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Jeff Carlisle
The New York Red Bulls have announced significant changes in their sporting leadership. Manager Sandro Schwarz has been released from his role, and sporting director Jochen Schneider has chosen to resign to return to Europe to be with his family.
As part of these changes, former Canadian international and Red Bulls reserve team sporting director, Julian de Guzman, has been elevated to the position of first-team sporting director.
This shakeup follows a disappointing 2025 season during which the Red Bulls missed the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. This outcome contrasted sharply with their performance in 2024, when they reached the MLS Cup final but were defeated 2-1 by the LA Galaxy.
Club president Marc de Grandpré expressed gratitude for Schneider’s contributions, stating, “Jochen’s insight and leadership were crucial in building a competitive team. While we regret his departure, we respect his choice and wish him and his family the best in the future.”
De Grandpré continued, “We are confident that Julian will build upon Jochen’s excellent work and further enhance the foundation that has been established. We also want to thank Sandro for his commitment over the past two seasons, which included leading the team to our first Eastern Conference Championship.”
Schneider, who took on the role of sporting director in 2022, notably focused on integrating academy players into the first team during his tenure. This resulted in 12 academy graduates making appearances this season, including midfielder Julian Edelman and defender Noah Eile, who each played over 2,000 minutes.
Despite these efforts, both Schwarz and Schneider struggled to elevate the team in the 2025 Eastern Conference standings. Even during the 2024 season, when the Red Bulls made it to the MLS Cup final, they finished seventh in the conference.
Schneider reflected on his time with the team, saying, “Leading this remarkable organization has been a true honor. I’ve invested a lot of passion into this club, and I’m proud of our achievements. Mentoring Julian has been particularly fulfilling, and I trust he is the right person to guide the Red Bulls forward.”
“Although I will miss this club greatly, my family must take priority, and I need to be there for them. Nevertheless, I will always stay connected to Julian and the Red Bulls and look forward to witnessing their continued success.”
In terms of potential replacements, two individuals within the organization are already familiar to de Guzman. Ibrahim Sekagya, who managed Red Bulls II before being promoted to the first team staff mid-season, was succeeded by former U.S. international Michael Bradley—a Red Bulls alum who played under his father, Bob Bradley, a former manager of the United States.