Originally Posted by
EastStandRed
Have Barnsley found a new manager? The lowdown on latest contender Gerhard Struber
The Barnsley hierarchy have finally appeared to have awoken from their five-week slumber since sacking Daniel Stendel, after fresh reports revealed that the managerless club want to open talks with Wolfsberger AC boss Gerhard Struber.
Sky Sports News have revealed that the Championship club, who are glued to the foot of the table with just nine points, want the Austrian to replace Stendel.
So, who is he? And what’s he done in management?
We take a look…
After a 20-year playing career in Austria, Struber began learning the managerial ropes at Red Bull Salzburg after he became assistant-then-manager of the club’s U19 side between 2007 and 2010.
During this time he would have squeezed every ounce of knowledge and expertise from one of the best bosses in the business, Italian icon Giovanni Trapattoni, who has won league titles in four different countries, including seven Serie A titles. Former Ajax and Porto boss Co Adriaanse also managed the senior Salzburg team when Struber was at the club, as did fellow Dutchman Huub Stevens.
Branching out on his own
Struber branched out on his own in 2012, taking charge of SV Kuchl in the Austrian fourth tier. The club finished 9th in his first season, which was followed by consecutive 3rd place standings, with his side scoring 71 goals in 30 games in his third and final 2014/15 campaign.
Return to Red Bull Salzburg
This was followed by a year at Red Bull Salzburg’s U15 - where he won the academy title - before earning a spell as assistant manager of the senior team under three different managers during the 2015/16 season - Peter Zeidler, Thomas Letsch (interim), and former Brighton boss Oscar Garcia - as the club won the league and cup double.
He then spent time at the helm of Salzburg’s U16s and U19s.
FC Liefering, Wolfsberger AC and managerial style
In the summer of 2018 Struber penned a deal with Austrian second-tier side FC Liefering, only to vacate his post after 15 matches with a record of six wins, a draw, and eight defeats, with six of those eight defeats coming in his final seven games.
He spent the next six months as the club’s scout, before returning to the dugout in the summer with Wolfsberger AC of the Austrian Bundesliga.
It’s proved to be a cracking decision as his new side have flown out of the blocks this season, accumulating 27 points from 14 games which puts them in 3rd spot behind leaders RB Salzburg and LASK. Meanwhile, they are currently battling it out with İstanbul Başakşehir, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Roma in the Europa League group stages.
As for his managerial style, Borussia.de describe it as “good organisation, courageous, and direct football,” which you could argue is exactly what Barnsley need at the moment.
Verdict
Barnsley are evidently attempting to unearth another Daniel Stendel. They’ve already faced rejection from IFK Gothenburg head coach Poya Asbaghi, while rumours on former Ingolstadt boss Jens Keller have gone cold.
It’s debatable whether this is the route that Barnsley should go down right now, given their shocking start to the season. They are perhaps best off doing everything they can to bring Neil Warnock back to Yorkshire, a case we’ve argued for right here.
Meanwhile, managing in England will no doubt represent an attractive option for Struber, however the timing is problematic given that Wolfsberger are not only on course for their highest ever league finish in their history, but are also in contention to progress through to the Europa League knockout stages.
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