Mega settlement

Former Salzburg coach now available for free

Roger Schmidt is now back on the coaching market.(Bild: AFP/APA/FILIPE AMORIM)

Former Salzburg coach Roger Schmidt is now back on the market - and for free.

The 57-year-old, who was still employed by Benfica Lisbon until the end of August, reached an agreement with the Portuguese top club for a mega severance payment of 8.7 million euros. His contract would have run until 2026. Schmidt is therefore back on the coaching market and can look for a new challenge on a free transfer. Schmidt was coach at Red Bull Salzburg from 2012 to 2014.

In his first season at Benfica, Schmidt won the championship and led the team to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. He finished runner-up in his second season. He left in August after a weak start to the season and a dispute with the club management.

Leipzig interested
According to the newspaper "Bild", RB Leipzig are keeping an eye on Schmidt should Marco Rose leave the club. After six defeats in six games, the "Bulls" were knocked out of the Champions League prematurely without a trace, and things have recently gone downhill in the Bundesliga. A landmark match for Leipzig and Rose is coming up against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday (7.30 pm).

Salzburg in crisis
Red Bull Salzburg are also in a crisis at the moment. In the domestic Bundesliga, the former league champions are already 13 points behind league leaders Sturm Graz, while in the Champions League they have lost five out of six games.

Schmidt can certainly choose his new club. It remains to be seen when the German will feel ready for a new challenge ...