Rohl Moves to Austrian Side After Short Stint at Ibrox
Danny Rohl has concluded his tenure as head coach of Rangers, departing after just eight months to assume the managerial position at Austrian club RB Salzburg. The Scottish club has indicated that an announcement regarding his replacement will be made soon, with Hearts head coach Derek McInnes widely considered a frontrunner for the role.
Rohl, 37, initially took the helm at Rangers in October, succeeding Russell Martin. Under his leadership, the team entered a three-way contest for the title. However, a downturn in performance following the league split resulted in a third-place finish behind Celtic and Hearts, leaving the Ibrox club without silverware for the season.
Chairman Thanks Rohl Amidst Speculation
Despite public backing from Chairman Andrew Cavenagh at the close of the season, Rohl is now returning to the Red Bull football network, where he began his coaching career at Leipzig alongside Ralph Hasenhuttl. Cavenagh expressed gratitude for Rohl's contributions, stating, "I'd like to thank Danny for his service and commitment to Rangers. He and his staff put in a significant amount of hard work during his time in charge, which we are greatly appreciative of. We wish them the best of luck moving forward."
Rohl, who had two years remaining on his contract with Rangers, is set to manage an RB Salzburg team that finished third in Austria last season, their lowest position in two decades. Salzburg will enter the Europa League at the third qualifying round, mirroring Rangers' entry point. His appointment follows the sacking of Daniel Beichler by Salzburg last month after only 14 games.
Rohl's Coaching Journey and Rangers' Search for a New Manager
Rohl's coaching background includes stints with Hasenhuttl at Southampton in 2018, followed by a role as assistant to Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich, where he contributed to a Bundesliga win. He later managed Sheffield Wednesday in 2023 before joining Rangers.
His record at Rangers across all competitions stands at 22 wins, 11 losses, and seven draws in 40 matches. After initially withdrawing from consideration for the Rangers job, he accepted the role when the club was unable to secure Steven Gerrard or Kevin Muscat. Rohl revitalized the team from a mid-table position to title contenders, but a late-season collapse, including four consecutive defeats in their final five games, dashed their hopes for a first Premiership title in five years. Exits from both domestic cups at the hands of Celtic further intensified fan pressure.
Chairman Cavenagh had previously dismissed speculation about Rohl's future amid interest from Wolfsburg and pledged a "summer of substantial change" under his leadership. Rohl was provided funds for four January signings, including Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland. However, the planned squad overhaul will now fall to a new manager, with the team scheduled to return to training this week, necessitating a swift recruitment process for Rangers.