Reports: Red Bulls pay €2 million fee to sign manager Gerhard Struber from Barnsley

According to SkyAustria reporter Gerhard Krabath on Saturday morning, an agreement has been reached for Barnsley FC manager Gerhard Struber to join New York Red Bulls on a three-year contract. A reported €2 million ($2.3 million) fee has been arranged to purchase Struber’s rights.

A former Austrian domestic league midfielder and longtime academy and reserves coach with Red Bull Salzburg, the 43-year-old Struber has quickly emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young managers in the last two years. After leaving Salzburg farm team FC Liefering to obtain a pro coaching license, Struber took over Austrian minnows AC Wolfsberger last year, leading them to impressive Europa League results against continental powers Roma and Borussia Monchengladbach. He was recruited by ambitious English lower league side Barnsley in late 2019 and rescued the club from the bottom of the second division, escaping relegation on the final day of the season.

Reports had emerged on Friday that the corporate founder of Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz had become involved in the negotiations and financing of the transfer fee, indicating the esteem in which Struber is held in the Red Bull soccer network and the desire to bring him back into the fold.

In the event the deal goes through, one would expect Struber to begin work soon given the seeming dejection at his exit on Barnsley’s end as well as Struber’s recent history of fast job changes. Struber will begin assembling his staff, one which may or may not include current Red Bulls interim coach Bradley Carnell. There is however a high probability that whatever happens in the next few days for the Red Bulls, multiple middle-aged men named Gerhard are likely to be involved.