the way, he scored four goals and was expected to be even more productive.  Unlike most years, New York Red Bulls II will be shorthanded. Much of the team will remain the same since the MLS team is not playing at the moment and, due to COVID-19, players are more than likely to remain with the USL club for the entirety of the season. Zajec is expected to have surgery on the leg in the coming weeks and his availability for next season is still unknown. New York Red Bulls II return to pl

RB Lepzig striker Patrik Schick isn't interested in going anyway and would like to remain with the East German club next season. The Czech striker scored 10 goals in all competitions and is looking to expand his playing time, especially with Timo Werner no longer around as competition. "I want to stay here the most," said Schick. "I believe in the team, in the coach's philosophy. I like his way of playing football. I think we have the quality to play for the Bundesliga title and we play in the Champions League, so everything fits." Schick joined RB Leipzig on loan from AS Roma and made an impact mostly off the bench. He did see more minutes later in the year after Yussuf Poulsen's ankle injury and appears to be a major option for Nagelsmann should he rejoin the club next season. The issue will be whether or not Leipzig are willing to pay Roma for his contract. Currently, Schick is due back with Roma next month and will be returning to a Roma side that is

(photo from New York Red Bulls II) After getting their first win of the season against Philadelphia Union II in Chester, the New York Red Bulls II returned home to face off against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Red Bull Arena in a crucial Group F match. A Familiar, yet Frustrating Foe: Throughout this club's history, no other head coach has given the New York Red Bulls II problems other than Bob Lilly.  Back when he was the coach of the Rochester Rhinos, the two squads routinely fought each other to a near standstill, with tight, taught low-scoring affairs. Now that he's running the show over in Pittsburgh, and bringing his unmistakable style with him, the Riverhounds are considered one of the elite teams of the league in a very short time.  Along with head coach John Wolyniec, the two coaches know each other very well. In the last five seasons, they have had the best records in USL history. In addition, both squads were playing their third match within a week, making a high-sc

(photo from Philadelphia Union II) New York Red Bulls II won their first game of the abbreviated 2020 season in grand style as five different players found the net at Subaru Park, downing the Philadelphia Union II, 5-1 Earlier in the day, the team announced that head coach John Wolyniec did not make the trip with the team following an initial positive test for COVID-19. Subsequent tests had come back negative, Wolyniec had to forego travel out of an abundance of caution while awaiting a follow-up test. As for the match, the frenetic pace was entertaining to watch as both teams traded chances. It didn't take very long for the Red Bulls to get on the scoreboard, just 10 minutes in. Deri Corte opens his account for the season by slotting one past the keeper for a 1-0 lead.  Shortly after the second half began, Selmir Miscic equalized for the Philadelphia Union II with a header in the 46th minute to bring the match level at one apiece.  All the momentum the Union II had was quickly das

(photo from FC Cincinnati) With only a single point needed to send the New York Red Bulls into the knockout rounds of the MLS is Back tournament, FC Cincinnati's head coach Jaap Stam's strategy was simple: Sit back, absorb the pressure employed by the Red Bulls and wait for the moment to strike, and make the most of them. The result was a somewhat sleepy first half where there were just two shots on goal which one of them belonged to Frankie Almaya, which was easily saved by David Jensen. Snakebitten by Mistakes - Again In 43rd minute, Jason Pendant was out-hustled by Andrew Gutman who brought the ball up the sideline. Yuya Kubo intercepted a clearance by Amro Tarek and completed the play with a finish to put FC Cincinnati ahead, 1-0. In the second half, disaster struck in the 56th minute. Off a corner kick, Haris Medunjanin sends a blistering shot toward the corner of the net, only to be deflected off the head of Florian Valot and the hands of David Jensen to put FC Cincinnati

RB Leipzig midfielder Christopher Nkunku has made it clear that he doesn't see the East German club as a stepping stone and wants to win in Germany. The 22-year-old joined Leipzig last season and became an essential starter by the mid-season break. Now, he hopes to continue that success in the 2020-21 campaign. "I haven't come to Leipzig just to disappear right away," said Nkunku to Sport Bild. "I'm not running off to a bigger club. I want to win something with RB." It has been an off-season of exits thus far for Leipzig as they've seen star striker Timo Werner exit as well as rumors of interest from major clubs for defender Dayot Upamecano. Rotation is something that the club has dealt with in the past as they are confident in the group of young players that they've allowed to shape the club. Now, it is a matter of pushing past the noise and lifting a trophy. To do that, it may be necessary for players to remain with the club. Werner stood for q

