Red Bull New York II head coach Dominik Wohlert is looking to continue a track record of success laid down by predecessors Ibrahim Sekagya and Michael Bradley in overseeing the club’s youth development.
The 32-year-old German became the fifth head coach of Red Bull II on January 21. Though the role marks his first career professional head coaching opportunity, Wohlert’s contributions impressed Red Bull New York head of sport Julian de Guzman.
“Dominik has been an incredible asset as an assistant coach of our first team over the last four seasons,” de Guzman said in January. “He possesses the qualities we look for in a head coach, and we are excited to have him contribute to the development of Red Bull New York II.”
Red Bull II academy graduates played a big part in Red Bull New York’s 2-1 away victory over Orlando City SC last Saturday.
17-year-old left back Matthew Dos Santos, 16-year-old midfielder Adri Mehmeti and 17-year-old forward Julian Hall all looked the part when matches against Orlando’s seasoned pros. Another teenager, 17-year-old forward Tanner Rosborough, made a brief cameo late in the match.
Wohlert has begun settling into his new role and is pleased to play a part in the teenage talents making the leap to the Red Bull New York first team.
“It’s just a great situation to be in a club which is really valuing young prospects,” Wohlert said. “Now, being in this position makes me even more excited. Working with the young guys, trying to go with them out for training, try to see the development and that’s the nice thing I would say, even with our squad now, over the last four or five weeks, the progression from the guys, the development from the guys you see in short times, really the next step and that’s enjoyable. Again, we just try to be there and trying to guide them to the right direction. So far, it was really good from every individual.”
Standards Set High for Red Bull New York Youth Team
He has operated in various roles within Red Bull New York’s coaching hierarchy, having served as an assistant coach under former Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz and as assistant coach of analysis while Gerhard Struber and Troy Lesesne ran the first team.
The organization ethos is to play on the front foot with speed, aggression and creativity. That mandate is clear whenever Red Bull GmbH head of global soccer Jürgen Klopp, de Guzman, Bradley and Wohlert speak.
“We want to be a team which can find different solutions to score and to get away with three points in the end,” Wohlert explained. “I think that’s our big goal, what drives us every day. Again, we will always be a team which tries to be active.
“We want to be proactive in every phase. We don’t want to sit back. We have a certain way of playing, playing the game. We want to see, and I think that’s what we try to continue. But again, there will be some smaller things we try to make different. There will be some things we continue, but in the end, it’s all Red Bull. It’s all our idea of playing the game.”
Bradley was able to end last season on a high by guiding Red Bull II to a 2025 MLS Next Pro title. It’s now Wohlert’s turn to keep standards high and keep nurturing prospects who can make a successful transition to the senior team.
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