“We attach great importance to the
training of young players. Our scouting
and club philosophy are also geared
towards this,” adds Freund. “We have
a very clear image of young talent that
fits the kind of football we want to see
here. And when they are with us, they
receive not only the best possible
training, but they also should be able
to play as many minutes as possible
in the professional field very early on.
First with our cooperation club FC
Liefering, then with Red Bull Salzburg.”
Liefering are one of the best clubs
in the Austrian second tier – lying in
third at the time of writing – and have
a close partnership with Salzburg. In
2021, Salzburg sent more than 20
players out on loan, with many of
them heading to Liefering. Hungarian
playmaker Szoboszlai was the most
prominent success story from this route;
he spent the 2017-18 campaign with
Liefering before making his impact on
the Salzburg first team, later joining
Leipzig for€20 million in 2021.
It is this early exposure to senior
football, and willingness to give young
players opportunities, that makes
Salzburg such an attractive destination.
It was certainly decisive in attractingNorwegian striker Haaland, who joined
from Molde in 2019, despite offers
from much bigger clubs.
“It helps that so many great players
have been with us in recent years,” saysTalent factory...Erling
Haaland made his name
with Red Bull SalzburgChampions League...
Salzburg line up ahead
of their clash with
Bayern Munich
redbullsalzburg.at