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Danny Rohl drops huge hint on leaving Sheffield Wednesday and reveals his dream in interview

Danny Rohl drops a huge hint on leaving Sheffield Wednesday and reveals his dream in quite a revealing interview this week.

The 36-year-old has been managing the Owls for nearly two years. After dramatically saving them from relegation for the 2023/24 season, he has guided the team to a stable mid-table position in his second year.

In an interview with RBlive, he discussed the demanding English season, his future ambitions, the passionate Sheffield Wednesday fanbase, and much more.

How tired are you after an extremely long season with 46 match days in the Championship?

Rohl: “It was a challenging season, with ups and downs. There were many different emotions after wins and losses, there were good times and bad times. In the end, you’re just glad the season is over and you can relax for a few days.

Sheffield Wednesday was once within touching distance of the promotion playoff spots, but they’ve experienced a weak period in recent weeks. Does disappointment or pride prevail over having comfortably stayed in the league with last year’s relegation candidates, finishing 12th in the table?

Rohl: We actually had an excellent starting position until matchday 40. Then this phase came along, which is why it’s such a “what-if” season. Unfortunately, despite our excellent xGoal figures, the pendulum has always swung a bit in the other direction. We’ve had four late defeats in stoppage time.

What did that do to you and the team?

Rohl: That was really bitter. Those games hurt a lot. We weren’t able to convert our good performances into points in the second half of the season. And that’s a shame in the end, because I felt there was so much more potential. But maybe it’s just a normal developmental step. After staying up on the final matchday last year, we managed it this year with six or seven games to go.

Was it still more “Danny Röhl football” that the team played this season after the first full pre-season under you?

Rohl: Yes, definitely. We generally had more possession, more passes, and more ball recoveries than our opponents. We had some truly dominant performances, but unfortunately, especially at home, we weren’t able to convert those many, many chances into goals. The positive development, however, was evident. Of course, there are still many things we need to improve. For example, eliminating simple mistakes.

After staying up last season, you’ve received a tremendous amount of appreciation from the fans. This is also evident on social media. How many selfies do you have to pose for in Sheffield every day?

Rohl: It varies. There are people who suddenly pull over, stop, get out, and want to take photos. Or the fans wait for hours after the game. That’s crazy. I’ve never experienced or seen anything like that before. And it’s been like this since day one. The fans are very, very grateful people.

AI and data analytics are becoming increasingly important in football. How do you use these tools in Sheffield?

Rohl: When searching for new signings, there are various platforms that combine metrics, game ideas, and other data. This gives you a rough idea of ​​where a player excels. There are also certain parameters that are interesting to us when preparing for opponents. For example, set pieces. Where are the opponents’ target areas? How likely are they to be short or long? Where are there patterns that might be worth exploring? My analysts then show me everything I want to see.

How much of your know-how from your previous top positions were you able to apply in Sheffield?

Rohl: Training management, content, meetings — I incorporated my accumulated experience into these. Nevertheless, you also have to accept the existing conditions.

Which ones are they?

Rohl: We have two training pitches. Neither has undersoil heating. That means it’s difficult to train on them in December or January, when it’s still frosty. You have to adapt a bit. I think these are different things to think about than at FC Bayern or the DFB. In my view, that’s what you have to be able to do as a coach: be flexible, make adjustments. You can’t just transfer things from one station to the next.

Last summer, you were a pundit on English television. Will we see Danny Röhl regularly on TV 30 years after his coaching career?

Rohl: It was an honor for me to be able to appear there as a German. I tried to bring the specific coaching perspective as an expert. Perhaps also to point out one or two things that are particularly important in football from that perspective. Going into the details, the running routes. It was a cool week with a total of five games, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. But in 30 years, when I’m 65, I’ll hopefully be sitting somewhere relaxing in my house with my grandchildren.

What does your near future hold? Recently, your name has been mentioned in connection with various clubs, including your former club, RB Leipzig.

Rohl: I’ve always said that I’m very grateful to Sheffield for the opportunity I’ve been given there. And I’m someone who always wants to develop the club further. And to do that, you have to weigh up how far that’s still possible or whether the maximum has perhaps already been reached under the current conditions.

Would you move back to the Bundesliga if the opportunity arose?

Rohl: I always want to work with the best players and compete with the best coaches. The Bundesliga is, of course, a top choice. After all, I grew up with the Bundesliga. But the Premier League is also a dream. I’m currently very excited to see what happens this summer.

Have Marcel Schäfer, Oliver Mintzlaff or Jürgen Klopp ever seen a Sheffield game live?

Rohl: I can’t say whether they’ve ever seen a game live (laughs). Hansi Flick was there recently. I was really pleased.

RB Leipzig is a club that almost always plays in the Champions League, even though they might not qualify this season. Would it be the right step for you to move from an English second division team to the head coach of a top European club?

