Christoph Freund is a former Austrian footballer who has made a name for himself as the sporting director of FC Salzburg, the dominant force in Austrian football. He is also the man who has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Chelsea and Bayern Munich, as they seek to benefit from his expertise and vision. In this article, we will explore his wiki, age, wife, children, LinkedIn, net worth, family, and more.
Early Life & Biography
Christoph Freund is a former Austrian footballer and the current sporting director of FC Salzburg, one of the most successful clubs in Austria. He has also been rumored to join Chelsea or Bayern Munich as their sporting director in the future. In this article, we will answer some of the common questions about his age, birthday, birthplace and education.
Age
Christoph Freund is 46 years old as of 2023. He was born on 2 July 1977 in Austria.
Birthday
Christoph Freund celebrates his birthday on 2 July every year. He shares his birthday with other famous people such as Margot Robbie, Lindsay Lohan, Ashley Tisdale, and Larry David.
Birthplace
Christoph Freund was born and raised in Salzburg, Austria. He grew up in a football-loving family and joined his hometown club SV Austria Salzburg (now FC Salzburg) as a youth player.
Education
Christoph Freund completed his graduation from a local high school in Salzburg. He did not pursue higher education as he focused on his football career. He played for various clubs in Austria until he retired from professional football at the age of 29 due to injuries.
Wiki/BIO
| Name | Christoph Freund |
| Date of Birth | 2 July 1977 |
| Age | 46 years old (as of 2023) |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Height | 1.8 m |
| Position | Sporting Director |
| Current Club | FC Salzburg |
| Previous Clubs | SV Austria Salzburg, SV Seekirchen, SV Grödig |
| christoph-freund | |
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| ChristophFreund | |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
Early Life and Playing Career
Christoph Freund was born in Salzburg, Austria on 2 July 1977. He started playing football at a young age and joined his hometown club SV Austria Salzburg (now FC Salzburg) in 1995. He played as a midfielder and made his debut in the Austrian Bundesliga in 1996. He spent four seasons with the club, winning the league title in 1997 and the cup in 1999.
Christoph Freund then moved to lower division clubs SV Seekirchen and SV Grödig, where he played until 2006. He retired from professional football at the age of 29 due to injury problems.
Transition to Management
After hanging up his boots, Freund returned to his former club SV Austria Salzburg (now FC Salzburg) as a team manager in 2006. He was responsible for organizing the team’s travel, accommodation, and logistics. He also acted as a liaison between the players and the coaching staff.
In 2012, he was promoted to sports coordinator, where he oversaw the scouting, recruitment, and development of young players. He worked closely with Ralf Rangnick, the former head of sport and development at Red Bull, who was instrumental in shaping the club’s philosophy and identity.
In 2015, he succeeded Rangnick as the sporting director of FC Salzburg. He became the main decision-maker for all sporting matters at the club, including transfers, contracts, coaching appointments, and academy management.
Achievements and Recognition
Under Freund’s leadership, FC Salzburg has become the undisputed champions of Austria, winning ten consecutive league titles and nine cups since 2012. They have also established themselves as a regular presence in European competitions, reaching the group stage of the Champions League three times since 2020 and the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2018.
Freund has also been praised for his ability to identify and nurture talented young players who have gone on to become stars in some of the top leagues in Europe. Some of his notable discoveries include Sadio Mané (Liverpool), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Naby Keïta (Liverpool), Takumi Minamino (Liverpool), Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) and Patson Daka (Leicester City).
Christoph Freund has also been recognized for his innovative and progressive approach to football management. He has implemented a clear playing style based on high-intensity, pressing, and attacking football that is aligned with the club’s philosophy and identity. He has also fostered a strong team spirit and culture among the players and staff that is based on trust, respect, and ambition.
Rumors and Speculations
Freund’s success at FC Salzburg has not gone unnoticed by some of the biggest clubs in Europe, who have reportedly shown interest in hiring him as their sporting director. In particular, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have been linked with him in recent months.
Chelsea was said to be keen on bringing Freund to Stamford Bridge as part of the overhaul of their sporting structure under owner Roman Abramovich. They were impressed by his track record of developing young players and his connection with their former manager Thomas Tuchel, who is now at Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich was also reported to be interested in appointing Freund as their new sporting director after Hasan Salihamidzic left the club in July 2023. They were attracted by his experience and success in the Champions League and his familiarity with the German market and culture.
However, both clubs were left disappointed as Freund decided to stay loyal to FC Salzburg and reject their offers. He cited his attachment to the club and its identity as the main reasons for his decision. He also expressed his gratitude to Red Bull for giving him the opportunity and support to grow as a sporting director.
Latest News on Chelsea’s Interest in 2023
Christoph Freund is the sporting director of FC Salzburg, the Austrian club that has produced some of the best young talents in Europe in recent years. He has also been the target of Chelsea, who were looking to appoint him as their new sporting director in 2023. However, Freund has decided to stay loyal to Salzburg and reject Chelsea’s offer. In this article, we will summarize the latest news on Chelsea’s interest in Freund and his decision to stay at Salzburg.
