Robert Klauss: “I know this is a hot topic”

The SK Rapid takes unexpected paths. With a young German coach from the Red Bull school, the traditional football club in Hütteldorf should initially turn things around and establish themselves again among the national top. But Robert Klauß doesn’t want to be reduced to the intensive pressing style, he promises “Rapid football”. This should lead to success even without reinforcements.

Klauß was initially supported in Leipzig by the current ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick and later by the current German national coach Julian Nagelsmann and does not want to miss the experiences there. “I trained at RB Leipzig. You learn a lot when you can work in a very professional environment at a young age. But I’ve been away from Leipzig for a long time and it’s important to me to develop my own ideas about football”emphasized the 38-year-old, who received a contract in Hütteldorf until the summer of 2026.

He is aware that Rapid and Red Bull are ideologically opposed. “I know this is a hot topic”said Klauß, who will be helped by his experience at 1. FC Nürnberg – a traditional club with fan-friendly ties to Rapid. “Even in Nuremberg they didn’t say: ‘Yay, we have an RB coach.’ It’s important to get to know each other personally, then people will see that there’s more to it”said Klauss.

Markus Katzer, Managing Director of Sports, is of course familiar with the topic. “Everyone knows that we are not a copy of a club, but have our own path”, he clarified. Klauss has also committed himself to this. “It is important that we have a holistic approach, a dominant team that has possession of the ball and is also a goal threat. The team needs two or three adaptations, that will happen in the medium term”he explained.

The first goal is to score as many points as possible in the upcoming three autumn rounds against Blau-Weiß Linz on Sunday, at WSG Tirol (December 2nd) and at home against Red Bull Salzburg on December 9th. “Now it’s important to create a good starting position until winter. Then we will work on details so that we can play football successfully”Klauss described his path.

The Hütteldorfers didn’t play badly under his predecessor Zoran Barisic, but recently they were luckless and winless. Be rapid “not a team that is in shambles”Klauss is happy.

He brings for them “big challenge” (Rapid President Alexander Wrabetz) has some experience with. Klauss started his coaching career at the age of 25. That was 13 years ago.