Rohl: If both sides are convinced that you’re the right coach, then there’s nothing wrong with taking the step to a Champions League club. I may have only been a head coach for just under two years, but I’ve been involved in football for a total of 16 years. As an assistant coach in Leipzig, Munich, and at the German Football Association (DFB), I’ve had the privilege of coaching great players, winning the Champions League, coaching at a World Cup, and experiencing a Premier League relegation battle with Southampton. That’s a package that gives me a lot of confidence that I’m ready for any challenge, as long as both sides are convinced of each other.

What is your analysis of why RB is having a disastrous season?

Rohl: So many different factors are at play here, giving an outside assessment wouldn’t do it justice. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for my friend Zsolt that they qualify for the Champions League; that would be fantastic. I know full well that the final two games won’t be easy.

You and RB coach Zsolt Löw know each other from their time together as assistant coaches at RB.

Rohl: Exactly. We met back when Ralf Rangnick brought him from Salzburg to the second division. Then we worked very, very well together in Leipzig until the end of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s tenure in 2018. We’re good friends, our families know each other. So, of course, I have a special relationship with him.

Could you imagine working with Löw again at a club?

Rohl: Why not? In football, anything is possible—especially when you have a lot of respect for each other as a coach and as a person.

Rohl spoke with a podcast associated with German football magazine Kicker. Speaking about the Championship generally, he said: “Since I’ve been here, there have been 26 manager changes.”

On his appreciation for Sheffield and the people within it, he again sent praise their way: “It’s one of the warmest cities I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. The people are football crazy. That fans, when they’re on the main street and see me, pull over, stop their car, jump out, and want to take photos – I wouldn’t have expected that as a young manager without such a great CV.”

Kicker say: ‘Röhl could continue working on this resume elsewhere starting next season, as he has agreed with the club’s executives.’

That obviously presents the picture of the manager having already agreed with those in charge at Sheffield Wednesday that he can leave, which is perhaps why he’s talking like he already has.

He added: “I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’d like to work at the highest possible level in the near future – with the best players. The Bundesliga is obviously a consideration.”

This is how fans reacted as Danny Rohl drops a huge hint on leaving Sheffield Wednesday and reveals his dream in an interview this week…

@neilbartrop: Lots slating Danny & calling him. I just don’t get that. Let’s not forget the clown running the club. I’m certain if the club was being run correctly & the squad were to get investment he would stick around. Rohl leaving is one man’s blame. We would all do the same #swfc

@asyouwereS6: This interview is absolutely mind-blowing and so condescending to a fanbase which has loved him from moment 1. Obviously not the nice guy he portrays.

@mattwilli86: I disagree. Championship club ran by a clown who struggles to pay players. What sort of summer does that provide for us? Or a bundesliga champions league side where he’s been before anyway. If they’re interested I’d be doing same as him. Closer to home/better standard of football

@finswfc1: Probably my favourite ever manager and definitely the best but my god has he turned into a baby and ruined his reputation abit with the fans in the last few months

@Frizza1: Fellow Wednesday fans “how could anyone work with Chansiri” also “Rohl should stay and work with Chansiri”. If DC doesn’t give him the 💰 you can understand him wanting to go. He’s ambitious. Contracts mean nothing. Football is business.

@jezw73: If he wants to be in Germany with his family who can blame him, but to talk as though he is unattached and without a club is a little out of order. It’s a bloody mess and it’s all been created by one man. Dejphon Chansiri

@tomrobson11: That’s one way to piss off a fanbase who have backed you at every opportunity 🙃

@fighthewrongs: See I’ve stuck up for him, but things like this is out of order. 2 years left on a contract with another club and he’s acting like a brat. Should put anybody off employing him. Needs sorting New manager, New owner needed.

@harrison_h1: Such a fickle fan base, we’ve known he’s wanted to leave since Jan 😂 why turn on him now. Bloke is wanting to better his career and I don’t blame him. If that means soliciting himself to the German media let him be. Chansiri get the CVs in mate #swfc

@MattJohno1989: Don’t forget despite the strap line the key messages. The manager wants to manage in the top divisions. IF the club was run in a manner that promotes success on the pitch above him you wouldn’t be reading articles like this. 🦉 #swfc

@Jackswfc91: He has said the square root of fuck all that we didn’t know already. Spare me your selective edgy outrage and direct it towards the actual issue that the club faces instead of being angry at someone who actually saved us from league 1 & not relegated us there. #swfc

@Harry_Booth96: Tbf, in the article Rohl says he’d like to develop the club further but can’t under the current conditions. Who can argue with that? #swfc

@JTSHEEPS35: If you was very good at your job, you almost single handedly kept the business from going down and made it stable, all while working for a owner who’s a complete lunatic, you’d ACT the bang same. No bad words for Röhl. Simple.

@jakerowl1: Rohl hasn’t covered himself in glory again. The fan base is about to vilify him. We do it out of frustration and love for the club, however, Rohl isn’t the issue at the club. Managers will come and go but none will succeed under current circumstances. #swfc #EnoughisEnough

@james__swfc: Of course Chansiri is mostly to blame, but I’m really disappointed with how Rohl’s handled this whole situation. Doing an interview like this while you’re still under contract is just pure disrespectful #swfc

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