Our new sporting director is to be Bernhard Seonbuchner. The 40-year-old German is leaving his role as head of the Red Bull Football Academy on 1 September 2023 to join the Red Bulls and has signed a contract running until 30 June 2026.

Familiar with our philosophy

Bernhard Seonbuchner has worked in various positions in our academy and FC Liefering since 2010. After several coaching and co-ordinating jobs, with numerous league titles collected along the way, Seonbuchner, who earned a UEFA coaching pro license in 2017, took the role of head of youth football at our club.

Around three years later, the German made the next step up to take on responsibility for football at the Red Bull Football Academy, our Youth League team as well as at FC Liefering, FC Red Bull Salzburg's co-operation partner.

Bernhard Seonbuchner will now succeed Christoph Freund as sporting director for the serial champions.

Views

After careful consideration, we became convinced that the ideal successor for Christoph Freund is practically within our own club. Bernhard Seonbuchner, who has worked for 13 years already in various positions at the Red Bull Academy as well as for our co-operation partners, FC Liefering, knows our philosophy and our idea of playing football like barely anyone else. That's why he will succeed Christoph Freund as sporting director from 1 September.

With this appointment, we have set out our stall for the future by continuing to follow our well-established path in Salzburg.

General manager Stephan Reiter

I am looking forward to my new position as FC Red Bull Salzburg sporting director. I really appreciate the privilege of being about to take on this role. It will be an exciting challenge to try to take the special Salzburg Way further after the successes of recent years. The past 13 years in my previous roles are ideal preparation, I think.

Bernhard Seonbuchner

Official presentation in September

Bernhard Seonbuchner will be officially introduced in a press conference at the start of September (date to be announced).

New sporting director from September confirmed