Onur Cinel Leaves Red Bull Salzburg as European Clubs Show Interest

Onur Cinel has left Red Bull Salzburg officially. Now, clubs from the English Championship, the Netherlands, and Germany are interested in him as he looks for his next head coach job.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The 39-year-old German coach started at Salzburg at the beginning of the 2023/24 season with FC Liefering and the club’s UEFA Youth League team. He ended his contract at the end of May 2025. Cinel became the interim head coach for six matches. Then, he continued as an assistant coach under Pepijn Lijnders and Thomas Letsch during the 2024/25 season. Now, Cinel is ready for a head coach role again. Championship, Dutch, and German clubs are contacting him about his services.

CINEL’S RISE AND SALZBURG’S SEASON

Cinel is also part of Ralf Rangnick’s Austrian national team staff, showing his growing reputation in European football. Salzburg had a tough 2024/25 season, finishing 34th in the UEFA Champions League league phase. They faced big defeats from teams like Bayer Leverkusen, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid. Even with these challenges, the club is still set to participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR CINEL AND SALZBURG?

As many clubs are interested, Cinel will choose his next role carefully. He wants a head coach position offering both a challenge and room to grow. Meanwhile, Red Bull Salzburg will focus on rebuilding with new leadership for their next domestic and international matches. Cinel will continue with Austria’s national team. They have upcoming matches as part of their EURO 2024 preparations, highlighting his continued influence at the highest level.