Red Bull giving young players wings

Red Bull Salzburg have finally experienced their Champions League dream. After long years of unsuccessfully trying to get into the group stage of Europe’s most prestigious club competition, there was talk of a “curse”.

While Salzburg dominated the Austrian Bundesliga – winning12 of the last15 league titles – it took until 2019 for the team to get into the groups. When it comes to the club’s philosophy, though, there was always a belief that Salzburg were doing something right.

The proof came in 2021-22, when they advanced to the last16 of the Champions League, bringing a clash against Bayern Munich, a superclub just across the German border. After earning a1-1 draw in Austria, Salzburg hoped for a big surprise, but lost the return leg 7-1.

But one heavy defeat doesn’t undermine the progress that the club has made over the last decade.

Austrian energy drinks giant Red Bull bought the club in 2005, radically changing the face of football in the country. After establishing themselves