(photo from RB Leipzig) RB Leipzig have moved young midfielder Hannes Wolf to Borussia Monchengladbach on loan for the entirety of the 2020-21 season. The team is overloaded with midfielders and Wolf may find more minutes with another top Bundesliga team. Wolf had a stop-and-start time with Leipzig thus far due to an injury last year that curtailed his debut. The leg break which came while on international duty didn't stop the club's excitement for the player but did allow others to leap over him and make an impression with first-year manager Julian Nagelsmann. Wolf has only made 5 total appearances for Leipzig, the majority of which were substitute appearances. It is worth noting that Wolf is just 21-years-old. The Austrian international dazzled the coaching staff in Salzburg where he became a regular on the pitch while still a teenager. In three seasons he made 89 appearances and scored 23 goals.  The move to Gladbach is a bit of a surprise considering how close the two are i

RB Leipzig are prepared to take their grievance to court after Leeds United refused to live up to their agreement over loanee Jean-Kevin Augustin. The French striker joined the club over the January transfer window with the intent to purchase should the EFL Championship side be promoted to the English Premier League. Over the weekend Leeds guaranteed their promotion, bringing this issue to a clash. The issue lies with the fact that neither team wants Augustin on their team come next season. The 23-year-old joined Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 but had a difficult time making it into the first team. He has spent the last few seasons on loan with AS Monaco and Leeds. His efforts didn't impress their either and now both Leeds and Leipzig are arguing over why they shouldn't keep the player. Leeds explains that the loan expired on July 1st, well before the team gained promotion. However, Leipzig sees that as a technicality considering the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the seas

(photo from Red Bull Salzburg) Red Bull Salzburg has completed the signing of 20-year-old Olympique Lyon defender Oumar Solet. The move will bring the French international to Austria until 2025. "I am highly motivated to get to grips right away," said Solet. "I want to build up playing time here and will give everything I have for the team and the fans." Solet made only two appearances for Lyon but missed a significant amount of time due to a knee injury. Most of his efforts were put towards Lyon B where he played 29 games. Previous to that he played with Stade Lavallois, a lower division team in the French football ranks. The move continues to show Salzburg's initiative to keep the team young and exciting. Head coach Jesse Marsch delivered both the league title and cup in his first year in charge, despite having a relatively young side. Major players like Munas Dabbur departed the team before Marsch took over and now he'll have to navigate without striker H

(photo by Matt Kremkau) New York Red Bulls are hoping to put the sting of last night's loss behind them quickly as FC Cincinnati looms on the horizon. The team will need to avoid losing to remain in the MLS is Back tournament, a fact that captain Sean Davis is keenly aware of. "We've got to turn the page quickly," said Davis post-game. "We know this is a big game. They're a team that got three points today and they're going to be giving everything in this final game to get a result." Davis and the Red Bulls know Cincinnati well. They've already played them once this season in a harrowing win that saw the midwest club make a valiant comeback. It was the first game at Red Bull Arena and showcased the team's dynamic offense but also exposed some of their defensive issues. Those are the same issues that Columbus took advantage of to grab a victory on Thursday night. The game plan more than likely won't change but there is an expectation of ex

New York Red Bulls head coach Chris Armas didn't mince words when talking about his team's 2-0 loss to Columbus Crew on Thursday night. Goals from Gyasi Zardes and Lucas Zelarayan came off of defensive lapses and poor decision making, handing RBNY their first loss of 2020. "In tight games it becomes hard to win when you give away a couple of goals the way that we did," said Armas after the game. "You try to attack with some fresh legs and Columbus did a good job of killing the game off, probably, pushing the limits too far in my opinion." The strategy employed by Columbus is not a new one. We've seen it used to various levels of success against New York in the past. Sit back, wait for them to make a mistake and be clinical with your chances. Once the lead is there, do whatever necessary to slow the pace of the game and foul when appropriate. It makes for a tough watch at times, however, it has been successful and Armas, as well as Jesse Marsch before him

Young RB Leipzig midfielder Mads Bidstrup has decided to move on from the Bundesliga team and join Brentford FC in the EFL Championship. The move comes after having made 39 appearances for the East German club's U19 team but never made his professional debut with the club. The 19-year-old Danish prospect appeared to be on a track for the first team. He joined Leipzig in 2018 after a 2 million Euro transfer from FC Copenhagen but could never break through a very competitive midfield. This includes players like Tyler Adams, Hannes Wolf and Amadou Haidara who are continuously fighting for starting positions. The move to Brentford is a three-year deal with an option to extend. More than likely Bidstrup will be a leading candidate to start giving his skill in the youth ranks. The move shows Leipzig's abundance of talent but also a move towards starter-ready talent as they look to push for the Bundesliga title in the next few seasons.

