Alexander Zorniger

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Alexander Zorniger

| image = Alex zorniger.jpg

| caption = Zorniger in 2015

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|10|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Mutlangen, West Germany

| currentclub = OB (head coach)

| position = Midfielder

| years1 = 1996–2000

| clubs1 = SV Bonlanden

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2002–2009

| managerclubs1 = 1. FC Normannia Gmünd

| manageryears2 = 2010–2012

| managerclubs2 = SG Sonnenhof Großaspach

| manageryears3 = 2012–2015

| managerclubs3 = RB Leipzig

| manageryears4 = 2015

| managerclubs4 = VfB Stuttgart

| manageryears5 = 2016–2019

| managerclubs5 = Brøndby IF

| manageryears6 = 2021–2022

| managerclubs6 = Apollon Limassol

| manageryears7 = 2022–2024

| managerclubs7 = Greuther Fürth

| manageryears8 = 2025-

| managerclubs8 = OB

}}

Alexander Zorniger (born 8 October 1967) is a German professional football manager. He is the current head coach of Danish Superliga club OB.{{Cite web|url=https://ob.dk/nyheder/2025/maj/alexander-zorniger-er-ny-cheftraener-i-ob|title=Alexander Zorniger is the new head coach of OB|date=31 May 2025|access-date=31 May 2025|website=ob.dk|language=Danish|trans-title=Alexander Zorniger er ny cheftræner i OB}}

Coaching career

=Early career=

Zorniger started his coaching career with stints as head coach of Normannia Gmünd, assistant coach at VfB Stuttgart, and as head coach at Sonnenhof Großaspach.{{cite web|title=Alexander Zorniger|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alexander-zorniger/|publisher=World Football|access-date=23 January 2014}}

=RB Leipzig=

Zorniger became head coach of RB Leipzig on 3 July 2012.{{cite news|title=Rangnick entlässt Pacult, Zorniger schon da|url=https://www.kicker.de/rangnick-entlaesst-pacult-zorniger-schon-da-571346/artikel|access-date=23 January 2014|newspaper=kicker|date=3 July 2012|language=de}} He managed the club to an undefeated season in all competitions.{{cite web|title=RasenBallsport Leipzig|url=https://www.kicker.de/rb-leipzig/spielplan/regionalliga-nordost/2012-13|publisher=kicker|access-date=24 January 2014|language=de}} They finished the league season with 21 wins and 9 draws{{cite web|title=Regionalliga Nordost - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/regionalliga-nordost/spieltag/2012-13/30/0|publisher=kicker|access-date=23 January 2014|language=de}} and went on to the promotion play–off; winning the first leg 2–0 and drawing the second leg 2–2. They also defeated Chemnitzer FC in the Saxony Cup final. He resigned on 11 February 2015, as earlier that month Ralf Rangnick announced that he would be RB Leipzig's coach for next season.{{cite news|title=Trainer Zorniger schmeißt bei RB Leipzig hin|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/2-bundesliga/article137335266/Trainer-Zorniger-schmeisst-bei-RB-Leipzig-hin.html|access-date=11 February 2015|publisher=Die Welt|date=11 February 2015|language=de}}

=Back to VfB Stuttgart=

On 25 May 2015, VfB Stuttgart announced in a press conference that Zorniger would be their new head coach and signed a deal with the Swabians until Summer 2018.{{cite news|title=Alexander Zorniger neuer Trainer des VfB Stuttgart|url=http://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/id_74130376/alexander-zorniger-neuer-trainer-des-vfb-stuttgart.html|access-date=25 May 2015|publisher=T-Online|date=25 May 2015|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525142045/http://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/id_74130376/alexander-zorniger-neuer-trainer-des-vfb-stuttgart.html|archive-date=25 May 2015|url-status=dead}} He was sacked on 24 November 2015 after Stuttgart lost to FC Augsburg 4–0.{{cite news|title=VfB Stuttgart entlässt Trainer Zorniger|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/fussball-bundesliga-vfb-stuttgart-entlaesst-trainer-zorniger-1.2752156|access-date=25 November 2015|publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung|date=24 November 2015|language=de}} He finished with a record of five wins, one draw, and nine losses.{{cite web|title=VfB Stuttgart - Trainer|url=https://www.kicker.de/vfb-stuttgart/team-trainer|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=25 November 2015|language=de}}

