Demichelis takes over RB Leipzig with a contract until 2028
RB Leipzig officially announced on Monday the appointment of Martin Demichelis as the team’s new head coach. The 45-year-old Argentine signed a contract until June 2028 and takes over the role following the dismissal of Ole Werner, which occurred last week. He is the club’s eighth permanent manager since its promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2016-17 season.
Werner’s exit and the choice of his successor
Werner’s dismissal surprised part of the German football scene. After all, Leipzig finished the last Bundesliga in third place and secured a spot in the next Champions League – a result that, at many clubs, would be grounds for a contract renewal rather than a sacking. The board, however, felt it was time to change course.
Demichelis arrives with a career that mixes notable spells and a recent frustrating episode. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Málaga and later worked in Bayern Munich’s youth ranks. In 2022, he took over River Plate – the club where he grew up – and in the relegation zone, in February, earned five wins and even went eight games unbeaten, but failed to keep the side in La Liga. They went down. Even so, Leipzig bet on him.
Who Demichelis is away from the dugout
As a player, the Argentine built a solid career in Europe. He spent most of his time at Bayern Munich – 259 matches, four Bundesliga titles and four German Cups. He also wore the shirts of River Plate, Málaga, Atlético Madrid, Espanyol and Manchester City, where he won the Premier League in 2014. With the Argentina national team, he amassed 51 appearances and a World Cup final, also in 2014, when Argentina lost to Germany in extra time.
That background at the Bavarian club – where he will now work on German soil again – is no minor detail. Demichelis knows the culture of local football, the demands of the competition and the weight of the Champions League. That is exactly where he wants to stand out as a coach.
What the coach himself says about the challenge
“RB Leipzig is an ambitious club, with a clear identity, exceptional talents and a desire to grow at the highest level. That was exactly the kind of challenge I was looking for,” Demichelis said in an official club statement. The manager also highlighted the appeal of the Champions League: “I’m eager to face the best in Europe. That is exactly where a club with Leipzig’s ambition and quality should be.”
The Champions League debut will be the first big test. Leipzig have never won the continental competition, but they reached the semifinals in 2019-20 – the best campaign in the club’s history. Demichelis inherits a competitive squad and a fan base that demands more than just taking part.
