The Red Bull Vanguard: Inside The Tactical Mind Of Marco Rose

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Attacking Football

·8 Juli 2026

The Red Bull Vanguard: Inside The Tactical Mind Of Marco Rose

Marco Rose: an exciting and well established coach born out of the Red Bull philosophy through Ralf Rangnick’s school of thought.

Very few coaches in European football are as fixated on their principles as Rose is. No matter the club, the league or the competition, you can be certain the ideas always remain.

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With evidence from his time in Austria and Germany, we take a look into what makes AFC Bournemouth’s new manager one of the most fascinating principle-driven coaches in the modern game.

Who is Marco Rose?

Marco Rose is a 49-year-old German, born in Leipzig on the 11th September 1976. Mostly known as a Head Coach, Rose is also a former professional player, where at Mainz 05, he had the experience of learning from a young Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel.

After hanging up his boots as a professional player, Rose moved into coaching where he developed a passion for the role. He held roles within Mainz as well as leading local club Lokomotiv Leipzig, before he moved to RB Salzburg where he enjoyed success with the Austrian club’s youth teams.

In the 2026/27 season, Marco Rose will manage AFC Bournemouth, as the Premier League side gets a taste of European Football for the first time.

The RB Salzburg tenure

Following UEFA Youth League success with Salzburg, the Austrian club took a gamble by promoting Marco Rose to first team Head Coach where he replaced Oscar Garcia.

Taking inspiration from Jürgen Klopp and Ralf Rangnick, the intention to play vertical and aggressive football was clear from day one.

Rose would look to use a narrow structure with and without the ball. In possession, the full-backs would be the main providers of width whilst everybody else would be occupying central spaces in a 4-1-2-1-2 diamond. Without the ball, the same structure would often be utilised.

When Salzburg had possession of the ball across multiple matches, the intention was to always think forwards to play forward. The structure supported this idea because if possession was ever to be lost at any stage during progressive play, Salzburg could apply an aggressive counter-press where multiple players could directly apply pressure around the ball to force quick regains.

Below are examples of the structure RB Salzburg used with and without the ball during an Austrian Bundesliga match against Austrian Wien during the 2017/18 season.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

In image one, Salzburg are building up with their defenders, where the two full-backs are taking up advanced positions to potentially receive.

In image two, the Salzburg midfielders are deliberately close together over short distances. This enables the ability for quick combinations to break through the opponent.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

In image three, Salzburg are set up in a 4-1-2-1 diamond out of possession. This invites the opponent to play centrally into the half-spaces either side of the attacking midfielder which is a purposely designed trap so that Salzburg can have two or three players surrounding the ball to force a quick turnover.

Marco Rose also wasn’t afraid to adapt the structure to suit specific opponents or game states whilst keeping the same Red Bull themed principles.

Below is an example of how RB Salzburg initially set up out of possession away from home against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Europa League.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

Salzburg wanted to achieve a compact shape where no spaces were available for the opponent to exploit between-the-lines whilst also having multiple players around the ball to press aggressively and force the turnover.

The structure changed (4-4-2 vs the usual 4-1-2-1-2) whilst the principles remained the same.

As the game progressed in Dortmund, Rose’s team grew in confidence and slowly reverted to what they were used to; Diamond structure, overloading around the ball, pressing from the front.

In the examples below, Salzburg create a 3v2 triangle around the ball and possible ball receiver. They were able to achieve a high turnover from the situation.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

With direct pressure applied, the player on the ball in image one must think quickly for a solution. Once the ball is moved across, with a 2v1 scenario around the ball, the player on the ball in image two is effectively sandwiched in with no way out.

Build-up play

Aligned fully with the Red Bull model, Marco Rose wants his team to use an expansive build-up method. With goalkeeper involvement, the two Centre-backs are asked to split across the width of the box whilst the two full-backs can advance along their respective lines.

In the example below, Salzburg deploy those positions during a Europa League Quarter Final match against Lazio.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

Whilst in the final third, as well as having players closely together within central zones, Salzburg also enjoyed deploying opposite movements from their players.

