Page 51 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

RB Leipzig
Despite losing key trio Joško Gvardiol, Christopher Nkunku, and Dominik Szoboszlai to Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool respectively,
RB Leipzig have sought to reinvest those funds in acquiring some new options across the pitch. These include including Castello Lukeba, Lois Openda, Benjamin Šeško, and impressive Austria international Christoph Baumgartner. Die Roten Bullen also started the 2023-24 season in brilliant fashion by beating Bayern Munich 3-0 in the DFL Supercup to mark their first success in that competition, which bodes well. After finishing third last time out, Leipzig will definitely be looking to challenge for the Bundesliga title and become the first team other than Bayern and Borussia Dortmund to win it since Wolfsburg did so back in the 2008-09 season.
NICKNAME:
Die Roten Bullen (The Red Bulls)
MANAGER:
Marco Rose
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Bundesliga, 3rd
Dani Olmo’s hat- trick helped to secure a first ever DFL-Supercup
for RB Leipzig, and more will be expected of the young Spanish international this season
Stuttgart
Stuttgart have been dangerously close to relegation in the past few seasons, but have managed to stay afloat. Last season, they finished in 16th, but successfully navigated their way through a relegation play-off against Hamburg to remain in the top-flight for another term. Fans will hope that the managerial merry-go-round has stopped for now, with Sebastian Hoeneß taking over after the brief tenures of Pellegrino Matarazzo, interim boss Michael Wimmer, and Bruno Labbadia for what’ll be his first full season in charge of the team. Stuttgart have made some interesting signings, including Korean youngster Woo-yeong Jeong from Freiburg, Rennes striker Serhou Guirassy, and goalkeeper Alexander Nübel on loan from Bayern Munich. The aim, obviously, is to avoid another relegation scrap, but actually getting it done is another story entirely.
NICKNAME:
Die Roten (The Reds) Die Schwaben (The Swabians)
MANAGER:
Sebastian Hoeneß
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Bundesliga, 16th
Manager Marco Rose
Stuttgart’s Serhau Guirassy (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart
Sebastian Hoeneß
SOCCER360 MAGAZINE 51
DUGOUT DUEL
MICHELLE OSEI BONSU HAS A GLANCE OVER SOME OF THE MANAGERS ON THE BENCHES FOR VARIOUS BUNDESLIGA TEAMS IN THE 2023-24 SEASON
Taking a look at the various coaches in the Bundesliga this season, Bayern Munich’s Thomas Tuchel is surely the one under the most pressure. The German tactician took over following Julian Naglesmann’s shock sacking last season, and had a rocky few months as Bayern were dumped out of both the DFB- Pokal and the Champions League.
However, he was able to guide Bayern to
their 11th consecutive league title, albeit by
the slimmest of margins following Dortmund dropping points in a draw with Mainz on
the final matchday. After Bayern splashed a record-breaking €100 million on Harry Kane, Tuchel’s goal is quite simple: Bayern will need to win titles this season, or he will find himself on the chopping block.
Also under pressure, but for different reasons, is one of Tuchel’s predecessors at Bayern - Niko Kovac. After Wolfsburg’s dismal start
to the season - their worst start in over two decades - many were shocked that the team’s executives didn’t sack the Croatian tactician. Wolfsburg’s leadership board decided to give him a bit more time to turn things around. However, two consecutive defeats, including
a 2-1 home defeat to an already relegated Hertha Berlin on the final matchday that resulted in the team missing out on the Europa Conference League means that Kovac will
be under severe scrutiny if they make a poor start. Elsewhere Urs Fischer’s continues to achieve unprecedented things with Union Berlin, beginning in 2018 when Union Berlin not only secured promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time, but also qualified for a European football berth in the last three seasons. This time around, die Eisernen will make their debut in the Champions League which is uncharted territory for them, but Fischer has shown that he’s not a manager intimidated by a huge challenge.
Another coach currently in a good moment
is Xabi Alonso. When the Spaniard took
over Bayer Leverkusen, die Werkself were a side in serious jeopardy. However, the highly decorated midfielder was able to help them avoid a relegation fight and steer them into the semi-finals of the Europa League while ensuring that they will play in Europe this term following a sixth placed finish. With some key additions, including experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka, Alonso will certainly look to guide the team to a higher-placed finish in the table this term.
Meanwhile, in an industry where managers
are hired and sacked at will, the fact that Frank Schmidt has been in charge of the same team since 2007 is quite the rarity. However, Schmidt, who has been with Heidenheim dating back their days in the fifth tier and will be relishing a new challenge - keeping them
in the top-flight for at least more than one season. He will definitely look to other newly promoted sides for inspiration, including RB Leipzig, a very familiar foe from their time in the lower tiers of German football.