EAST HANOVER, N.J. — In his early days as the top sporting executive for the New York Red Bulls, Julian de Guzman doesn’t get to escape his office — with the myriad meetings, calls and negotiations — to stand pitchside to watch training as much as he would like.
That’s OK, of course. After being named Red Bulls’ head of sport this fall, de Guzman is in his dream job. There will be plenty of time to watch training. For now, he’s focused on several huge first-team decisions.
The Red Bulls have a coaching vacancy and can add another designated player or change the roster-building model. There are departures to come as well as key signings to make.
After the club missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009, de Guzman is determined to change the course.
“For the world of Red Bulls 2.0, this is the perfect time for a transition and introduce a coach that can do it,” de Guzman told The Athletic.
First things first? A style and identity shift to “playing more football” than a typical Red Bulls team.
“It’s part of a transition we’re going through at Red Bulls,” de Guzman said. “We’ve always played 4-2-2-2, in transition and go direct. It’s worked out to some degree, but it needs a refresh. It relates to how I enjoyed in my playing career, especially in La Liga. I like to play football, and I want to see more of that.”
Here’s a closer look at a pivotal offseason for the Red Bulls:
Michael Bradley in the head-coaching mix
Part of the big sporting changes already this offseason included coach Sandro Schwarz’s departure from the club. Replacing him is the first crucial decision de Guzman will make.
Looming over the search is Red Bulls II coach and U.S. national team legend Michael Bradley. The 38-year-old took over the club’s second team midseason, helping continue the development of young players while playing an attractive style. Bradley went on to lead RBNY II to the MLS Next Pro Cup title.
“I’m very impressed by what he’s done. … Beyond winning MLS Next Pro itself, it’s his (playing) style,” de Guzman said. “It’s attractive for players, for fans. You can see how calm he is, how he delivers his message to the players. I must say it’s refreshing.”
It’s Bradley’s first job as a first-team head coach. His early days in coaching included an assistant stint for his dad, Bob Bradley, at Stabaek in Norway, and a brief guest stint under Jesse Marsch with the Canadian national team.
It makes Bradley a natural in-house candidate to replace Schwarz, and de Guzman confirmed that he’s in the mix.
“Absolutely, he deserves to be,” de Guzman said. “He is somebody who has a very bright future as a wonderful coach in the long run. He’s definitely somebody we’re looking at.”
Timo Werner was linked to the New York Red Bulls this summer, but a move didn’t materialize. (Maja Hitij / Getty Images)
Roster flexibility, needs and the big Timo Werner question
At the top of the roster, RBNY has flexibility to add a DP if they want, or switch their roster-building profile to the U-22 initiative. They should have room under the salary cap for a few key additions below that threshold, too.
Emil Forsberg and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting are the club’s two DPs. Both had strong individual seasons in 2025 despite the club’s failure to make the playoffs. The third DP spot is open.
As part of the identity shift, de Guzman pointed heavily to wingers and box-to-box central midfielders. Forsberg can play left wing and Lewis Morgan can play wide as well, but natural wingers are at a minimum in the squad because they have so rarely used wingers in recent history. Schwarz often opted for three center backs and wingbacks rather than wingers.
“I’m away from the idea of getting a ‘popular player,’” de Guzman said. “I just want someone who can help the team be better. Choupo and Emil are All-Stars, they’re wonderful players. Will we bring in another Chuopo or Emil? No. But we will bring in another difference-maker. It’s a must.”
De Guzman added they want to get younger again. The team’s two highest-paid players are in their mid-30s, Forsberg at 34 and Choupo-Moting at 36.
“The players around Choupo and Emil have to produce and deliver,” de Guzman said. “It can’t be guys who are walking into first-team football for the first time of their lives. It’s got to be guys who have some experience in impacting the game.”
The club pursued a deal to sign RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner in the summer, but ultimately nothing came to fruition. The club’s open DP spot went unused.
This winter, the Red Bulls will not be signing Werner.
“There was always talks about (Werner),” de Guzman said. “We have to make sure, here in New York, it makes sense for us. It’s a great name to bring, I think fans would have loved him. … The opportunity was there, but I don’t think we were 100 percent sold that this was the right thing for New York. That’s why it wasn’t something we were fully invested in. We’d rather be patient (with that DP spot).”
One more position for the club to target is in goal with Carlos Coronel departing when his contract expires.
Julian de Guzman, pictured here playing against Mexico in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, had a decorated career on the field. (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP / Getty Images)
Taking his own career to the next step
During his playing career, de Guzman was a trailblazer for Canadian soccer.
He was the first Canadian to play in La Liga, doing so at Deportivo La Coruña, where he was named the team’s Player of the Season in 2007-08. He was the third Canadian to feature in the Bundesliga when he played for Hanover.
De Guzman was a DP himself for Toronto FC and FC Dallas. When he retired in 2017, he knew he wanted to stay in the game but wasn’t totally sure whether he wanted to coach or be on a technical staff.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to pick in his first job. He joined USL’s Ottawa Fury and was both the assistant coach and general manager.
“I knew I wanted to be involved in the game after retiring but didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do,” de Guzman said.
Being the top sporting executive at this club is a big job and, for de Guzman, a crucial first window to set in motion all of his plans for the future. He was ready to take over for departing head of sport Jochen Schneider and hopes to build from here.
“It’s a privilege and honor to sit in this position,” de Guzman said. “Jochen is my mentor, a leader. I learned a lot from him. He really showed a way to lead a team on a professional level, in a special way.”