=Brøndby IF=

On 17 May 2016, Danish Superliga club Brøndby IF announced the hiring of Alexander Zorniger as their new head coach. He signed a two-year deal.{{cite news |title=Selskabsmeddelelse 14/2016: Ny cheftræner |url=http://brondby.com/nyhed/2016/05/17/selskabsmeddelelse-14_2016-ny-cheftraener |website=Brøndby IF official website |date=17 May 2016 |access-date=14 October 2016 |language=da}} On 30 June, Zorniger made his official debut, beating Icelandic side Valur 4–1 away in the first round of the Europa League qualification. One week later, Brøndby won the return leg 6–0 at home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2020029--brondby-vs-valur/|title = Brøndby-Valur 2017 History | UEFA Europa League}} On 17 July, Zorniger made his Superliga debut with a secure 4–0 win at home against Esbjerg fB. On 4 August, Zorniger surprisingly managed to guide Brøndby past his fellow countrymen Hertha BSC in the third round of the Europa League qualification, going through 3–2 on aggregate after a 0–1 loss in Berlin one week earlier.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2020413--brondby-vs-hertha/|title = Brøndby-Hertha 2017 History | UEFA Europa League}} Hertha were one of the sides that beat Zorniger's VfB Stuttgart during his stint at the club in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/09/12/germany/bundesliga/hertha-bsc-berlin/vfb-stuttgart-1893-ev/2054224/|title = Hertha Berlin vs. Stuttgart - 12 September 2015 - Soccerway}} On 21 August, Brøndby beat AGF 7–0 at Ceres Park,{{Cite web|url=https://danskfodbold.com/kamp.php?ID=59156|title=danskfodbold.com - DBU's Officielle Statistikere|website=danskfodbold.com}} thereby handing the opponents their biggest defeat in the club's Superliga history.{{cite web|url=http://danskfodbold.com/klub.php?klubid=1012|title=DANMARKSTURNERINGEN 2022/23, SUPERLIGAEN, KLUBSIDER}} Late in the same month, following a 1–1 draw at home against arch-rivals FC Copenhagen,{{Cite web|url=https://danskfodbold.com/kamp.php?ID=59164|title=danskfodbold.com - DBU's Officielle Statistikere|website=danskfodbold.com}} Brøndby went into the national team break leading the Superliga by goal difference, tying FC Copenhagen and AaB on points.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielplan/den-superliga-2016-2017-spieltag/7/|title=Superligaen 2016/2017 - 7. Spieltag|website=weltfussball.de}} On 18 September, Zorniger lost his first Superliga game in charge of Brøndby, surprisingly being beat 2–1 at home against Viborg FF.{{Cite web|url=https://danskfodbold.com/kamp.php?ID=59177|title=danskfodbold.com - DBU's Officielle Statistikere|website=danskfodbold.com}}

Zorniger finished his first season in charge of Brøndby as runner-up, a feat not achieved by the club since 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://nr.soccerway.com/teams/denmark/brondby-if/601/trophies/|title=Denmark - Brøndby IF - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway|website=nr.soccerway.com}}

On 10 May 2018, Brøndby IF won the Danish Cup Final 3-1 against Silkeborg IF, the club's first trophy in 13 years. The season ended under traumatic circumstances for Brøndby IF however, as the club was leading the table until the penultimate round, where during stoppage time they conceded two goals and thus threw away a 2-0 lead against AC Horsens. The draw meant for the club that they for the second year in a row ended up as runner-ups and lost out on what would have been their first league title since 2005.

