Bristol City appoint Struber as head coach

Bristol City have appointed Gerhard Struber as their new head coach on a three-year deal.

The 48-year-old Austrian arrives two weeks after predecessor Liam Manning left Ashton Gate to take over at fellow Championship club Norwich City.

Manning had led the Robins to the play-offs last season, the first time in 17 years the club had finished in the top six of the second tier.

Struber spent a year managing Barnsley from 2019 to 2020 before spells at New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg and Cologne.

He has signed a contract with the Robins until 2028.

"I am very excited for the job here with great fans and a great team - I'm looking forward to a new task," Struber told the club's website, external.

"The style of play here fits completely, especially developing young players.

"This is a very interesting group and I think they did a great job last season and were very successful. Right now is the time to build and do everything we can to go the next step."

Bristol City will be Struber's second managerial role in English football, having had a 11-month spell as Barnsley boss.

Struber joined the Tykes with the club bottom of the Championship in November 2019 but guided them to survival on the final day.

He left to become head coach of New York Red Bulls and was most recently manager of Cologne.

But despite taking the German club to the verge of promotion to the Bundesliga, he was sacked in May with only two games remaining and with the side three points clear in the automatic promotion spots.

They went on to secure promotion and win the 2. Bundesliga title two weeks later.

As a player, Struber also represented Austria at under-21 level and had a spell at Salzburg, where he started his coaching career following retirement.

He also managed FC Liefering and Wolfsberger.