Former Rangers head coach Danny Rohl recently reflected on the unique challenges and immense pressure associated with managing the illustrious Scottish club. Almost two months have passed since the German tactician departed Ibrox to take the helm at Austrian side RB Salzburg, with Derek McInnes stepping into his shoes. McInnes’s tenure has begun on a rocky note, with his new team yet to secure a victory after four matches, a stark contrast to Rohl’s current positive trajectory.
Rohl, who inherited a Rangers squad trailing the league leaders by a significant 13 points last season, is intimately familiar with the demanding nature of the Glasgow football scene. He emphasized the paramount importance of consistency in such an environment. “The environment is really demanding,” Rohl stated, highlighting the intense scrutiny faced by everyone involved with the club, from players to coaching staff. He elaborated, “Everyone who goes there, it doesn’t matter if it’s a manager, a player, a staff member, you have to understand this club is demanding and this creates a lot of pressure on people to make the right decisions.” Rohl firmly believes that “nobody can prepare [for] this step,” a sentiment he extends to his successor, McInnes. He asserts that the true understanding of the club’s profound impact only comes with firsthand experience.
Rohl’s move to Austria has, by all accounts, been a refreshing change of pace. His new team, RB Salzburg, recently staged a remarkable comeback in the Europa League, overturning a 2-0 deficit to draw 3-3 with Pafos and secure a 4-3 aggregate victory, propelling them into the play-off round against Sweden’s Mjallby. Domestically, Salzburg has also started brightly, accumulating four points from their initial two fixtures – a convincing win against Hartberg and a somewhat frustrating 1-1 draw at Wolfsberg, a match they largely dominated.
The 37-year-old manager openly acknowledges the stark difference in public attention between Glasgow and his new base. “You can’t compare, especially in Glasgow – it’s all about football,” Rohl remarked, recalling the fervent media landscape and countless podcasts dissecting every match. While expressing affection for both Rangers and his previous club, Sheffield Wednesday, he appreciates the relative anonymity he now enjoys. “Here you are a part of the city. You have loyal supporters but you will have not these [fan] handshakes in the city because this is not usual here.” This more subdued atmosphere has been a welcome change after three intense years. Rohl humorously suggested that in a few years, he might be able to definitively say which environment he prefers, but for now, he relishes the freedom of being able to “go through the city, to have dinner and you are a little undercover.”