During his third season in charge, the club never fully regained their momentum from the preceding season, and on 18 February 2019, placed third in the table, he was sacked from Brøndby IF following their loss to Esbjerg the previous day.

It was reportedly a decision made by the board, as they no longer felt Zorniger was able to lead the team forwards in the strategy called 6.4, the "Brøndby DNA" was missing from Zorniger's coaching and playing style, and he had been particularly criticized for on one occasion playing with a line-up consisting of all-foreigners, thus, according to some, neglecting the development of young players at the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bt.dk/superligaen/ebbe-sand-saetter-ord-paa-fyringen|title = Ebbe Sand sætter ord på fyringen|date = 18 February 2019}}

=Later career=

Zorniger managed Apollon Limassol in the 2021-22 season as they won the Cypriot First Division title.

After a year in Cyprus, he returned to Germany in October 2022 to manage Greuther Fürth.{{cite web |url=https://www.sgf1903.de/aktuell/nachrichten/profis/20221023-alexander-zorniger-neuer-cheftrainer/|title="Alles dafür tun, um erfolgreich zu sein" |website=sgf1903.de |publisher=Greuther Fürth |date=23 October 2022 |access-date=23 October 2022 |language=de}} In October 2024, he was sacked.{{cite news |url=https://www.sgf1903.de/news/profis/haas-uebernimmt-bis-winter|title=Haas übernimmt bis Winter|publisher=sgf1903.de|date=22 October 2024 |accessdate=22 October 2024}}

On 31 May 2025, newly-promoted Danish Superliga club OB announced Zorniger as their new head coach starting from the 2025-26 season,{{Cite web|url=https://ob.dk/nyheder/2025/maj/alexander-zorniger-er-ny-cheftraener-i-ob|title=Alexander Zorniger is the new head coach of OB|date=31 May 2025|access-date=31 May 2025|website=ob.dk|language=Danish|trans-title=Alexander Zorniger er ny cheftræner i OB}} with Zorniger returning to Denmark more than 6 years after being sacked by Brøndby.

Coaching record

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
rowspan="2"\| Team !rowspan="2"\| From !rowspan="2"\| To !colspan="6"\| Record
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}} !{{Tooltip\|Ref.\|Reference}}
Sonnenhof Großaspach \| 1 July 2010{{cite web\|title=SG Sonnenhof Großaspach » Trainerhistorie\|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/sg-sonnenhof-grossaspach/9/\|publisher=World Football\|access-date=23 January 2014}} \| 30 June 2012 {{WDL\|64\|29\|15\|20}} \| {{cite web\|title=SG Sonnenhof Großaspach - Termine 2010-11\|url=https://www.kicker.de/sg-sonnenhof-grossaspach/spielplan/regionalliga-sued-2008-2012/2010-11\|publisher=kicker\|access-date=23 January 2014\|language=de}}{{cite web\|title=SG Sonnenhof Großaspach - Termine 2011-12\|url=https://www.kicker.de/sg-sonnenhof-grossaspach/spielplan/regionalliga-sued-2008-2012/2011-12\|publisher=kicker\|access-date=23 January 2014\|language=de}}
RB Leipzig \| 3 July 2012 \| 11 February 2015 {{WDL\|96\|58\|25\|13}} \| {{cite web\|title=RB Leipzig Trainer\|url=https://www.kicker.de/rb-leipzig/team-trainer\|publisher=kicker\|access-date=20 December 2020\|language=de}}
VfB Stuttgart \| 29 June 2015 \| 24 November 2015 {{WDL\|15\|5\|1\|9}} \|
Brøndby IF \| 1 June 2016 \| 18 February 2019{{cite web \|url=https://brondby.com/nyhed/2019/02/18/selskabsmeddelelse-nr-02_2019-alexander-zorniger-stopper \|title=Selskabsmeddelelse nr. 02/2019 - Alexander Zorniger stopper - Brøndby IF \|website=brondby.com \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015736/https://brondby.com/nyhed/2019/02/18/selskabsmeddelelse-nr-02_2019-alexander-zorniger-stopper \|archive-date=19 February 2019}} {{WDL\|84\|51\|16\|17}} \| {{cite web \|url=http://brondby.com/kampe/kampprogram/?season=2015&show=seasons \|title=2015–16 Brøndby IF season \|website=Brøndby IF official website \|access-date=14 October 2016 \|language=da}}{{cite web \|url=http://brondby.com/kampe/kampprogram/?season=2016&show=seasons \|title=2016–17 Brøndby IF season \|website=Brøndby IF official website \|access-date=14 October 2016 \|language=da}}{{cite web \|url=http://brondby.com/kampe/kampprogram/?season=2017&show=seasons \|title=2017–18 Brøndby IF season \|website=Brøndby IF official website \|access-date=14 October 2016 \|language=da}}{{cite web \|url=http://brondby.com/kampe/kampprogram/?season=2018&show=seasons \|title=2018–19 Brøndby IF season \|website=Brøndby IF official website \|access-date=14 October 2016 \|language=da}}
Apollon Limassol \| 1 July 2021 \| 10 August 2022 {{WDL\|39\|19\|11\|9}}
colspan="3"\| Total {{WDLtot\|298\|162\|68\|68}} !—

