Overview
- Red Bull confirmed on Friday that Roger Schmidt has signed a long‑term contract to become Head of Global Soccer and will begin the role on October 1, 2026.
- Schmidt will lead the sporting side while Florian Scholz takes the newly titled role of Head of Global Soccer Commercial to handle administrative and commercial duties.
- Schmidt is leaving his advisory post with Japan’s J. League, where he had been employed since October 2025, to rejoin the Red Bull club network he first worked with at RB Salzburg in 2012–14.
- The vacancy followed Jürgen Klopp’s move to the German national team after the 2026 World Cup, a switch reports say required no compensation payment from the DFB to Red Bull.
- Red Bull and its CEO framed Schmidt’s hire as continuity for the group’s emphasis on high‑intensity play and youth development so expect a focus on coaching alignment, scouting links and player pathways across Salzburg, Leipzig and other partner clubs.