Thomas Letsch Explained

Thomas Letsch
Birth Date:26 August 1968
Birth Place:Esslingen, West Germany
Height:1.90 m
Currentclub:Red Bull Salzburg (head coach)
Manageryears1:1997–2000
Managerclubs1:VfB Oberesslingen/Zell (player-manager)
Manageryears2:2001–2002
Managerclubs2:Stuttgarter Kickers II
Manageryears3:2003–2004
Managerclubs3:FC Union Heilbronn
Manageryears4:2008–2009
Managerclubs4:SG Sonnenhof Großaspach
Manageryears5:2015
Managerclubs5:Red Bull Salzburg (caretaker)
Manageryears6:2015–2017
Managerclubs6:FC Liefering
Manageryears7:2017
Managerclubs7:Erzgebirge Aue
Manageryears8:2018–2019
Managerclubs8:Austria Wien
Manageryears9:2020–2022
Managerclubs9:Vitesse Arnhem
Manageryears10:2022–2024
Managerclubs10:VfL Bochum
Manageryears11:2024–
Managerclubs11:Red Bull Salzburg

Thomas Letsch (born 26 August 1968) is a German professional football manager who is the head coach of Austrian Bundesliga club FC Red Bull Salzburg.

Managerial career

Letsch was never a professional footballer and started his coaching career at VfB Oberesslingen/Zell as player-manager.[1] In July 2001, he became manager of Stuttgarter Kickers's reserve team until 2002, but was also a part of the first team staff until the end of the 2002–03 season. He then moved to FC Union Heilbronn and was the manager for one season. From January 2005 until July 2007, he was the assistant manager of SSV Ulm 1846. From January 2008 to June 2009, he was the manager of SG Sonnenhof Großaspach.

In July 2012 he went to Salzburg where managed the under-16 team of FC Red Bull Salzburg. Two months later, he was also appointed as football director of academy.[2] In the following season, he was promoted to first team assistant manager. From July 2014, he was manager for the under-18 squad.[3] During his time with the under-18s, he was also the assistant coach for FC Red Bull Salzburg. In December 2015, after the firing of Peter Zeidler, he was for two matches head coach of Salzburg. In the 2015–16 season, he also managed the team of FC Red Bull Salzburg in the UEFA Youth League. Following Zeidler, he became manager of FC Liefering in June 2015.

On 18 June 2017, Erzgebirge Aue appointed Letsch as their new manager, replacing the Schalke 04-bound Domenico Tedesco on a three-year contract.[4] However, after just three games, Aue sacked Letsch due to the club's poor form and results.[5]

On 27 February 2018, he was appointed Austria Wien manager until the end of 2017–18 season, replacing Thorsten Fink.[6] [7] He was sacked on 11 March 2019.[8]

On 26 May 2020, he was announced as the new manager of Vitesse Arnhem after club icon Edward Sturing. Letsch made a good start to the 2020–21 season. The club went on to secure fourth place in the Eredivisie, reached the final of the Dutch Cup (which was lost 2–1 to AFC Ajax) and ensuring qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League.

In September 2022, he left Arnhem and moved to VfL Bochum.[9] After the club fell to 15th place in the 2023–24 season, Letsch was sacked on 8 April 2024.[10]

On 18 December 2024, Letsch signed a contract to return to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria until the summer of 2027.[11]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamFromToRecord
SG Sonnenhof Großaspach3 January 200830 June 2009
FC Liefering1 July 201530 June 2017
Red Bull Salzburg (caretaker)3 December 201514 December 2015
Erzgebirge Aue1 July 201714 August 2017
Austria Wien27 February 201811 March 2019
Vitesse1 July 202021 September 2022
VfL Bochum22 September 20228 April 2024
Red Bull Salzburg18 December 2024present
Total

Notes and References

  1. https://www.90minuten.at/de/red/magazin/reportage/2018/februar/das-ist-der-neue-austria-trainer-thomas-letsch/ So tickt der neue Austria-Trainer Thomas Letsch
  2. https://www.redbullsalzburg.at/de/fc-red-bull-salzburg/news/saison_2012_13/trainerteam-der-akademie-neu-geordnet.html Trainerteam der Akademie neu geordnet
  3. https://kurier.at/sport/fussball/salzburg-zsolt-loew-wird-assistent-von-salzburg-trainer-huetter/66.969.081 Salzburg: Ein Ungar hilft Hütter
  4. Web site: Tedesco-Nachfolger gefunden: Letsch übernimmt in Aue. Sport Bild. de. 18 June 2017. 14 August 2017.
  5. Web site: Aue wirft Trainer Letsch raus. Rheinische Post. de. 14 August 2017. 14 August 2017.
  6. Web site: FK Austria Wien – Thomas Letsch von seinen Aufgaben entbunden. www.fk-austria.at. 11 March 2019.
  7. Web site: "Die ideale Lösung": Letsch folgt auf Fink. kicker. 27 February 2018. 3 March 2018.
  8. https://www.90minuten.at/de/red/presseschau/kurzmeldungen-vereine-verbaende-sportler/2019/maerz/austria-trennt-sich-von-thomas-letsch/ Austria trennt sich von Thomas Letsch und Andreas Ogris
  9. Web site: Thomas Letsch named as new VfL head coach. 22 September 2022. vfl-bochum.de.
  10. News: VfL stellt Thomas Letsch mit sofortiger Wirkung frei. German. VfL Bochum 1848. 8 April 2024. 8 April 2024.
  11. Web site: FC Red Bull Salzburg. Thomas Letsch new FC Red Bull Salzburg coach. 18 December 2024. 18 December 2024.