For example, in the below images you can see how Salzburg have a 6v8 centrally against Lazio whilst one of the strikers has stepped out of a congested zone to receive to feet whilst the other striker runs in behind.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

The intention behind these opposite movements is to create confusion for the opposition defence. With a synchronised double movement in opposite directions, it makes the defender question whether to follow their man all the way or to hold position.

If they follow all the way, the threat in behind becomes far greater from the striker running in behind. If they hold, the player who receives to feet then has time to control, to shape up directly against the defence and then decide what to do with the ball.

Imsge credit: Footballia.eu

Image credit: Footballia.eu

It is also noticeable how the atriker who came short moved alongside one of the Lazio midfielders. By moving into the half-space, the striker can receive on the half-turn whilst directly engaging the Lazio midfielder nearby.

With the direct engagement achieved, that opens up the gap into the pocket and with the full-back joining in on the attack around the outside, it creates these uncertain tensions in the Lazio defence and midfield because they are unsure whether to directly stop the opponent or to protect the space.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Following two successful seasons with RB Salzburg, where two Austrian Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup were won, Marco Rose moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Whilst the overview of his tenure showed that he won no major silverware with Gladbach, he was still able to create meaningful history.

Firstly, in his first full season in charge he secured Champions League qualification before successfully navigating Gladbach into the knockout stages in his second year.

But how did he use the Red Bull blueprint to get these achievements?

Taken from Salzburg were the same core ideas and structures. Gladbach would use the 4-1-2-1-2 diamond with and without the ball.

With the ball, the two wide central midfielders could drop into the defensive half-spaces to receive from defenders (dependent on which side the ball is on) whilst one of the strikers could also drift out into attacking Half-spaces to create better angles to receive and run directly at the opponent ahead at high speeds.

From their build-up, the goalkeeper would get involved in the first phase with the centre-backs splitting across the width of the penalty box. When the ball is progressed into the second or third phases of play, Gladbach would use opposite movements with one striker coming ahort and the other going in behind.

Without the ball, the aim was to condense spaces between-the-lines so there was minimal chance an opponent could penetrate down the middle. If an opponent did attempt to play around central areas, Gladbach could have multiple bodies around the ball and press aggressively.

Below are examples of how Borussia Mönchengladbach would set out to play with and without the ball during a Bundesliga match against Mainz 05.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

Just like he did at RB Salzburg, Marco Rose was not afraid to adapt the structure to suit the opponent his team played against.

In one game, Borussia Mönchengladbach were playing against Borussia Dortmund during a Bundesliga match. For a large part of the game to begin with, they’d use a 4-5-1 to protect the space whilst condensing the lines.

In the example below, you can see how the two wide players for Gladbach have dropped back whilst spaces between-the-lines are condensed and compact.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

The aim of doing this was so they had extra protection in the middle which prevented Dortmund from trying to play through the centre.

With the ball, Gladbach would use route 1 style football against Borussia Dortmund. They would go long to one of the forwards who would contest in an aerial duel and try to head it down for an inside runner.

In the example below, Gladbach are set up in a variation of a 4-1-2-3, where multiple players are condensed towards the ball-side of the pitch.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

The purpose of this was to overload to isolate. If Gladbach won the first and a second ball, they could move further centrally before switching out into the space on the opposite side where the near-side full-back is purposely isolated.

Borussia Dortmund

After two great years with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Marco Rose got another top job which was a step up from his previous role.

With Borussia Dortmund searching for new life after Lucian Favre, the German giants looked at what Marco Rose had done in Salzburg and Gladbach where they were convinced he was the right man for the job.

Just like in his previous two roles, Marco Rose’s core ideas and principles from the Red Bull model remained the same despite this particular challenge being different to the previous two roles.

In his opening Bundesliga match in charge of Dortmund, Rose’s team set up in a 4-1-4-1 structure out of possession to counter Eintracht Frankfurt’s 3-4-2-1.

With two wide players alongside two central midfielders with one midfielder behind as the defensive midfielder, it restricted Frankfurt to have possession in front of Borussia Dortmund whilst main progression routes were well blocked and even if they attempted to play through the centre, the units between-the-lines for Dortmund were condensed enough which would platform an aggressive press.

