Robert Klauß unveiled as the new SK Rapid head coach

SK Rapid are pleased to confirm that as of Monday, the 38-year-old German Robert Klauß has signed a contract to become head coach up to and including the 2025/26 season.

The former centre forward began his coaching career at the tender age of 25, and graduated from the DFB Coaching Academy in 2018 as class valedictorian (with an average grade of 1.0). Born in Eberswalde (Brandenburg), Klauß coached a number of youth categories at RB Leipzig for more than eight years, including the U17s, U19s, the UEFA Youth League team, and the second team. He then spent a little over two years (2018-2020) at the club as an assistant coach alongside the current Austria National Team manager Ralf Rangnick, as well as working with the new Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann when he was in charge of the Saxon side.

Klauß then moved to Franconia to become the head coach of 1. FC Nürnberg in July 2020. The former German champions had required a play-off win to remain in the second-tier before Klauß arrived, and in his two full seasons in charge, he led the team to finishes of eleventh and eighth before parting ways in October 2022. In the last 30 years, only Bundesliga veterans Klaus Augenthaler and Dieter Hecking have been in charge for longer at Nürnberg, both having spells of around three years at the helm.

On Tuesday afternoon, Robert Klauß will take charge for his first training session with his new team. He will be joined soon by a fellow coach as one of his assistants, although a few contract details still need to be clarified before an official announcement can be made.

In his first official statement since joining, the new head coach of SK Rapid said: “I’m delighted that it has all worked out! In my first few hours here in Vienna I’ve already been able to gain some very interesting insights into my new club, and I’ve held some initial talks with people at the club. The SK Rapid job held an enormous appeal to me from the very first contact, and I’m sure that the team has a lot of potential to play successful football. There are still three very important games on the agenda for us this year, I’m definitely starting out with the highest levels of motivation, and I can hardly wait to start working with my new colleagues both on and off the pitch.”

 President Alexander Wrabetz commented on the first new coaching appointment during his time in office: "Markus Katzer has taken on and completed the search for a new coach in a highly professional manner and at a rapid pace. I am delighted that we can now welcome Robert Klauß, an experienced head coach despite his young age, to our ranks. We were absolutely impressed by his demeanor and his concept during our discussions, and we also received very positive feedback from the many inquiries we made about him. I wish Robert Klauß a good start, many successful games and look forward to working with him in the future. He enjoys the trust of the entire Executive Committee, which unanimously approved this personnel decision."

 Steffen Hofmann, who was involved in the decision-making process along with Managing Director Marcus Knipping, said: "I am happy that in Robert Klauß we have found a young, engaged coach who is committed to the most modern standards and who identifies one hundred percent with our path and our philosophy. The experience he gained at 1. FC Nürnberg in my home town will also help him with us, as the 'Glubb' has undeniable similarities with our club in some areas. In addition, as assistant to two of the best international football coaches of our generation at Leipzig, he has gained invaluable expertise and I am convinced that he will bring a breath of fresh air to our team and the entire club."

 Managing Director of Sport Markus Katzer, who played a leading role in the selection of the coach in line with his area of responsibility, says: "Robert Klauß was one of the absolute ideal candidates from the outset, so I am all the more pleased that the positive impression we made in our personal discussions has not only been confirmed, but even reinforced, and that we were able to agree on the terms of the contract both professionally and quickly. I am absolutely convinced that he is a perfect fit for us, he fulfills our requirement profile perfectly. Robert will now meet all of our coaches and support staff in person and I am sure that we are at the beginning of a very good working relationship."

Fotos: Red Ring Shots