Alexander Zorniger

❧

Wikipedia

Alexander Zorniger
Zorniger in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1967-10-08) 8 October 1967 (age 58)
Place of birth Mutlangen, West Germany
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 OB (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2000 SV Bonlanden 0 (0)
Managerial career
2002–2009 1. FC Normannia Gmünd
2010–2012 SG Sonnenhof Großaspach
2012–2015 RB Leipzig
2015 VfB Stuttgart
2016–2019 Brøndby IF
2021–2022 Apollon Limassol
2022–2024 Greuther Fürth
2025– OB
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander Zorniger (born 8 October 1967) is a German professional football manager who is the head coach of Danish Superliga club OB.[1]

Coaching career

Early career

Zorniger started his coaching career with stints as head coach of Normannia Gmünd, assistant coach at VfB Stuttgart, and as head coach at Sonnenhof Großaspach.[2]

RB Leipzig

Zorniger became head coach of RB Leipzig on 3 July 2012.[3] He managed the club to an undefeated season in all competitions.[4] They finished the league season with 21 wins and 9 draws[5] and went on to the promotion play–off; winning the first leg 2–0 and drawing the second leg 2–2.[4] They also defeated Chemnitzer FC in the Saxony Cup final.[4] He resigned on 11 February 2015, as earlier that month Ralf Rangnick announced that he would be RB Leipzig's coach for next season.[6]

Back to VfB Stuttgart

On 25 May 2015, VfB Stuttgart announced in a press conference that Zorniger would be their new head coach and signed a deal with the Swabians until Summer 2018.[7] He was sacked on 24 November 2015 after Stuttgart lost to FC Augsburg 4–0.[8] He finished with a record of five wins, one draw, and nine losses.[9]

Brøndby

On 17 May 2016, Danish Superliga club Brøndby IF announced that Zorniger had been appointed head coach on a two-year contract.[10] He made his competitive debut on 30 June with a 4–1 away win over Icelandic side Valur in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, and Brøndby won the home leg 6–0 to advance 10–1 on aggregate.[11] On 17 July 2016, Zorniger oversaw his Superliga debut, a 4–0 home win against Esbjerg fB.[12] In the third qualifying round of the Europa League Brøndby eliminated Hertha BSC 3–2 on aggregate, overturning a 1–0 first-leg defeat in Berlin with a 3–1 victory at home.[13] On 21 August Brøndby defeated AGF 7–0 at Ceres Park, the heaviest defeat in AGF's Superliga history,[14][15] and a 1–1 home draw against rivals FC Copenhagen later that month sent Brøndby into the first international break of the season at the top of the table on goal difference.[16][17] His first league defeat came on 18 September 2016 in a 2–1 home loss to Viborg.[18]

Brøndby finished the 2016–17 season as runners-up, the club's highest league placing since 2005–06.[19] The following season marked the peak of Zorniger's tenure. On 10 May 2018 Brøndby won the Danish Cup with a 3–1 victory over Silkeborg in the final, securing the club's first major trophy in 13 years.[20] In the league Brøndby led the table for long periods but, having been two goals ahead away to AC Horsens in the penultimate round, conceded twice in stoppage time to draw 2–2, a result that allowed Copenhagen to overtake them and win the title; Brøndby again finished second and missed out on what would have been their first championship since 2005.[21]

During the 2018–19 season Brøndby were unable to reproduce their previous form and trailed the leading clubs in the Superliga. On 18 February 2019, with the team in third place following a home defeat to Esbjerg, the club announced that Zorniger had been relieved of his duties.[22] According to sporting director Ebbe Sand, the board no longer believed that he was the right coach to implement the club's long-term strategy, known as "Strategy 6.4", and felt that elements of the so-called "Brøndby DNA" were lacking in his playing style. Zorniger was also criticised in the Danish media and among some supporters for occasionally fielding starting line-ups consisting entirely of foreign players, which was seen by critics as conflicting with the club's ambition to develop home-grown talent.[23]

Apollon Limassol

In December 2019, Zorniger was appointed head coach of Apollon Limassol in the Cypriot First Division.[24] He led the club to the 2021–22 league title, Apollon's first championship in over a decade.[25] After the club were eliminated in the third qualifying round of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League in August 2022, he was dismissed.[26]

Greuther Fürth

After leaving Cyprus, Zorniger returned to Germany in October 2022 to take charge of Greuther Fürth.[27] At the time, Fürth were bottom of the 2. Bundesliga with one of the youngest squads in the league, but Zorniger guided the team to ten points from his first four matches, lifting them to tenth place by the winter break. On 27 November 2023, with the club placed fifth, Fürth announced a contract extension with Zorniger until June 2026.