In the example below, Borussia Dortmund are defending in the 4-1-4-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt’s possession in front of them. Spaces between-the-lines are tightly condensed to restrict progression.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

In possession against Frankfurt, Dortmund used a 4-1-2-3 variant. The two no8s occupied the half-spaces whilst having different responsibilities respectively.

The left no8 would come short as a connection point to help progress play vertically when the ball was on the left hand side of the pitch. When they came short, the Left-winger would be able to invert to occupy central zones and the left-back could provide the width around the outside.

The right no8 would look to attack spaces beyond the last line. The right-winger would come short to receive from the right-back and the no8 could then attack the space left in behind.

Below is an example of the 4-1-2-3 structure Dortmund used against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

Shortly after the Bundesliga opener, Borussia Dortmund hosted Bayern München in the DFL Super Cup.

Marco Rose brought in the Red Bull 4-1-3-2/4-1-2-1-2 diamond structure where the same ideas were utilised.

In possession, Dortmund would look to play vertically into inside spaces where they can combine quickly within tight areas.

Out of possession, Dortmund would condense spaces between-the-lines in order to press and counter-press with aggression. This restricted how Bayern were able to play through the centre.

In the examples below, you can see how the structures looked with and without the ball.

Image credit: footballia.eu

Image credit: Footballia.eu

Whilst Dortmund were successful in closing the spaces centrally along the floor, they were vulnerable to balls in behind or diagonal switches of play. Perhaps a possible trade-off?

Against Bayer Leverkusen, we saw the defensive ideas Marco Rose had taken from the Red Bull model really come into question.

In the first example below, Dortmund had a jumping uncertainty.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

When there is an uncertainty to jump and the player is caught in-between or decides to move backwards into position despite initially committing to jumping, it can create holes in the defensive organisation which are waiting to be exploited.

Another issue Dortmund had against Bayer Leverkusen was the failure to regain possession despite having multiple players around the ball holder. In the example below, Florian Wirtz is surrounded by two Dortmund players but he was able to escape.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

When the aggressive intention is there, but the ball is not turned over, you can be left vulnerable from runs around the situation, as seen above. Wirtz was able to escape before finding a forward solution by passing to the closest teammate.

Ajax 4-0 Borussia Dortmund

Erik ten Hag’s Ajax were able to truly control and dictate how Dortmund could play with the ball whilst also creating advantages across the final line which limited how effective Dortmund’s press could be

Without the ball, Ajax looked to apply double pressure to the Borussia Dortmund no6. This would see one player blocking the passing angles into him from in front whilst another player would look to apply direct pressure from behind if Dortmund’s no6 ever got the ball.

By maintaining short distances in their press elsewhere around the pitch, Dortmund were heavily restricted in how they could use the ball. Pressure would be applied onto the ball, where a decision to play is rushed into the midfield. As the ball moves into the feet of one of the Dortmund players, Ajax can apply aggressive pressure into the back and force the regain.

In the example below, you can visually see how this would have looked.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

Whilst Ajax had possession of the ball, they created clever positional advantages across the last line which restricted how effective Dortmund could press and also where they could press.

Ajax would use the right-back to invert all the way into the shadow of the Borussia Dortmund midfield. This meant that the Dortmund wide player would have to tuck in more narrow to close off the passing angle into feet, which also prevented him from applying any pressure onto the ball.

With the Ajax Right-back tucked inside, their winger would also have the freedom of the right flank to play 1v1 against the Dortmund left-back where he could drag short, run directly at or play quick combinations around.

Ajax also used one of their no8s to occupy one of the Dortmund Centre-backs. This effectively creates a 2v2 scenario where both Centre-backs are pinned which also affected how quickly they could have got out to the inverted Right-back if the ball ever went into that zone.

In the image below, you can see how this looked visually.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

Despite these defensive struggles against Bayer Leverkusen and Ajax, Borussia Dortmund still had joy against many teams during Marco Rose’s one season in charge.

