The new head coach of EC Red Bull Salzburg is Alan Letang and is moving from German second division club Weiden to Salzburg. With the Red Bulls, the 50-year-old Canadian is taking over as head coach of a professional team in a top league for the first time.
This is the third coaching position in Europe for the native Canadian with Canadian-Croatian dual citizenship. Before his most recent engagement in Germany – he only stepped in as a short-term coach in Weiden in February of this year – he had already worked as an assistant coach in Zagreb and for many years in the Canadian junior league OHL.
Statement Alan Letang, Head Coach EC Red Bull Salzburg
“I am very familiar with EC Red Bull Salzburg from my active time as a player in the EBEL. In the conversations with Helmut Schlögl, it quickly became clear to me that we had completely similar ideas about where we wanted to take this team – that made the decision very easy for me. Just like when I was a player, I also tirelessly strive for improvement as a coach. There is no better place for this than an organization like the Red Bulls, which strives for the best in everything it does. Up Building and being a part of this culture is a huge step forward and I can’t wait to get to work.”
Statement Helmut Schlögl, Managing Director Pro
“With our new head coach, we were able to gain a coach who impressed us throughout the entire interview process with a very professional and clear demeanor. He stands for a modern coaching approach and at the same time sees himself as a real team player who places great value on working together. His open and accessible nature is particularly important to us – a clear open-door policy that promotes direct exchange with the players and creates trust. He also brings valuable experience from working with top talent in Canada, which fits perfectly with our orientation and our responsibility in the Player development fits in. We are convinced that he will provide important impetus both in terms of sport and culture.”
Letang’s return to the ICE Hockey League
The Canadian’s coaching career began in 2014 as an assistant coach at Medvescak Zagreb (KHL), where he had previously played for a long time as a defender and captain. In 2016 he went home to Canada, where Letang worked in the OHL for many years as assistant and head coach of the Owen Sound Attack and as head coach of the Sarnia Sting. From 2019 he also acted as assistant coach, and later also as head coach, of the Canadian U18 and U20 national teams. As a coach, he won two gold medals with both the U18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the U20 team at the U20 World Cup. Last season, Letang returned to Europe and took over as coach of the Blue Devils Weiden in the DEL2 in February. Under his leadership, the club managed to avoid relegation from the second division.
As a player, Letang played 14 games in the NHL and, after four DEL seasons (Hamburg Freezers and Nürnberg Ice Tigers), also made a name for himself in what was then the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League. The former defender also regularly met the Red Bulls with HC Innsbruck (2008/09) and Medvescak Zagreb (2009-2013). Another season with Zagreb in the KHL followed in 2013/14 before he ended his active career with Zagreb’s second team in the Croatian league until 2015.
ecrbs.redbulls.com Image: EC Red Bull Salzburg
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