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

rowspan="2"| Team

!rowspan="2"| From

!rowspan="2"| To

!colspan="6"| Record

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}

Sonnenhof Großaspach

| 1 July 2010{{cite web|title=SG Sonnenhof Großaspach » Trainerhistorie|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/sg-sonnenhof-grossaspach/9/|publisher=World Football|access-date=23 January 2014}}

| 30 June 2012

| {{cite web|title=SG Sonnenhof Großaspach - Termine 2010-11|url=https://www.kicker.de/sg-sonnenhof-grossaspach/spielplan/regionalliga-sued-2008-2012/2010-11|publisher=kicker|access-date=23 January 2014|language=de}}{{cite web|title=SG Sonnenhof Großaspach - Termine 2011-12|url=https://www.kicker.de/sg-sonnenhof-grossaspach/spielplan/regionalliga-sued-2008-2012/2011-12|publisher=kicker|access-date=23 January 2014|language=de}}

RB Leipzig

| 3 July 2012

| 11 February 2015

| {{cite web|title=RB Leipzig Trainer|url=https://www.kicker.de/rb-leipzig/team-trainer|publisher=kicker|access-date=20 December 2020|language=de}}

VfB Stuttgart

| 29 June 2015

| 24 November 2015

Brøndby IF

| 1 June 2016

| 18 February 2019{{cite web |url=https://brondby.com/nyhed/2019/02/18/selskabsmeddelelse-nr-02_2019-alexander-zorniger-stopper |title=Selskabsmeddelelse nr. 02/2019 - Alexander Zorniger stopper - Brøndby IF |website=brondby.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015736/https://brondby.com/nyhed/2019/02/18/selskabsmeddelelse-nr-02_2019-alexander-zorniger-stopper |archive-date=19 February 2019}}

| {{cite web |url=http://brondby.com/kampe/kampprogram/?season=2015&show=seasons |title=2015–16 Brøndby IF season |website=Brøndby IF official website |access-date=14 October 2016 |language=da}}{{cite web |url=http://brondby.com/kampe/kampprogram/?season=2016&show=seasons |title=2016–17 Brøndby IF season |website=Brøndby IF official website |access-date=14 October 2016 |language=da}}{{cite web |url=http://brondby.com/kampe/kampprogram/?season=2017&show=seasons |title=2017–18 Brøndby IF season |website=Brøndby IF official website |access-date=14 October 2016 |language=da}}{{cite web |url=http://brondby.com/kampe/kampprogram/?season=2018&show=seasons |title=2018–19 Brøndby IF season |website=Brøndby IF official website |access-date=14 October 2016 |language=da}}

Apollon Limassol

| 1 July 2021

| 10 August 2022

colspan="3"| Total

!—