New York Red Bulls starting goalkeeper David Jensen is not a name that most were familiar with weeks before the opening kickoff back in March but he's quickly become a favorite among teammates and fans. The dynamic Danish keeper has made his skills known and dramatically kept the game level against Atlanta to earn the team's first win of the MLS is Back tournament. "I'm super hungry ," said Jensen when asked about adjusting the the unique situation of the 2020 MLS season. "It's a new team, it's a nice way to play football and I'm just hungry. That motivates me." That motivation was a key part to gaining the starting position. Initially, many thought that the starting job would go to Ryan Meara, the perennial back-up goalkeeper for New York who has watched relative unknowns usurp his position in the past. At first it was Luis Robles in 2012 who grabbed the starting job and now Jensen in 2020. Both times Meara's situation was clouded due to

Red Bull Salzburg are replenishing their squad the best way they know how by signing 17-year-old Croatian player Luka Sucic. The U19 international will make the move up from the youth ranks with a chance to prove himself in the country's top domestic team. "It is great that the club have expressed their faith in me," said Sucic. "I would like to show what I can do and get playing time in the FC Red Bull Salzburg team as quickly as possible." Salzburg has gotten much younger over the past year with the departure of Takumi Minamino, Erling Haaland and most recently Hwang Hee-chan. Sucic's signing is another indication of the incredible pipeline of players coming through the Red Bull system. The player has already made eight appearances in the UEFA Youth League and professionally 14 times with FC Liefering.  More than likely Sucic will be a role player next season but we've seen manager Jesse Marsch integrate young players incredibly well. The young Croatia

New York Red Bulls entered the MLS is Back tournament with a successful 1-0 win over a depleted Atlanta United on Saturday, proving how dynamic the duo of Kaku and Florian Valot can be on the field. The French winger has missed a significant period over the last two years with knee injuries but appears poised to show what the team has been missing in his absence. "When you have another playmaker you play with two 10's," said head coach Chris Armas about the link up between Kaku and Valot. "It takes the pressure off Kaku and we see how long it takes a couple of players to get on the same page. These guys can get on the same page pretty quickly." It took only four minutes to produced the games only goal. A passing sequence from the back found the foot of Kaku who instantly sent an effort across the field towards Valot. The Frenchman was already streaking past the defense as the ball reached his feet and the winger finished the chance for the game-winner. Goalkeepe

New York Red Bulls Head of Sport Kevin Thelwell rejects the idea that his team is in a rebuilding phase following the loss of several key players in the 2019 off-season. Constant contributors and leaders like Bradley Wright-Phillips, Luis Robles, Kemar Lawrence and Michael Amir Murillo have all departed for other clubs either domestically or internationally. Still, Thelwell feels that this team is ready to win now. "I don't think for one moment that we are in a rebuild at all," said Thelwell during a media conference on Friday. "If I look at the current roster, I think that we are very, very, strong in most positions. I think we've got lots of coverage in most positions. In fact, there's lots of competition for the number one places in the team." It is understandable why fans may see the current Red Bull situation as a rebuild considering the loss of leadership. This team has been transitioning to appear more like the teams in Europe that rely on younger

RB Leipzig have their opponent for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League and it's mega-club Atletico Madrid. The three-time finalists represent one of the biggest challenges Leipzig has faced since entering the competition. Leipzig reached this point in the competition by dispatching England's Tottenham Hotspur in impressive fashion. The East German club dominated both games, winning by a aggregate score of 4-0. In the group stage, Leipzig performed well and garnered victories over Benfica and Zenit St. Petersburg. Now, as the competition thins to the best teams, they will face their toughest challenge yet. "We're looking forward to the game against Atletico Madrid," said Sporting Director Markus Krosche. "It's a great draw but a tough one as well. Atletico are a very experienced team with an experienced coach and a particularly strong defense." It won't be the same Leipzig team that plays Atletico in August. Timo Werner has transferred

