How Bristol City could look if Gerhard Struber is appointed - 3 changes are likely | OneFootball

Gerhard Struber will make changes to Bristol City if he is appointed as Liam Manning's successor.

Bristol City are on the lookout for a new boss after Liam Manning made the decision to join Norwich City.

The Robins enjoyed a successful 2024/25 campaign under Manning, as they reached the play-offs in the second tier for the first time since 2008, although they were comfortably beaten by Sheffield United over two legs.

However, Manning still decided to move on, and it has been claimed that Gerhard Struber is in the running to take over at Ashton Gate.

Gerhard Struber emerges as candidate for Bristol City job

The Austrian is a name that some Bristol City fans may recognise, as he does have Championship experience, having had a spell in charge of Barnsley back in 2019.

Struber’s managerial career has also seen him work across the globe, as he started out in Austria with Liefering, then Wolfsberger before going to the United States for the New York Red Bulls job, and he then returned home with RB Salzburg.

Most recently, the 48-year-old was in charge of German second division side Koln, and he was surprisingly dismissed in May when they were pushing for promotion, so he is currently without a club.

That means the Robins will have a free run at Struber if they want to bring him in, and here we look at THREE changes he would make to Bristol City should he arrive…

High pressing

Struber has certain demands when it comes to how he wants his team to play, and, as you would expect from someone who has been part of the Red Bull group, there is an emphasis on high pressing.

So, Struber will set up a team that plays on the front foot and tries to win the ball back as quickly as possible.

Whether he has the players to do that at Ashton Gate is up for debate, but it’s generally a young, hungry squad at Bristol City, so you could imagine that Struber is a good fit for that group.

Adaptable with his formation

Whilst Struber has clear principles regarding how he wants his team to play, he isn’t someone who sticks to the same formation.

He has shown over the years that he is adaptable, which included changing between a back three and a back four during his time at Barnsley.

Obviously, Manning had the team in a back three last season, and it worked well, so it would make sense for Struber to build on that, considering the personnel in the squad suits the system. However, if he thinks a different approach will get results, Struber has shown he is willing to make changes.

Transfers from clubs Struber knows

As is always the case, transfers are crucial, and Struber will have a big say on recruitment if he does make the move to Ashton Gate.

At Barnsley, Struber made use of his knowledge of his home market, as he made a few signings from Wolfsberger, where he had been prior to joining the Tykes.

This is something most managers do, and with Struber now having worked in America and Germany, he will be able to offer more insight into potential signings, and it would be no surprise if Bristol City’s signings did come from further afield if Struber takes charge.