After the departure of his former assistant, Ralph Hasenhuttl had to prepare for the new season a little short handed, now he has plugged that gap.
After the departure of Danny Rohl back in July Ralph Hasenhuttl had to prepare for the season one short on the coaching roster, this did not seem to affect results, but wins in pre season friendlies are different to those in the Premier League and whether the new appointment of Richard Kitzbichler is something that has been planned since the departue of Rohl or a more recent decision is unclear.
Whatever the reason though the gap has now been plugged as Saints confirmed with the following announcement.
Southampton Football Club is pleased to announce it has appointed Richard Kitzbichler as First Team Assistant Coach.
The 45-year-old Austrian joins manager Ralph Hasenhüttl’s staff, in which he will also work as Opposition Analyst, following two years with Chinese Super League side Beijing Sinobo Guoan and an extensive spell in his homeland with Red Bull Salzburg.
A former Austria international, with 17 caps for his country, Kitzbichler began his playing career at Wacker Innsbruck, before spells with Tirol Innsbruck, SC Holz Pfeifer Kundl, Austria Salzburg and Austria Wien.
After one season in Germany with Hamburger SV and a year in Australia with Melbourne Victory — either side of a return to Austria Wien — he finished his playing days at Salzburg.
It was there that he transitioned into a role as an analyst, working closely with the club’s coaches and players.
Following six years in the role, he was promoted into the position of assistant coach in 2015 under Ã"scar Garcia, combining his video analysis with on-pitch work.
A move to China followed in 2017, where he linked up with former Salzburg manager Roger Schmidt, who had been in charge of the Austrian club from 2012 until 2014, working as assistant to him.
The pair helped oversee some notable success at Beijing Sinobo Guoan, with the club finishing fourth in the Super League in 2018 and also winning the Chinese FA Cup that season, for the first time in 15 years.
Kitzbichler now joins Hasenhüttl’s team at Staplewood Campus, alongside First Team Assistant Coaches Dave Watson, Craig Fleming and Kelvin Davis, and Goalkeeping Coach Andrew Sparkes, as well as Head of Sports Science Alek Gross and Head of First Team Analysis Scott Waters.