In a game against SC Freiburg, which they won 5-1 at the Signal Iduna Psrk, they were able to exploit the Freiburg press, who were set up in a 4-2-2-2, through half-space exploitation and midfield rotations. Particularly with the rotations, it creates confusion for Freiburg because they are unsure on who to pick up at what moment.

in the examples below, you can see the structures deployed by both teams with and without the ball and how Marco Reus, who was the attacking no10, and Julian Brandt, rotating in one sequence of play created confusion.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

RB Leipzig

Unlike in his previous roles where he joined teams ahead of pre-season, Marco Rose joined RB Leipzig in September 2022 after the season had already got underway.

Despite the difficulty Leipzig found themselves in after a poor start to the 2022/23 season, as well as Rose having limited training time between matches to drill his version of the Red Bull game model in, the impact that was made was instant and even with limited time, the same core ideas were evident in the first few matches.

In his first game in charge of Leipzig, they faced off against his former team Borussia Dortmund. Leipzig used the 4-1-2-1-2 structure out of possession, where the aim was to condense the space between-the-lines whilst Compacting the pitch centrally. Leipzig would look to press aggressively with set triggers, such as a sideways pass or a forward intended pass which threatened progression.

When Leipzig had the ball, they intended to only think forwards to play forward. Whenever possession was regained, instantly they looked to play with vertical intent and stretch the Dortmund defence in behind or in wide channels.

In the photos below, you can see how RB Leipzig looked structurally with and without the ball.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

Against better opposition away from home, such as Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, Marco Rose adapted the structure to suit game state. But like at previous clubs, the well recognised Red Bull ideas remained the same.

Leipzig adapted to the 4-2-2-2/4-4-2 structure without the ball where they played a little deeper, but the same ideas of wanting to condense space between-the-lines, being compact and then looking to press with the same triggers remained.

Once the ball was won, vertical intent was clear. The striker would sometimes drift across or come short to create triangles to enable quick combination play. These ideas are seen in the images below.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

image credit: Footballia.eu

Against Bayern München in the Bundesliga, Rose had a deliberate plan out of possession to stop Bayern from progressing and playing in their own rhythm.

Leipzig would look to play 6v6 on the flanks depending which side the ball was on. The intention behind the idea is that if they can’t go through or over the pressure, Bayern would have to go the long way around to recycle and try to attack the other flank where Leipzig would apply the same 6v6.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

With the ball, Leipzig looked to create intentional half-spaces from their goal-kicks so they could attack with speed and verticality.

The right-winger and right-back would be along the same or similar line to provide width whilst the left central midfielder in the pivot would look to pull his marker across to the left-hand side, which would open space for the right central midfielder to potentially attack.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

The stubborNness of the Red Bull model

Manchester City away from home was arguably the worst game in Marco Rose’s coaching career as his Leipzig side fell to a 7-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium. But was it a game that proved the stubbornness of the Red Bull model?

Whilst Leipzig had possession and looked to build-up, Manchester City would apply an aggressive press from the front to rush the Leipzig defenders into decisions whilst blocking off central lanes and using their physical superiority to squeeze up the pitch and win aerial duels.

As a consequence, it meant Leipzig were constantly on the back foot with no solutions.

Image credit: Footballia.eu

Whilst Leipzig had to defend, they also struggled in effectively applying the Red Bull defensive principles that Marco Rose had used during his coaching career.

This was because Manchester City were successful in creating numerical advantages in different phases of play, for example John Stones moving into the midfield as a +1 in Manchester City’s 2nd phase.

When there is a numerical advantage created in different areas of the pitch at unpredictable times whilst that team is also really strong and comfortable with the ball, aggressive counter-pressing becomes ineffective due to their always being a quick escape route.

You may be thinking; If the Manchester City method was already known to be a way to expose the Red Bull game model, why did Marco Rose not change his principles?

To put it simply, the Red Bull game model has principle at the heart of everything. Coaches who have been taught through this model have the freedom to change structures or to change the location of where defending happens in a block depending on opponent.

But one thing that never changes are the principles because that is what defines the identity of the game model.

Marco Rose has shown throughout his career that he is not a coach defined by results. No matter the club, the competition or challenges, the principles that define the game model always stay the same.