Danny Röhl: Masterminding Sheffield Wednesday's Great Escape

Our guest on Episode #63 of the TGG Podcast is Danny Röhl.

Danny led Sheffield Wednesday to one of English football's great escapes last season. When he took over in October, the club were seven points adrift of safety with no wins in 10. By the end of the campaign they were three points clear of relegation.

In this episode Danny told us how that remarkable metamorphosis was achieved and charted his meteoric rise as a coach, from RB Leipzig to Southampton, Bayern Munich, Germany and now Sheffield Wednesday, as a manager in his own right. 

SHOW NOTES =>

02:11: Currently in Leipzig. Family have stayed there while he worked in Sheffield. About to work for ITV as a pundit at the Euros.

05:04: Now looking ahead to next season. Had offers from other clubs but journey not finished at Sheffield Wednesday. Need to improve the club and the squad.

08:15: Reflections on his first season in charge. Wanted an increase in intensity, while being mindful of injuries. Was always positive and believed in the players - something he learnt from Hansi Flick.

13:15: How did he win the players over so quickly? Laid out a plan for how they could be successful: pressing, counterpressing and improving ball possession. Developing players off the pitch as well as on it. "A good coach can change a game; a great coach can change a life."

19:07: Having different personalities and qualities in coaching team. He sets the plan and strategy for the week, but they get ownership of their area.

21:34: Influence of RB Leipzig on his playing philosophy. How this developed during his career. "I am not a manager to cross my fingers and wait." 

27:20: Has principles and habits, but decision-making is down to the players and he builds this into his training sessions. Risk and reward in the final third.

29:17: Why did you take the Sheffield Wednesday job? Potential.

32:03: Start of coaching career at RB Leipzig as a coach-analyst. Why this dual role is important. "You cannot be just a tactical engineer on the laptop."

38:51: 6-0 defeat by Ipswich in March - took the decision to be proactive and take risks. 

40:16: Ambitions for the future. 

42:12: Is the owner fully behind the project? "We dream of the Premier League."