English second division club Bristol City has appointed Gerhard Struber as its new head coach. The former 1. FC Köln coach has signed a three-year contract with the English club.
Just a month and a half after being let go by 1. FC Köln, Gerhard Struber has found a new job. The 48-year-old is joining Bristol City in the Championship, where Struber has signed a contract until 2028. This is good news for FC Köln, as Struber is no longer on the payroll after receiving a bonus following Cologne’s promotion, which was achieved by his successor Friedhelm Funkel.
Struber’s intense and powerful style of play is a perfect fit for Bristol, and the coach brings a “wealth of experience and energy” with him, said Jon Lansdown, chairman of the second division team, in a club statement announcing the Austrian’s appointment.
Struber’s new employer in the south of England will start pre-season training next week, when the coach will officially join his new team. “It’s a very interesting group. They did a great job last season and were very successful,” Struber is quoted as saying. “The style of play suits me perfectly, especially when it comes to developing young players,” the 48-year-old added.
Extensive experience in Austria – and a little in England
Since starting his coaching career in 2008, Struber has coached several clubs in Austrian professional football, including RB Salzburg, FC Liefering, and Wolfsberger AC. Struber’s last engagement in Cologne came to an inglorious end shortly before the end of the season: with the club in a promotion spot, the coach was sacked on the third-last matchday after a draw against Jahn Regensburg.
The coach also has experience in the English second division: in the 2019/20 season, Struber coached FC Barnsley, with whom he collected 49 points in 46 games and narrowly avoided relegation.