Red Bull Salzburg feed the mothership again, this time by moving strike Hee-chan Hwang to RB Leipzig. The South Korean striker joins after his most successful season in Austria, winning both the Austrian Cup and Bundesliga. "I want to help the team continue to be as successful as possible and achieve this young club's ambitious goal," said Hwang. "The club's aim and style of football are both perfect for me. I want to take my next step as a professional here in Leipzig. On top of that, I want to score as many goals as possible." Hwang joins Leipzig after four seasons in Salzburg where he scored 45 goals in 126 appearances. He wasn't always a strike option. At first he provided support on the wings while players like Takumi Minamino and Munas Dabbur carried the burden of scoring goals. It wasn't until this current season that he was asked to do more and he excelled in that role.  "He can play in any attacking position," said Sporting Directo

RB Leipzig expects their 21-year-old star defender Dayot Upamecano to be patrolling the backline next season. The Frenchman has been linked with moves to the English Premier League as well as a move to Ralf Rangnick's new club AC Milan over the past few weeks. "I assume that he will also play for us next season," said RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff to Kicker. "We are in good talks to find a solution to prevent him from leaving on a free transfer next year." Much like Timo Werner before him, Upamecano has all the negotiating power. Many clubs are interested in him and his representation can leverage that into a better deal at Leipzig. Werner was able to not only get a better financial deal for himself, but also restrict Leipzig from setting a price too high that he couldn't depart the club when he felt a change was needed. Expectations are that Upamecano will do the same. Currently, Leipzig does have a 60 million Euro release clause for the French defender.

Red Bull Salzburg manager Jesse Marsch has been awarded Coach of the Year for the 2019-20 season. The first-year European coach was beyond impressive, taking the team to the double by winning the Austrian Cup and the Austrian Bundesliga. All of this despite the team being stripped of top talent midway through the campaign. "Winning Coach of the Year for me is a reward for the entire team," said Marsch. "The trophy is for the whole coaching staff, as we have worked so well together. Losing players in winter brought us closer together." Salzburg began the year with one of the most dynamic strikers in recent years, Erling Haaland. The youngster burst onto the international scene with a gluttony of goals in the league as well as UEFA Champions League. The difficulties came in January when Haaland departed the team for Borussia Dortmund. Right behind him was the transfer of Takumi Minamino to Liverpool FC, leaving Marsch without his two most prolific players. The team sa

The loan of Czech striker Patrik Schick has expired but RB Leipzig are planning an offer to keep the Roma loanee permanently according to Gianluca Di Marzio. The East German club did not exercise the 23 million Euro option that existed once the loan ended but that doesn't mean they've given up hope of signing one of their key strikers from this past season. Leipzig have asserted that the fee has always been too high and wished to bring it down long before the pandemic took hold of transfer negotiations. One of the options being floated is another loan but this time with an promise to buy. Roma has shown little interest in playing Schick in the past and the move is something that the player seems very interested in making permanent.  Shick was unimpressive in Roma, scoring only eight goals in two seasons. When arriving at Leipzig that changed with the 24-year-old tallying 10 goals in his first Bundesliga season. He also saw his role increase as the season wore on and could be a

RB Leipzig Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff have thrown cold water on fans who anticipated a spending spree by the East German club this transfer window. Despite moving top striker Timo Werner to England for upwards of 50 million Euros, the team will remain frugal which may be difficult when trying to replace their striker's goal output. "We will spend far less than we got for Timo Werner," said Mintzlaff to the publication Kicker . "It is probably an illusion to think that we could still play in a sold-out stadium this year. That is why we are expecting to lose over 20 million Euros." While it isn't a complete surprise that Leipzig are being cautious during this tumultuous time, some did expect them to be more aggressive in the off-season. Former executive Ralf Rangnick is expected to raid the club now that he has taken over at AC Milan and other teams that aren't so cash-strapped are looking to do the same. Players like Dayot Upamecano have been link

Reports out of Germany have indicated that RB Leipzig will bring in Monaco full-back Benjamin Henrichs on loan. The move solidifies a defense that may see some changes in 2020-21 with rumors of Dayot Upamecano and Angelino leaving the club. The report from Sport Bild indicates that Leipzig had targeted the young German international as early as the January transfer window. Henrichs already has experience in the Bundesliga, having played in 62 games with Bayer Leverkusen before making the move to Ligue 1 with Monaco in 2018. The 23-year-old also has experience on the international level with three games for the senior German national team and and 17 with the U21 team. There is potential to extend the stay for Henrichs should he find success in East Germany. The player's contract will expire in the 2023 season and Monaco may be willing to part with him should he grow comfortable in Leipzig. The third place team is also looking to lock down several other loanees for next season includ