Following a poor run of form early in the 2024–25 season—including five winless matches and a 4–0 defeat to 1. FC Nürnberg—the club dismissed both Zorniger and sporting director Rachid Azzouzi on 22 October 2024, with Fürth stating that they wished to take the team in a new direction.[28]

OB

On 31 May 2025, newly promoted Danish Superliga club OB announced that Zorniger would become their head coach for the 2025–26 season, marking his return to Danish football more than six years after his departure from Brøndby.[29]

Style of management

Zorniger's coaching philosophy is closely associated with the high-intensity pressing model developed in the Red Bull football network. During his time at RB Leipzig he typically used a narrow, vertical 4–4–2 or 4–2–2–2 system built around aggressive Gegenpressing, rapid transitions and a high defensive line, with an emphasis on forcing mistakes rather than patient possession play.[30][31][32] Analysts in Denmark later summarised his Brøndby philosophy with the phrase "create chaos, exploit chaos", reflecting his preference for attacking immediately after regaining possession and keeping the game at a high tempo.[33]

At VfB Stuttgart and Leipzig, Zorniger's teams were noted for some of the highest running and sprint metrics in their leagues and for committing large numbers forward in pressing and attacking phases, drawing comparisons in the German press with the approach of Roger Schmidt.[34] The same sources, however, also criticised his tactics as "naive" when the press was broken, highlighting the space left behind a very high back line and the vulnerability to counter-attacks if the collective movement and distances were not executed perfectly.[35] This tension between attacking output and defensive exposure has been a recurring theme in media assessments of his work.

When he took over Brøndby in 2016, Zorniger imported the same high-pressure, transition-oriented style into the Danish Superliga. Brøndby's own season review described the approach with the slogan "Aktion, aktion, aktion", noting that training sessions under Zorniger were characterised by continuous activity and physical demands, with players required to jog or do push-ups between exercises.[36] His Brøndby side quickly became known for a high tempo, aggressive counter-pressing and a direct attacking game that produced heavy wins and high scoring totals, but also attracted criticism for defensive instability and, at times, for fielding line-ups without any homegrown players, which some observers felt was at odds with the club's traditional identity and emphasis on youth development.[37][23]

Later in his career, particularly at Greuther Fürth, reporting in Germany suggested a degree of evolution in Zorniger's approach. While kicker characterised his counter-pressing as the area where he remained "der Alte" ("the same as ever"), it also highlighted his focus on structuring a very young squad, improving defensive organisation and balancing his high-risk pressing game with greater stability.[38][39] At Fürth he was also frequently portrayed as a demanding, outspoken motivator who expected high work-rate and resilience from his players, but who simultaneously spoke about shielding young footballers from external pressure and concentrating criticism and performance demands within the professional environment.[40][41]

Coaching record

As of 5 December 2025
Team From To Record
G W D L Win % Ref.
Sonnenhof Großaspach 1 July 2010[42] 30 June 2012[42] 64291520045.31 [43][44]
RB Leipzig 3 July 2012[3] 11 February 2015[6] 96582513060.42 [45]
VfB Stuttgart 29 June 2015[7] 24 November 2015[8] 15519033.33 [9]
Brøndby IF 1 June 2016[10] 18 February 2019[46] 84511617060.71 [47][48][49][50]
Apollon Limassol 1 July 2021 10 August 2022 3919119048.72
Greuther Fürth 24 October 2022 21 October 2024 66271623040.91 [51]
OB 1 July 2025 Present 211056047.62
Total 3851998997051.69 —

