Red Bulls fire Sandro Schwarz, part with Jochen Schneider in shakeup

The Red Bulls are making massive changes after a disappointing 2025 season. 

Head of sport Jochen Schneider and head coach Sandro Schwarz will not be returning to the club, and sporting director Julian de Guzman will be elevated to the role of head of sport. 

Assistant coach Volkan Bulut is also not returning to the club next season. 

Schneider’s departure, according to the team, was one made by the soccer executive in order to return home to be with his family in Europe. However, it comes after growing discontent from Red Bull fans who watched the club go from making the MLS Cup Final in 2024 to missing the postseason the following year, the first time in 15 years the Red Bulls had failed to do so. 

The Red Bulls ended this year in 10th place in the Eastern Conference and missed out on even a spot in the wild-card play-in round by 10 points in the standings. 

Schwarz had coached just two seasons in New York and led the club to its first MLS Cup Final appearance since 2009, but his Red Bull teams were often marred by injury and inconsistency, in particular this season with the absence of midfielder Lewis Morgan. 

The club will begin its search for a new head coach immediately, the Red Bulls stated in their announcement. 

“We are deeply grateful for all that Jochen has brought to our organization during his time here,” Red Bulls president Marc de Grandpré said in a statement. “Jochen’s expertise and leadership were instrumental in assembling a team that has competed at the highest level. While we are saddened to see him depart, he will always be part of the family. We fully respect his decision and wish him and his family all the best in the days and months ahead.”

He added: “We would also like to thank Sandro for his dedication in leading our team on the pitch over the last two seasons. His professionalism and commitment have left a lasting impact on the organization, and we will always remember him for securing our first Eastern Conference Championship.”

Schneider has been with the club since 2022 and helped bring stars Emil Forsberg and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting over the past two seasons, both of whom played impactful roles during their time with the Red Bulls. And the club had been more open to spending and adding veterans in recent years, making the drop off in 2025 that much more disappointing. 

The outgoing head of sport was also credited with helping to identify developing talent. 

“It has been an incredible privilege and honor to lead this extraordinary organization and work alongside such talented individuals,” Schneider said in a statement. “Over the past few years, I’ve poured my heart into this club, and I am immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Mentoring Julian has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my time here, and I have no doubt that he is the perfect person to take the helm and lead the Red Bulls into their next chapter. While I will deeply miss this club, my family must come first, and I need to be with them. That said, I will always remain close to Julian and the Red Bulls, and I look forward to seeing the team’s continued success.”

De Guzman has been with the club since 2024 when he took on the role of sporting director and the team said that the move to elevate him was part of the Red Bulls’ “long-term succession plan.”