RB Leipzig

rb leipzig profile snabet
Trophies:
DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup
Country:
Germany
City:
Leipzig
League:
Bundesliga
Stadium:
Red Bull Arena
Founded:
2009
Main Colors:
White, Red
  • RB Leipzig reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019/20 after eliminating Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid.
  • RB Leipzig reached the Bundesliga only seven years after their 2009 foundation, completing four promotions before entering the top flight in 2016.
  • Leipzig finished second in their first Bundesliga season in 2016/17, immediately qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
  • The club won consecutive DFB-Pokal titles in 2022 and 2023, securing the first major trophies in the club’s history.
  • Dani Olmo scored a hat-trick as Leipzig beat Bayern Munich 3-0 to win their first DFL-Supercup in 2023.

RB Leipzig History

RB Leipzig were founded on 19 May 2009 and entered German football through the acquisition of the playing rights of SSV Markranstadt’s senior team. The new club began in the fifth-tier NOFV-Oberliga Sud and was backed by Red Bull, which set out to build a team capable of reaching the Bundesliga. Leipzig achieved four promotions in seven seasons and reached Germany’s top division in 2016.

The first promotion came immediately, taking RB Leipzig into the Regionalliga in 2010. They moved into the 3. Liga in 2013 and earned promotion to the 2. Bundesliga one year later. Under Ralf Rangnick, Leipzig finished second in the second division in 2015/16 and secured a place in the Bundesliga for the first time.

Their debut Bundesliga campaign exceeded expectations. Coached by Ralph Hasenhuttl, Leipzig won eight of their first 11 league matches and briefly challenged Bayern Munich at the top of the table. They eventually finished second with 67 points, qualifying directly for the Champions League only eight years after the club had been formed.

RB Leipzig made their Champions League debut in 2017/18 and finished third in their group, moving into the Europa League. They reached the quarter-finals of that competition before Marseille eliminated them. Continued high Bundesliga finishes established European qualification as a regular part of the club’s schedule.

Julian Nagelsmann became head coach in 2019 and took Leipzig further in Europe than any previous manager. In the 2019/20 Champions League, Leipzig topped a group containing Lyon, Benfica and Zenit Saint Petersburg. They defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 on aggregate in the round of 16 and beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a one-match quarter-final in Lisbon. Paris Saint-Germain ended the run with a 3-0 victory in the semi-final.

Domestic cup success took longer. RB Leipzig reached the DFB-Pokal final in 2019 but lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich. They returned to the final in 2021 and were beaten 4-1 by Borussia Dortmund. The breakthrough came in May 2022 against Freiburg. Leipzig played most of the second half with ten men, equalised through Christopher Nkunku and won the penalty shootout 4-2 to claim the first major trophy in club history.

They retained the DFB-Pokal the following season under Marco Rose. RB Leipzig defeated Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals and Freiburg 5-1 in the semi-finals before facing Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin. Goals from Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai produced a 2-0 victory and a second consecutive cup success.

A third trophy followed in August 2023. RB Leipzig faced Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the DFL-Supercup at the Allianz Arena. Dani Olmo scored three times in a 3-0 win, giving the club their first Supercup.

The club continued to qualify for the Champions League during the early 2020s, although the 2024/25 season ended a long sequence of European participation. Leipzig finished seventh in the Bundesliga and missed European qualification for the first time since their promotion to the top flight.

Ole Werner was appointed before the 2025/26 season and oversaw a rapid recovery. Leipzig finished third in the Bundesliga and secured a return to the Champions League. The team also reached the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals.

Despite that third-place finish, Leipzig dismissed Werner in June 2026. Martin Demichelis was appointed as his replacement later that month on a contract running until 30 June 2028. The former Bayern Munich defender took charge with Leipzig back in the Champions League for the 2026/27 season.