RB Leipzig have parted ways with coach Ole Werner after one season, the Bundesliga club said on Wednesday.
Werner had to go although he led Leipzig to third place in the Bundesliga in the past season and into the German Cup quarter-finals.
“We have spent the past few days carrying out a thorough final review of the recent season. On Tuesday evening, we decided that a change of head coach was needed," managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer said.
Schäfer said that Werner and his also axed assistants Tom Cichon and Patrick Kohlmann "played a major role in our successful rebuild and in qualifying for the Champions League" but "nevertheless, we believe the challenges ahead require new ideas and a different approach."
Leipzig said they would give further updates on a new coach "shortly."
Former Argentina and Bayern Munich defender Martin Demichelis is reportedly the frontrunner to take over. He was last charge of Spanish club Mallorca.
Werner arrived last year from Werder Bremen on a two-year contract and led a reshaped team back into Europe after a seventh-place Bundesliga finish in 2025.
But supervisory board chairman Oliver Mintzlaff and Red Bull's global football department led by Jürgen Klopp were reportedly not happy with the way Werner let the team play and that there was also a little luck involved in returning to the Champions League.
Leipzig missed their Bundesliga points record by just two points but there was dissatisfaction with too few points in top matches, not enough dominance and running on the pitch as well defensive problems.
Schäfer reportedly saved Werner from being sacked at least twice during the season. Werner was not first choice last year but the preferred candidate, Spain's Cesc Fabregas, decided to stay at Italian club Como.
