I was working in insurance before ex-Man Utd manager offered me a job – now I’m leading my team out in Champions League
GERHARD STRUBER worked in insurance before he was spotted by Ralf Rangnick.
The former Manchester United boss offered the Austrian a job with RB Salzburg and the rest is history.
Struber is now over halfway through his first Champions League group stage campaign as a manager.
However, his career could have turned out very different if it was not for Rangnick's approach.
After retiring in 2008, Struber coached in Salzburg's academy before taking a three-year break from football.
During that time, he worked in insurance before returning to management with a local club.
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It was there that he was spotted by Rangnick and convinced to take another crack at a coaching career.
"This is much closer to my heart," he told Sky Sports.
"I had a football break for three years. I was doing a completely different job at the time, working for a big insurance group.
"After that, I started coaching part-time with my home-town club SV Kuchl when Ralf Rangnick came and watched one of our friendly games.
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"We played a high-pressing style, very proactive. This was the reason why he invited me for an interview and I took a full-time job with the U15s.
"That conversation convinced me to jump back into football. I am very pleased I was brave enough to leave a safe job."
Struber went on to work with Salzburg's academy sides as well as their feeder club FC Liefering.
He would then manager Austrian club Wolfsberger before avoiding relegation from the Championship with Barnsley in 2020.
The 46-year-old re-joined the Red Bull group later that year, taking over MLS outfit New York Red Bulls.
Three years on, he is now back in his native Austria after Salzburg appointed him as manager during the summer.
Struber has so far made a strong start, with his side top of the Bundesliga and close to securing European football in the new year.
His side are third in their Champions League group with two matches remaining, starting with Wednesday's trip to Real Sociedad.
Salzburg will end their group stage campaign at home on December 12 against Benfica, who sit three points below them in the race to drop into the Europa League.