Marco Rose has enjoyed trophy success in the form of the DFB Cup at Leipzig. - © IMAGO/Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images

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Marco Rose: 5 things on RB Leipzig's Saxony-born tactician

21.08.2024

Marco Rose has been in the RB Leipzig hot seat since taking over from Domenico Tedesco back in 2022 and the former Borussia Dortmund boss has been enjoying great success at his hometown club. bundesliga.com offers you five things on the man in charge at the Red Bull Arena.

1. Jürgen Klopp influence

A solid option at left full-back during a playing career that initially took in VfB Leipzig and Hannover, Rose was snapped up by Mainz and their former coach Klopp back in 2002 and he would go on to make almost 200 appearances in total for the 05ers, even winning promotion to the Bundesliga in one of his six seasons under the now world-famous tactician.

"I spent a lot of years under Kloppo and it was a great time," Rose said. "He shaped all of us. We picked up a few things in terms of football, but above all it was the way he was with people [that was influential]. Maybe there are a few [coaching] parallels with me and Jürgen, but I've also found my own style," the 47-year-old added.

Learning curve: Rose (l.) learned a lot from Jürgen Klopp (r.) at Mainz. - imago/Jan Huebner

2. Coaching stars

Rose dipped his toes into the coaching world while operating as a player/assistant coach at Mainz before starting out on his own at Lokomotive Leipzig. It was at Red Bull Salzburg that he would truly begin to shine, however. Joining the Austrian outfit in 2013, the 6'2" tactician initially took over the club's U16 side before moving up to the U18s and winning a junior domestic championship. In 2017, Rose's starlets achieved the phenomenal feat of winning the UEFA Youth League after victory against Benfica in the final.

3. Up he rises

Progression to the Salzburg senior side ensued and - overseeing a team that played a distinctive press-and-attack style - Rose incredibly managed to win the Austrian Bundesliga in his first attempt while also making it to the domestic Cup final (losing to Sturm Graz) and the last four of the UEFA Europa League.

Rose racked up the titles at Salzburg. - imago images / GEPA pictures

It would get even better for the Austrian Red Bulls the following campaign with Rose guiding a swashbuckling young team to a record league start in terms of wins and a championship and cup double. This meant Salzburg achieved direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League group stages for the first time.

4. Borussia and Borussia

... with the Leipzig native being snapped up by Mönchengladbach first, and then Dortmund two years later. Charged with taking up the reins from the experienced Dieter Hecking at the Foals, Rose had Gladbach leading the Bundesliga standings at one stage in 2019/20, before they finished in fourth spot and made the Champions League. In the following campaign, a run to the knockouts of European club football's elite competition was a first for Die Fohlen since 1977 and it was the highlight of a season in which they finished eighth domestically.

A switch to Dortmund followed. However, after a second-placed Bundesliga finish, elimination from the Champions League at the group stages and failing to advance beyond the Round of 16 in the DFB Cup, it was curtains for Rose in terms of his brief tenure at the Black-and-Yellows.

Watch: Rose's Leipzig enjoy Supercup success in 2023

5. Philosophy and Leipzig

Born and raised in the German state of Saxony, Rose is Leipzig through and through and on his unveiling as coach of Die Roten Bullen in 2022, he said, "I identify really strongly with Leipzig; it’s my home. I’ve always said that. It’s never easy to take on a role in the public eye in your home city. The people here expect a lot from the club and of course from me as well." The tactician lived up to those expectations in his first season with his home-town side, winning the DFB Cup and finishing third in the Bundesliga, all the while reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Leipzig's success continued at the start of last season when they beat Bayern Munich 3-0 the Supercup. Another top-four Bundesliga finish was secured before the campaign's completion.

Of his playing philosophy, Rose once explained, "We want to be very active working against the ball when we lose possession, lots of sprinting. We want to win the ball high up the pitch and have a short path to goal. And when we have the ball ourselves, we want to play well; we don't want to punt high balls up the pitch, but be quick and dynamic getting forward." It is a style that continues to excite the passionate Leipzig fans.