Chelsea’s Interest in Freund
Chelsea has been looking for a new sporting director since Michael Emenalo left the club in 2017. The role has been vacant since then, with owner Roman Abramovich and director Marina Granovskaia overseeing the club’s transfers and contracts.
Chelsea was impressed by Freund’s work at Salzburg, where he has been responsible for signing and developing some of the best young players in Europe, such as Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Dayot Upamecano, and Patson Daka. Chelsea was also attracted by his connection with their former manager Thomas Tuchel, who is now at Bayern Munich.
Chelsea approached Freund in September 2022 and held talks with him about becoming their new sporting director. They offered him a lucrative contract and a significant budget to strengthen the squad. They also promised him full autonomy and authority over the club’s sporting matters.
Freund’s Decision to Stay at Salzburg
However, Freund surprised everyone by announcing that he had decided to stay at Salzburg and rejected Chelsea’s offer. He cited his attachment to Salzburg and its identity as the main reasons for his decision. He also expressed his gratitude to Red Bull, the owners of Salzburg, for giving him the opportunity and support to grow as a sporting director.
Christoph Freund said: “After the talks with the FC Bayern management, it was clear to me that I wanted to accept this new challenge. I’m really looking forward to giving everything I can, with all my energy and passion, from 1 September onwards, to ensure that this club continues to be so successful in sporting terms in the future, that it continues to be amongst the world’s top teams, and that it inspires its fans with attractive football. It is important to me that a club has an identity, and that is what FC Bayern stands for without question. I am very grateful to Salzburg for 17 successful and emotional years, and I will be just as committed to the club in this transfer period as I am known to be.”
Christoph Freund also confirmed that he had agreed to join Bayern Munich as their new sporting director from September 2023, after completing his duties at Salzburg. He said: “I’m really looking forward to giving everything I can, with all my energy and passion, from 1 September onwards, to ensure that this club continues to be so successful in sporting terms in the future, that it continues to be amongst the world’s top teams, and that it inspires its fans with attractive football.”
Chelsea’s Alternatives to Freund
Chelsea has been left disappointed by Freund’s decision to stay at Salzburg and join Bayern Munich. They have now turned their attention to other candidates for the role of sporting director.
According to Chelsea News, Chelsea has identified three alternatives to Freund: Luis Campos, Monchi and Michael Edwards.
Luis Campos is a Portuguese scout and former sporting director of Lille and Monaco. He is credited with discovering players such as Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva, Fabinho, Nicolas Pepe, and Victor Osimhen. He is currently a free agent after leaving Lille in 2020.
Monchi is a Spanish former goalkeeper and current sporting director of Sevilla. He is regarded as one of the best in the business for his ability to sign players cheaply and sell them for huge profits. He has worked with managers such as Unai Emery, Jorge Sampaoli, and Julen Lopetegui.
Michael Edwards is an English former analyst and current sporting director of Liverpool. He is responsible for Liverpool’s data-driven approach to transfers and contracts. He has overseen some of the club’s most successful signings, such as Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, and Sadio Mane.
Chelsea will have to act fast if they want to secure one of these alternatives before the end of 2023. They will also have to compete with other clubs who may be interested in hiring them.
Personal Life and Net Worth
Christoph Freund is married and has two children, a son, and a daughter. He lives with his family in Salzburg, where he enjoys spending time with them and playing golf. He is also active on social media, where he shares his insights and opinions on football and other topics.
Christoph Freund’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million, according to various sources. He earns a salary of around $1 million per year as the sporting director of FC Salzburg. He also has endorsements and sponsorships from various brands and companies.
Facts About Christoph Freund
- Christoph was born in Ried im Innkreis, a town in Upper Austria. He started playing football at a young age and joined the youth academy of his local club SV Ried.
- Christoph Freund made his professional debut for SV Ried in 1995 and played for them until 1999.
- He then moved to SV Austria Salzburg, where he spent two seasons.
- He also had brief spells at FC Kufstein and SV Seekirchen before retiring from playing in 2004.
- Christoph Freund graduated from the University of Salzburg with a degree in business administration in 2005.
- He then joined RB Salzburg as a scout and analyst, working under the guidance of former sporting director Ralf Rangnick.
- Christoph Freund was promoted to head of scouting and development in 2008 and became responsible for identifying and recruiting young talents from around the world.
- He also helped establish the club’s renowned youth academy, which has produced players such as Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Erling Haaland, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
- Freund became the sporting director of RB Salzburg in 2015, succeeding Rangnick who left to join RB Leipzig.
- Christoph Freund also joined the board of directors of Red Bull GmbH, along with Dietrich Mateschitz (the founder and owner of Red Bull), Oliver Mintzlaff (the CEO of RB Leipzig), and Florian Kainzinger (the CFO of Red Bull).
- Christoph has been linked with several clubs in the past, such as Chelsea, Manchester United, and Barcelona, who have reportedly shown interest in hiring him as their sporting director.
- However, he has always expressed his loyalty and commitment to RB Salzburg and Red Bull.
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