Honours

As manager

RB Leipzig

Brøndby

Apollon Limassol

References

  1. ↑ "Alexander Zorniger is the new head coach of OB" [Alexander Zorniger er ny cheftræner i OB]. ob.dk (in Danish). 31 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "Alexander Zorniger". World Football. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Rangnick entlässt Pacult, Zorniger schon da". kicker (in German). 3 July 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "RasenBallsport Leipzig" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Regionalliga Nordost - Spieltag / Tabelle" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Trainer Zorniger schmeißt bei RB Leipzig hin" (in German). Die Welt. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Alexander Zorniger neuer Trainer des VfB Stuttgart" (in German). T-Online. 25 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  8. 1 2 "VfB Stuttgart entlässt Trainer Zorniger" (in German). Süddeutsche Zeitung. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  9. 1 2 "VfB Stuttgart - Trainer". Kicker (in German). kicker. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Selskabsmeddelelse 14/2016: Ny cheftræner". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "Brøndby–Valur 2017 history". UEFA.com. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "Brøndby–Esbjerg 4–0". danskfodbold.com (in Danish). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "Brøndby–Hertha 2017 history". UEFA.com. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "AGF–Brøndby 0–7". danskfodbold.com (in Danish). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "AGF – historik". danskfodbold.com (in Danish). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  16. ↑ "Brøndby–FC København 1–1". danskfodbold.com (in Danish). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "Superligaen 2016/2017 – 7. Spieltag". weltfussball.de (in German). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "Brøndby–Viborg 1–2". danskfodbold.com (in Danish). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Brøndby IF – trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  20. ↑ Hansen, Michael Patrick (10 May 2018). "Brøndby vandt pokalfinalen". DR Sporten (in Danish). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  21. ↑ Rohde, Anders (13 May 2018). "Brøndby kollapsede i Horsens og mistede guldet". Politiken (in Danish). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  22. ↑ Bech, Frederik (18 February 2019). "Brøndby fyrer Alexander Zorniger". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  23. 1 2 "Ebbe Sand sætter ord på fyringen". BT (in Danish). 18 February 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "Apollon appoints Alexander Zorniger as new head coach". Apollon Limassol FC. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  25. ↑ "Apollon Limassol crowned champions of Cyprus". UEFA.com. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  26. ↑ "Kurioses Zorniger-Aus" (in German). Sport1. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  27. ↑ ""Alles dafür tun, um erfolgreich zu sein"". sgf1903.de (in German). SpVgg Greuther Fürth. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  28. ↑ "Haas übernimmt bis Winter" (in German). SpVgg Greuther Fürth. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  29. ↑ "Alexander Zorniger er ny cheftræner i OB". ob.dk (in Danish). 31 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  30. ↑ "RB Leipzig unter Zorniger: Das radikale Pressing". Kicker (in German). 14 March 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  31. ↑ "Vom Dorfklub zum Aufstiegsanwärter". Leipziger Volkszeitung (in German). 16 May 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  32. ↑ "» Unsauberes Zorniger-Pressing wartet weiterhin auf die ersten Punkte". Spielverlagerung (in German). 23 August 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  33. ↑ "Counter Pressing And The Fascination Of The Term". Mellemmand. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  34. ↑ "Der Pressing-Fanatiker: Alexander Zorniger beim VfB". Bulibold.dk (in Danish). 1 July 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  35. ↑ Ruf, Christoph (24 November 2015). "Alexander Zorniger: Warum der Trainer in Stuttgart scheiterte". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  36. ↑ "2016/17". Brøndby IF (in Danish). Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  37. ↑ "Brøndby buldrer derudaf – men er det holdbart?". Tipsbladet (in Danish). 9 September 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  38. ↑ ""Gibt sofort eine deutliche Ansage": Nur beim Gegenpressing ist Zorniger noch der Alte". kicker (in German). 11 December 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  39. ↑ "Noch mehr Ballbesitz? Warum Fürths Trainer Zorniger trotzdem die Defensive wichtiger ist". Nürnberger Nachrichten (in German). 8 August 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  40. ↑ "2. Bundesliga: Lauter Zorniger in Fürth: "Das können die Jungs ab"". Die Zeit (in German). 8 March 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  41. ↑ "Zorniger an Spieler-Umfeld: Redet über Autos, Frauen, Kochen | Fußball". Lippische Landes-Zeitung (in German). 22 August 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  42. 1 2 "SG Sonnenhof Großaspach » Trainerhistorie". World Football. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  43. ↑ "SG Sonnenhof Großaspach - Termine 2010-11" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  44. ↑ "SG Sonnenhof Großaspach - Termine 2011-12" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  45. ↑ "RB Leipzig Trainer" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  46. ↑ "Selskabsmeddelelse nr. 02/2019 - Alexander Zorniger stopper - Brøndby IF". brondby.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019.
  47. ↑ "2015–16 Brøndby IF season". Brøndby IF official website (in Danish). Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  48. ↑ "2016–17 Brøndby IF season". Brøndby IF official website (in Danish). Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  49. ↑ "2017–18 Brøndby IF season". Brøndby IF official website (in Danish). Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  50. ↑ "2018–19 Brøndby IF season". Brøndby IF official website (in Danish). Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  51. ↑ "SpVgg Greuther Fürth Trainer". kicker.de (in Danish). Retrieved 24 October 2022.