RB Salzburg came into existence on 13 September 1933. They had a different name during that period and were called SV Austria Salzburg. The merging of Hertha and Rapid made this possible. The club went through a mid-point crisis in 1950 when they had to dissolve it. However, the club came back into operation in the same year. Since then, the club has been a part of ups and downs. The club is currently busy playing the ongoing Club World Cup in the USA.
RB Salzburg: Key Facts
RB Salzburg happens to be one of the most successful clubs in the history of the Austrian Bundesliga. The club ranked right behind Rapid Wien and Austria Wien with 17 titles to boot. They are also the only Austrian club who are bearing the country's flag in this mega tournament. The club has academies in Africa (Ghana) and South America (Brazil) where they train young talent.
| Founded | 1933 |
|---|---|
| Current Owner | Red Bull GmbH |
| Country | Austria |
| City | Salzburg |
| Nickname | Die Rotten Bullen |
| League | Austrian Bundesliga |
| Stadium | Red Bull Arena |
| Capacity | 30,188 |
| Manager | Thomas Letsch |
| Squad Size | 39 |
RB Salzburg Sponsors Net Worth and Value
Red Bull Salzburg are owned by Red Bull, whose value is worth billions of dollars. The club seldom experiences a shortage of funds with the kind of backing it extracts from such a billion-dollar organization. More so, its tie-ups with reputed organizations have managed to create goodwill for the club, which has been beneficial for its market value.
| Net Worth | Not disclosed publicly |
|---|---|
| Valuation | 130.80 million |
| Sponsors | Red Bull (Main Sponsor) Rauch, A1, Audi,Nike (Premium Sponsors) Admiral,Stiegl,Thalheim, Mastercard,Salazburg Verkehr,Wiener Stadtische,Raiffesen Bank (Official Partners) G.A.S, DIE OFFSET,progress,Krautgartner (Regional Partners) Sky (TV Partner) Getty Images, CEPA (Photo Partners) |
| Revenue Sources | Ticket sales, Broadcasting rights, Sponsorships, and Player transfers. |
RB Salzburg Rivalries
RB Salzburg's most promising rivalry is with Austria Salzburg. The same club that had ownership over them before Red Bull took charge. After the renowned energy drink company took over, an all-around shakedown happened, which led to changes with the team's colour, logos, and crest. The old school fans did not take too kindly to this, harbouring a deep-rooted hatred for the club since then. They also have a history with clubs like Rapid Wien and Austria Wien.
Derbies
Salzburg is known for its famous derby with Austria Salzburg. The dispute rose from the fact that they shared the same history; however, with Red Bull coming in, all of that changed. There was a complete makeover for the club in every sense possible, leading to fierce protests. The 1977–78*, 1986–87 majority were opposed to the idea.
As things happened, everything changed, the colour code switched from violet to red, and the derby was hailed as the derby between the commercially driven club and the fan-owned club, with its age-old fan base and new fans alike creating a major backdrop for a never-ending feud. With the two teams also competing in different leagues, the rivalry is usually settled in other competitions.
RB Salzburg Trophies and Achievements
RB Salzburg have won some major trophies, namely the Austrian Bundesliga, Austrian Cup, Austrian Supercup, UEFA Youth League, and the Blue Stars/ FIFA Youth Cup. The club is a dominating force in the Austrian league and has now started its campaign on a positive note at the FIFA Club World Cup.
| Competition | No of Titles | Seasosn |
|---|---|---|
| Austrian Bundesliga | 17 | 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97*, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 |
| 2. Liga (Austria) | 2 | 1977–78*, 1986–87 |
| Austrian Cup | 9 | 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 |
| Austrian Supercup | 3 | 1994, 1995, 1997 |
| UEFA Youth League | 1 | 2016–17 |
| Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup | 1 | 2024 |
History of RB Salzburg
RB Salzburg weren't always called RB Salzburg, as we all know. It was named Austria Salzburg back in the day. During the initial years, it made its mark by reaching the top level of Austrian football in 1953. Some of their notable former footballers were Erich Probst and Adam Macek. The club earned its first major trophy during the 1970-71 season. No, they did not win the league but did manage to finish in the runners-up place.
Ever since Rudi Quahenberger became the club President, the Austrian club has been part of some major milestones. Who can forget Oliver Bierhoff's season's best record of 23 goals in the year 1991? The club made its first UEFA Champions League appearance in 1994/95. A year from then, they became the Austrian champions. In the year 2003, the club changed its usual venue and shifted to the new Wals-Siezenheim stadium, presently known as the Red Bull Arena. With the club's merger with Red Bull marking a new era for the club, it also paved the way for the club to make use of the abundant financial resources that came at its disposal.
The club became the Austrian Bundesliga champion in the last season. They also recorded a series of decent performances in the UEFA Champions League that year and finished in third place. This helped them earn a qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Despite getting cramped in a group with heavyweights like Chelsea and Milan, they came out with a performance that the club and their fans can be proud of.
Future Goals
This year was a trophy-less season for Salzburg, which was very unlike the others before. However, there is nothing much to worry about as the club has always come back to win a trophy or two every other year. So this might not be their year, but the next year certainly can be theirs.
They don't even have to wait that long, as they have started the ongoing Club World Cup on a positive note. A victory against Pachuca has put them in the top spot of their group. They won the game 2-1 after Oscar Gloukh opened the scoring for them. The score was then levelled by Pachuca (1-1), but a masterstroke by Coach Thomas Letsch, by bringing in Karim Onisiswu as a substitute, changed the trajectory.
Just when it felt like things were about to end in a stalemate, he scored the crucial goal, giving them a lead and an ultimate victory. So it goes without saying that if Salzburg can do the unthinkable and win the World Cup somehow, it will surely be one of the biggest underdog triumphs in recent memory.
