Marco Rose

German manager currently at Bournemouth, former RB Leipzig and Salzburg boss.

Marco Rose (born 11 September 1976) is a German professional football manager and a former player who is currently the head coach of Premier League club Bournemouth.

Quick Facts

Born: 11 September 1976
Birthplace: Leipzig, East Germany
Height: 1.87 m / 6 ft 2 in
Position: Defender
Current club: Bournemouth (head coach)
Total caps: 272
Total goals: 12

Lore & Background

Rose started his career as assistant coach and player of Mainz's second team in the 2010–11 season. For the 2012–13 season, he joined Lokomotive Leipzig, but terminated his contract after one season. He joined Red Bull Salzburg's U16 team in the 2013–14 season, later became U18 coach, and won the UEFA Youth League in April 2017. He became first-team manager in 2017, winning the Austrian Bundesliga in both of his seasons and the Austrian Cup in 2019. He then managed Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig, where he won the DFB-Pokal in 2023. Rose was appointed head coach of Bournemouth in 2026.

Reader's Guide

Rose has described his playing style as 'emotionality, hunger and being active'. He prefers a 4–4–2 diamond formation but has also used 4–3–3 and 4–2–3–1 at Mönchengladbach.

Playing Career and Early Coaching Roots

Before managing RB Leipzig, Marco Rose had a diverse career as a defender and coach. Born on 11 September 1976, he played for Rotation Leipzig, Lokomotive Leipzig (later VfB Leipzig), where he made ten second-division appearances, and Hannover 96. He joined Mainz 05 on loan in 2002 during their promotion to the Bundesliga before signing permanently. He retired with 199 total games for Mainz's first and second teams, scoring seven goals (three in the Bundesliga). His coaching journey began as a player-assistant at Mainz's second team in 2010–11, followed by a brief stint at Lokomotive Leipzig in 2012. He then rose through Red Bull Salzburg's ranks, leading the U18s to an Austrian title and the 2016–17 UEFA Youth League before becoming first-team manager in 2017.

The Salzburg Era and Tactical Identity

At Red Bull Salzburg, Rose achieved significant success, winning the Austrian Bundesliga in both his seasons (2017–18 and 2018–19) and securing a domestic double with the Austrian Cup in 2019. His team reached the Europa League semi-finals in his first season, defeating Borussia Dortmund and Lazio, though they lost the cup final to Sturm Graz. In his second season, Salzburg started with ten consecutive league wins, breaking a record, before reaching the quarter-finals against Napoli in Europe. Rose never lost a home game during his tenure. Tactically, he describes his style as driven by 'emotionality, hunger and being active,' emphasizing high pressing and short paths to goal. While he prefers a 4–4–2 diamond with two strikers, he has adapted to 4–3–3 and 4–2–3–1 formations during his career.

Bundesliga Tenure and High Stakes Management

Rose's Bundesliga journey included stops at Borussia Mönchengladbach (2019–2021) and Borussia Dortmund (2021–2022). At Gladbach, he finished fourth in his first season but saw the team crash to 8th place after announcing his departure. At Dortmund, he secured a second-place league finish in 2021–22 before mutual separation. He returned to RB Leipzig as head coach on 8 September 2022, winning his debut 3–0 against Dortmund. His major achievement was the DFB-Pokal win on 3 June 2023. Despite extending his contract twice (to 2025 and then 2026), he was sacked by the Leipzig board on 30 March 2025 due to heavy underperformance in the league and Champions League.

Personal Life and Future Outlook

Marco Rose is a Christian who joined the faith as an adult. He has two daughters from his first marriage and married Nikola Pietzsch, a former German handball representative, in 2024. His grandfather, Walter Rose, was also a footballer who played once for Germany in 1937. Following his dismissal from RB Leipzig in March 2025, Rose's career took another turn on 20 April 2026 when he was appointed head coach of Premier League club Bournemouth. He succeeded Andoni Iraola and officially began work on 1 June 2026 for the 2026–27 season.