Danny Röhl has been at the helm as head coach of our Red Bulls for around three weeks now. At the training camp in Flachau, the 37-year-old is not only taking time between sessions for plenty of conversations with players, but is also giving us - in an exclusive interview - insights into his move to Salzburg, which member of our coaching staff was his childhood idol, and what he is thinking about when it comes to the captaincy.

Interview with Danny Röhl

We heard you had to cut your family holiday short to take on your last two head coach roles - at Sheffield and Rangers, respectively - is that right? And how was it this time?

Danny: "That’s correct. In both cases, I got the job in October, and there was no real way of foreseeing it beforehand. This time, I didn't actually have to cut a holiday short, but it did happen right around the time of our trip. I like to put it this way, metaphorically speaking: I took off as the Rangers manager and landed as the Salzburg coach. That’s a pretty good way to describe that holiday. In any case, I always seem to be flying into something exciting."

He’s my closest confidant, especially off the pitch.

You brought assistant coach Sascha Lense and match analyst Tristan Steiner with you to Salzburg from Glasgow. What makes working with them so special?

Danny: "I’ve known Sascha since my time in Leipzig. Curiously enough, he was actually a role model of mine back then. When I was eight or nine years old, he played on the wing for FSV Zwickau. My very first jersey was one of his. Years later, there he is standing right in front of me, and we’re on the same coaching staff. We’ve been in constant communication ever since. He’s my closest confidant, especially off the pitch. It’s a somewhat new role I’ve created for him - he doesn’t act as a classic assistant coach who runs tactical drills on the training pitch. He’s incredibly important to me in other areas: team cohesion, staff organisation, relationship management and the emotional side of a match plan. Sascha is a huge help there.

"The story with Tristan is also very interesting. He reached out to me via LinkedIn two years ago. At the time, he was a law student on a semester abroad - so not your typical coach looking for an internship. We built a really good relationship from that. He was available for me practically around the clock, and that level of commitment impressed me. Beyond the technical qualities I look for, the human element is extremely important to me. That’s something I try to model myself every day."

Your paths also crossed with assistant coach Sebastian Heidinger back in Leipzig. Did you stay in touch the whole time, or did this connection come about recently?

Danny: "We hadn’t worked together as coaches before, but I know him from my time in Leipzig when I was an analyst and assistant coach and he was still playing. We’d run into each other and chat every now and then over the years. We realised there was a good vibe between us and have stayed in touch ever since.“

You had a dartboard in your old office. Do you have one in Taxham yet?

Danny: "Not yet. But that was always a really good way for me to unwind. We didn't just start doing that in Glasgow - we began back in Sheffield. Sascha and I would always decide the starting line-up from the numbers we hit. Only joking!"

It is a privilege to do this job and to guide a team through a match.

There was some superstition behind it though, right?

Danny: "Yes, I always had to win the last darts match before the next game. Sascha still claims to this day that he let me win on purpose. By and large, though, I simply used those moments playing darts to take a quick breather. I’m the kind of coach who approaches matches with huge anticipation. It is a privilege to do this job and to guide a team through a match."

How else do you like to switch off when there is no football on?
Danny: "I quite enjoy running, even though, to be honest, I’m usually on the phone while I do it. Another big hobby of mine is traveling, though naturally, that’s something I can only fit in during the breaks. I just love seeing and exploring the world.“

Generally speaking, your demeanour seems to radiate a great deal of calm, yet on the touchline, you bring a huge amount of energy to the game - would you agree with that description?

Danny: "Exactly. I try to instill a sense of calm, composure, and confidence in my team. The various roles I’ve held as a coach, which have all helped me develop - assist me immensely in passing that confidence on to such a young squad. In football, everything hinges on confidence.

"At the same time, I’m a very emotionally positive person on the touchline. It’s important to me to get the team fired up. At my last two clubs, I was also able to build a very close bond with the fans. That will be important here in Salzburg, too - fostering a real sense of togetherness. The same applies to my staff and coaching team. We all want to feel comfortable here, but that doesn’t mean we’re easily satisfied. We want to push ourselves to the limit every day, keep improving, and, amidst all the hard work, always try to keep smiling."

Winning matches and titles is fun. That’s the mentality I want to see here every day.

In your introductory press conference, you spoke about the values you experienced at Bayern Munich that are also relevant here. What are they, and how do you plan to implement them here as effectively as possible?

Danny: "In Munich, it was fascinating to see how absolutely everyone wanted to win the next match at every single moment - it didn’t matter if it was a 5-a-side or an 11-a-side game in training. That winning gene is deeply ingrained there. That’s exactly what it’s all about - winning matches and titles is fun. That’s the mentality I want to see here every day.

You can’t turn everything around overnight. But if you improve by one percent every day, the final result will be great."

You’ve only been here for a few weeks. How much of what you set out to do have you already managed to achieve in that time?

Danny: "This is the first time in three years that I’ve been able to take over a team right at the start of pre-season. That’s a great feeling. At my last two clubs, I stepped in mid-season with lots of points to catch up.

We have time now for one-on-one conversations and for work out on the pitch. Of course, pre-season is always about fitness, too, but it’s important to me that we combine that with plenty of ball work and tactical elements. The friendly against Górnik showed that we’re already heading in the right direction.

Even so, we need to improve day by day. During the first two weeks, we talked a lot about our play in possession. We need to get better in that area so we know what to day when facing deep-sitting opponents. At the same time, we naturally want to keep the traditional strengths that have always defined FC Red Bull Salzburg - lightning-fast transitions and aggressive pressing. If we can pull off that combination of both worlds, I’m convinced we’ll have a very successful season with this group of lads. But that won’t happen on its own. It takes hard work, discipline, structure and absolute conviction."

Especially with such a young team, it's crucial that we all take responsibility together.

How are you approaching the question of the captaincy, which is now vacant following Mads Bidstrup’s departure?

Danny: “The captain is very important to me. He has to be someone I can trust, someone I can talk to openly about anything and consult. We're currently still in the middle of this process. That means I'm observing a lot and developing a feeling for the team. My goal is also to develop not just a single leader, but a whole group of leaders.

"Especially with such a young team, it's crucial that we all take responsibility together – on and off the pitch. It can always happen that a team-mate has a bad day. That's exactly when we all have a duty to take responsibility and lift their spirits. We can't just be followers - we have to actively develop leadership. That only works as a team.”

Finally, let's check how things have been since your arrival in Salzburg. How are things going? Have you had a chance to explore the city a bit with your family, and have you found an apartment yet?

Danny: "The first two or three weeks were extremely intense, as everything happened in quick succession. The training centre is top-notch, the view of the surrounding mountains from the grounds is simply fantastic, and, fortunately, I’ve already found an apartment, which makes it feel like home right away, which is important to me. My family is coming over the week after next, and we’ll explore the city together then. There are stunning lakes around Salzburg - it’s a beautiful area in general, with excellent food. It might not always be the healthiest, but it’s delicious! We’ll get to enjoy all these wonderful things while we’re here.

"But for me, success on the pitch remains the most important thing. After all, a place is most enjoyable when you’re racking up wins together, and that’s exactly what we’re here for."

Danny Röhl in big training camp interview