Danny Rohl has left Rangers after just eight months in charge, joining Red Bull Salzburg as head coach after a seven-figure compensation package was agreed between the clubs. The 37-year-old German, who replaced Russell Martin at Ibrox in October, departs with performance manager Sascha Lense and first-team analyst Tristan Steiner, leaving chairman Andrew Cavenagh to confirm that “news of his replacement will follow in due course.”
Hearts manager Derek McInnes is widely expected to succeed Rohl, having turned down the Rangers job in 2017. The former Rangers player, now 54, is described by BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer Tom English as “a no-brainer, an obvious call” who “knows nothing he doesn’t know about this league.”
“Danny Rohl leaves Rangers after eight months for Red Bull Salzburg, with Hearts boss Derek McInnes tipped as his successor.”
Rohl’s tenure was a rollercoaster. He hauled Rangers into a three-way title fight after inheriting a side languishing in the bottom six under Martin, but a dramatic post-split collapse saw the club lose four of their final five league games — finishing third behind Celtic and Hearts, without silverware. His overall record across all competitions stands at 22 wins, 11 losses and seven draws in 40 fixtures.
“I’d like to thank Danny for his service and commitment to Rangers,” Cavenagh said in a statement. “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.”
Yet English questioned whether Rohl was ever truly comfortable. “He never gave the impression he was totally at ease with the league,” he wrote, adding that while the club backed Rohl financially and publicly, the German “never looked happy at Rangers.”
Rohl, who had two years left on his contract, returns to the Red Bull network where his coaching career began at Leipzig under Ralph Hasenhuttl. He later followed Hasenhuttl to Southampton, served as assistant to Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich — winning the Bundesliga — and managed Sheffield Wednesday before arriving in Glasgow.
Salzburg finished third in Austria last season — their lowest placing in two decades — and sacked Daniel Beichler after just 14 games. Both Salzburg and Rangers enter the Europa League at the third qualifying round.
The Ibrox club are now searching for their third permanent manager in 12 months, with Steven Gerrard also linked to the post. “A further update from the club on the vacant position will follow in due course,” a Rangers statement read.