Schalke collects for ex-manager: desired solution Schröder changes to RB Leipzig

Rouven Schröder takes over the post of sports director at Bundesliga soccer club RB Leipzig.

Schalke collects for ex-manager: desired solution Schröder changes to RB Leipzig

Rouven Schröder takes over the post of sports director at Bundesliga soccer club RB Leipzig. The 47-year-old is terminating his existing contract with league rivals Schalke 04 "by mutual agreement". He will start at the new employer at the beginning of April.

RB Leipzig has received its dream solution for the position of sports director. Rouven Schröder signed a long-term contract with the Saxons. This was announced by the DFB Cup winner. Schröder had previously terminated his contract with FC Schalke 04, which had been inactive since October. RB paid a fee to Gelsenkirchen. It is said that half a million euros will go to the Royal Blues. Both sides had agreed not to disclose details. Schröder will take up his post at RB on April 1.

"Rouven brings a lot of expertise and has proven his qualities at his previous stations. Rouven will complete the sporting management of RB Leipzig from April and support me in the areas of squad planning, scouting and licensing," said RB sports director Max Eberl in a message. Schröder is looking forward to the new challenge. "RBL is one of the top clubs in the Bundesliga and plays regularly in the Champions League - I want to help take the next steps in the development of the club."

The 47-year-old has worked in sports management for various clubs since 2010. He was responsible for scouting at 1. FC Nürnberg and at SpVgg Greuther Fürth and as the coordinator of the license area. He worked as a sports director in Fürth, at Werder Bremen, 1. FSV Mainz 05 and most recently at FC Schalke 04. From October he gave up his post for personal reasons. Schröder had been responsible for Schalke squad planning since June 1, 2021, and it was under him that they were promoted directly last year.

Schalke's sporting director Peter Knäbel confirmed at Sky90 at the end of February that "we received an offer that fully meets the conditions that we agreed with Rouven when he resigned and we suspended the contract". At RB, the position of sports director had been orphaned since Markus Krösche left Eintracht Frankfurt on May 31, 2021. The tasks were spread over several shoulders. With the commitment of Eberl as sports director, it was clear that a new sports director should be found. Schröder was considered the preferred candidate from the outset.