Onur Cinel is leaving FC Red Bull Salzburg, as our contract with the 39-year-old German has been terminated by mutual agreement.

Cinel, who is also an assistant coach of the Austrian national team, began to work in Salzburg at the start of the 2023/24 season as head coach of FC Liefering as well as our Young Bulls in the UEFA Youth League. Towards the end of that season, he took over as coach of our Red Bulls on an interim basis (for six matches) and remained as assistant coach in the following campaign (first for Pepijn Lijnders, then for Thomas Letsch). Now he is aiming to become a head coach again.

We sat down together with the coaching team in the past few days to review the season. We spoke intensively with Onur, of course, and came to the realisation together that Onur sees his future as a head coach and is determined to follow that aim. We respect that wish and are happy to grant it. We will therefore be looking for a new assistant coach, who will be appointed by the start of our preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup, at the latest.

We would like to thank Onur Cinel warmly for his extraordinary work and positive manner, and we wish him all the very best. Perhaps FC Red Bull Salzburg might cross paths with a team coached by him in the future.

Rouven Schröder, CEO for Sport

I had two fantastic years in which I was able to gain lots of special connections and close friendships. I am very proud and grateful for that! I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all the fans, staff, players and of course also the management, who showed great understanding for my wish to take on more responsibility. I wish FC Red Bull Salzburg all the very best for the future, and all the success they can possibly get.

Onur Cinel

We wish you all the very best for your future, Onur!

Onur Cinel leaves FC Red Bull Salzburg