We look at the first words from new Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber in his press conference with club chairman Jon Lansdown.
He was revealed at 1pm on Thursday across club channels, with a live press conference also being held from Ashton Gate from 1.25pm.
Struber joins on a three-year contract until 2028. The Austrian, previously with FC Köln, will join the team for pre-season training.
Chairman Jon Lansdown praised Struber’s experience, energy, and alignment with the club’s high-intensity, pressing style and focus on developing young players.
Struber expressed excitement about the role, aiming to build on last season’s success, play attractive, dominant football, and integrate local talent through the academy. He spoke on the importance of fan support to achieve the club’s ambitions.
Gerhard Struber is a Robin.
pic.twitter.com/XPyiU5U9JA
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) June 19, 2025
STATEMENT:
Bristol City has appointed Gerhard Struber as the club’s new men’s Head Coach on a three-year contract until 2028.
The Austrian joins City after most recently managing FC Köln in Germany and will officially link up with the squad when they return for pre-season training next week.
Bristol City Chairman Jon Lansdown said: “We are delighted to have Gerhard joining us. He has managed in a variety different countries, including in the Championship, and brings a wealth of experience and energy.
“For the last four years, we have moved our academy teams towards a high intensity, pressing style of play, and combined this with recruiting younger players with those same capabilities for the first team.
“Gerhard’s style is perfectly suited to this way of playing and his passion for developing younger players is also a great fit for our club.
“It’s a really exciting appointment and I’m looking forward to us building on the progress the club has made.”
A message from Gerhard Struber to #BristolCity supporters.
pic.twitter.com/j5hR1iktSX
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) June 19, 2025
Struber said: “I am very excited for the job here with great fans and a great team. I’m looking forward to a new task.
“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 take us to the next level.
“The big responsibility is in the first team, to build, develop and create results but at the same time it is a duty to bring players from the local area and into the academy and give them a pathway to become a professional footballer at Bristol City.
“I like to play with high intensity on the field. We will control, we will dominate the game, and we’ll play attractive football for the fans.
“We need them [fans] behind us, we need them over the whole season and with us through the ups and downs. We need the twelfth man behind us to help us achieve and take the next step.”
“I think it’s a very good fit with my DNA”
New Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber believes that he is a good match for his new side
pic.twitter.com/pvlQ5hqQyw
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 19, 2025
Struber’s identity = Red Bull DNA.
He builds teams that:
• Press high & aggressively
• Force turnovers centrally
• Transition vertically with speed
• Trust in youth, athleticism, & mentality pic.twitter.com/J4LVCssm8X— BCFCFootyInsight (@EFLFanEdits) June 16, 2025
Barnsley
Bottom of the Champ when he arrived.He implemented a 3-4-1-2 or diamond 4-4-2 with coordinated pressing patterns.
Achieved a 36% w/r – better than both Manning and Pearson with a worse side. pic.twitter.com/U6zOIKPBnR
— BCFCFootyInsight (@EFLFanEdits) June 16, 2025
Talent level rose. Style stayed.
• 4-3-1-2 diamond
• Ultra-high press
• Box-to-box 8s who broke lines
• Inverted full-backs + aggressive central overloadsBut vs deep blocks, the verticality sometimes stalled. pic.twitter.com/0Z9cLEmvvS
— BCFCFootyInsight (@EFLFanEdits) June 16, 2025
So what’s constant across clubs?
• Midfield control through compact shape
• Striker pair that presses together
• #10 as defensive organizer + vertical conduit
• Defenders who step up, not sit back
• High line. High stakes. High energy.
It’s risk and reward football. pic.twitter.com/OfoSS7sDKI— BCFCFootyInsight (@EFLFanEdits) June 16, 2025
Bristol City fit?
If the squad can match the work-rate + spacing discipline, this works.
Struber demands alignment:
→ Fitness
→ Tactical IQ
→ Willingness to suffer off-ballSomething that sounds a lot like our best player… pic.twitter.com/HL7dw4CRp8
— BCFCFootyInsight (@EFLFanEdits) June 16, 2025
Gerhard Struber isn’t a vibes manager.
He’s a system coach with proven success in chaos.
If we want to punch above our weight, this hire could unlock a modern, ferocious identity.But only if they buy in. Fully.
End.
pic.twitter.com/G5qAZj39Nw
— BCFCFootyInsight (@EFLFanEdits) June 16, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted after hearing the first words from new Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber in his press conference…
@RobertC_Robins1: 6 champs league games, 4 Europe league games, 1 great escape, 1 promotion, 3 play offs reached, avg 2 goals a game, avg 1.8 points per game, 2 strikers up top not seen since Fam and Bobby in the cup season. With high pressing intensity. IM SO IN. Let’s go. Welcome Gerhard! 
@alfie23130722: I’ve never been this excited for manager if I’m being honest can’t wait up the city @BristolCity
@TheExiledRobin: Servus und herzlich willkommen, Gerhard
@cw98_bs3: Get weimann back
@_Conkseds: Love this appointment struber cider army
@BCFCJordan: Already has more personality than Manning from the announcement picture alone.
@alex_wilson101: Hahaha we are actually going up
@georginawebb_x: Wow buzzing but very very shocked 
@BristolCityFM: The high press, tactical fluidity, emotions are allowed era starts here! I am on the bus.
@ethansc0tt7: Excited is an understatement, Gerrard Strubers Cider Army
@bcfcEJ: Former plumber, firefighter, builder, dentist and now football manager impressive 
@JournoCathal: #BristolCity get there man through the door and it’s definitely an intriguing one. Struber comes to the robins after managing 32 of 34 games in a title winning season for FC.Köln.
@RobertC_Robins1: “It is a duty to bring players from the local area and into the academy and give them a pathway to become a professional footballer at Bristol City” – If he stays true to his word and brings his style of football with him… oh my word 
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