Rouven Schröder takes over at Gladbach: New hope after Virkus' resignation!

Rouven Schröder takes over at Gladbach: New hope after Virkus' resignation!

Rouven Schröder has arrived back in Germany - and in a position that many in the football scene are watching with excitement. The 49-year-old will be Borussia Mönchengladbach's new sports director, succeeding Roland Virkus, who had to vacate his post at the end of September 2025 due to a frothy start to the season. The official announcement of the change took place on October 14, 2025, and Schröder will now be presented to the public on Thursday. In just one year he is moving from RB Salzburg back to the Bundesliga, where he previously worked for clubs like Mainz 05, Leipzig and Schalke.

Schröder, who only moved from Leipzig to Salzburg in December 2024, brings a lot of experience with him. Managing Director Dr. Stefan Stegemann highlights Schröder's skills and communication skills, which will be crucial in the coming months. And that is sorely needed: Borussia Mönchengladbach has not won a single game so far this season and is languishing at the bottom of the table. The last victory was back in March. Interim coach Eugen Polanski, who only scored three points from six games during the transition period, is considered the favorite to take over as head coach - if Schröder does not replace him as a permanent solution.

Purchased freedom or breach of trust?

But it's not just the sporting prospects that are exciting. The transfer fee that Borussia Mönchengladbach paid to Red Bull Salzburg for Schröder is also a topic of discussion. Between 700,000 and 1.5 million euros is given as a guideline in various media. This is an illustration of the impact that a change of coach can have in the Bundesliga. According to Statista, numerous coaches were dismissed between 1963 and 2025 - significantly more than a few decades ago. A sign of how fast-moving football has become.

For Schröder, staying at Salzburg was not an issue recently because he had not informed the club of his desire to move, which was seen as a breach of trust. In his new role he will have to pay particular attention to finding a solution to the coaching issue as the situation at the club is tense. Fans will be watching like a hawk to see how things turn out. The first discussions about the coaching question seem to be already underway; after all, a sustainable solution must be found in order to overcome the coming challenges.

A new chapter for Schröder

The introduction of Rouven Schröder as sports director of Borussia Mönchengladbach is eagerly awaited. The four years he had planned at RB Salzburg are now over and a new, challenging chapter in German football awaits him. How key elements such as the coaching question develop will not only influence Gladbach's squad planning, but also the club's fate in this critical phase. One thing is clear: the pressure will be enormous and many eyes will be on him.

Now Rouven Schröder is in demand because the challenge is great. Things continue in Gladbach, and the fans hope that things will quickly improve with new impetus in the Bundesliga. A good start could be the key to success – and thus also a test of confidence for the new sports director.