Leipzig's New Coach
RB Leipzig Names Martín Demichelis Head Coach Through 2028, Targets Sustained Champions League Contention
Key Points
RB Leipzig's contract with Martín Demichelis runs through June 30, 2028, with reports of a release clause around €2.5 million.
During his stint at Mallorca, Demichelis managed 12 La Liga games (5 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses) before the club were relegated from the top flight.
River Plate crowned the Argentine championship under Demichelis, adding a domestic title to his coaching résumé.
Demichelis began his coaching career with Bayern Munich's youth teams, including roles with the U19 and U23 squads.
Demichelis has indicated he signed a two-year contract with RB Leipzig.
RB Leipzig has appointed Martín Demichelis as head coach, signing the 45-year-old Argentine to a contract through June 30, 2028, according to RB Leipzig Official. The club confirmed the deal on June 22, just days after dismissing Ole Werner — a manager who had just guided Leipzig to third place and Champions League qualification in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig reportedly paid a €2.5 million release clause to pry Demichelis away from Mallorca, per Get German Football News. At the same time, the club faces an estimated €3 million severance bill for Werner and his staff, making the managerial switch a costly one by any measure.
Klopp Drives a Surprise Exit for Werner
Ole Werner's dismissal on June 17 came as a shock. Werner averaged 1.95 points per game across 38 matches and took Leipzig to the DFB-Pokal final, where they lost to Bayern Munich. Still, Leipzig's leadership felt the 24-point gap to champions Bayern was unacceptable, per Goal.com.
Jürgen Klopp, Red Bull's Head of Soccer, was described as the "driving force" behind the move. Klopp said Werner "did a fantastic job" but added that "the challenges ahead require new ideas and a different approach," per Goal.com. Werner, for his part, called the sacking a "surprise dismissal" in a LinkedIn post and pointedly left Klopp's name out of his farewell message, per AP News.
Demichelis Arrives After Relegation — and a Padel Friendship
Demichelis' path to Leipzig is unusual. He managed Mallorca for 12 games this season — winning 5, drawing 3, losing 4 — but could not stop the club from finishing 18th and dropping to the Spanish second division, per OneFootball. He is now stepping straight into Champions League football.
Sky Germany analysts suggest Klopp's personal relationship with Demichelis helped seal the deal. The two reportedly bonded over padel tennis in Mallorca. Klopp is said to be "heavily impressed" by Demichelis' high-pressing style, which fits the Red Bull tactical identity, per Goal.com. Before Mallorca, Demichelis won the Argentine title with River Plate and spent time managing Monterrey in Mexico.
Demichelis Sets Out Bold Vision for Leipzig
The new coach wasted no time stating his ambitions. Demichelis said he "was won over by the club's sporting vision" and wants to "create a side that plays bold, intense and exciting football" that "inspires the people of Leipzig," per RB Leipzig Official.
Sporting Director Marcel Schäfer backed the hire publicly, saying Demichelis "combines a clear footballing philosophy with intensity and outstanding expertise," per Washington Post. Leipzig expects him to run a 4-2-3-1 system built around ball possession and aggressive pressing — a style the club has used at its best under previous managers.
Internal Friction Clouds an Otherwise Clean Announcement
Behind the scenes, the transition has not been smooth. Reports from Sky Germany suggest Schäfer was "very unhappy" with the way Klopp and Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff intervened in the coaching decision. Speculation about Schäfer's own future at the club is already circulating, per Get German Football News.
Fan reaction has been mixed. Many supporters are puzzled by the timing — Werner met every target the club set — and critics have called the Demichelis hire a "massive gamble," per Get German Football News. Demichelis is Leipzig's 7th permanent head coach since their 2016 Bundesliga promotion. He now has two years to prove the bet was worth it.
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