RB Leipzig have been given a boost towards holding on to defender Dayot Upamecano after Arsenal FC has deemed his 50 million Euro fee too high. Fichajes has reported that the French player still has interest from other clubs including Bayern Munich, Juventus and AC Milan. The 21-year-old defender has become a revelation in recent years, becoming an essential part of Leipzig's starting lineup. Upamecano has played a total of 111 games for the club going back to 2017 with 36 of those coming this season. The player has had to adjust under new manager Julian Nagelsmann and an ever changing formation. Still, he has proven to be one of the stoutest defenders in the Bundesliga and a reason why Leipzig were the second best defense in Germany. The loss of Upamecano would be a major blow to the East German club's efforts to make a run at the Bundesliga title. Negotiations are ongoing between the Frenchman and the club but his contract expires at the end of next season and they could be

RB Leipzig striker Jean-Kevin Augustin has returned to the team after his loan with Leeds United wasn't renewed, creating an issue over a transfer fee should the English Championship club get promoted. The deal reported by GFFN states that a 21 million Euro fee would be paid and a permanent transfer would tke place should the team reach promotion. Not only did that happen but Leeds has decided that they don't want the player any longer. Augustin has been a controversial figure since joining Leipzig in 2017. The Parisian was thought to be the future of the club, arriving from Paris Saint Germain's youth system. His stay has only produced 20 goals over two seasons and his loan spells to Monaco and Leeds haven't shown much improvement either. The latest move to England was meant to be a loan that would become permanent. However the COVID-19 pandemic has drained the finances of many clubs, forcing them to go back on their decisions. Whether or not Leipzig have given up on A

Red Bull Salzburg may have secured the Austrian Bundesliga last week but they got to lift the trophy at home after a 5-2 win over SK Sturm Graz. An alternate lineup did the trick as goals came from unlikely sources like Karim Adeyemi, Sekou Koita and Mergim Berisha. "I am really pleased, mostly for the boys," said manager Jesse Marsch about his team's performance. "Their attitude has always been top. They put so much hard work in. It is easy to be the coach here in truth. We will really enjoy it today with the staff and family." Salzburg started the first half with their usual high-energy offense. Patson Daka danced circles around the defense but couldn't beat the Sturm keeper. His effort produced a rebound but that second chance hit the post to keep the game scoreless. The opponents didn't keep that from deterring their own efforts as a deflected shot gave goalkeeper Carlos Miguel Coronel some trouble. The 23-year-old Brazilian was forced into a diving

New York Red Bulls have announced that winger Josh Sims will not have his loan extended and he will return to his English club Southampton. The 23-year-old was set to stay for the 2020 MLS season but since has been forced back to the UK due to the stoppage and the COVID-19 pandemic. "In light of the ongoing affects of the global pandemic and all of the uncertainties that remain, we understand Josh's wishes to be closer to home and have come to an agreement with Southampton to recall the player," said Sporting Director Denis Hamlett. Sims joined New York Red Bulls in the 2019 season and played in seven games while also scoring one goal. New York had seemingly been interested in bringing in the English winger full time but now it appears as if they will need to look domestically.  New York does will have to dig deep for winger options. After Florian Valot and Daniel Royer, the team will have to match player skills to fill the position. There is a possibility of promoting a

RB Leipzig are currently the favorites to sign Werder Breman winger Milot Rashica but there are new suitors, including AC Milan. According to Gianluca Di Marzio , former Leipzig Sporting Director Ralf Rangnick is looking to wedge himself into the process and steal the player from the East German club. Rashica has quickly become a hot commodity after three strong years in the Bundesliga where he has scored 24 goals in 72 games. The past two seasons has seen the Kosovar player's minutes expand as he played in 20 plus games for Breman both this season and last.  The rumored fee will be upwards of 38 million Euros. However, Breman is embattled in a relegation fight and should they lose the playoff in the near future that fee would drop to 15 million. Both Leipzig and Milan will be keeping a close eye on the result before making a commitment.  Leipzig is currently in the process of rebuilding their offense with the departure of Timo Werner and mystery still hanging over Patrik Schick