Gerhard Struber has left Sky Bet Championship club Barnsley to become the new head coach of Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.
The Austrian, 43, masterminded the club’s final-day escape from relegation last season after entering lockdown bottom of the table and seven points from safety.
The move sees Struber, who only joined the Tykes from Wolfsberger in November, rejoin the Red Bull set-up after beginning his coaching career in the youth ranks at RB Salzburg before taking charge of feeder club Liefering.
Adam Murray has been placed in caretaker charge, as he was before Struber's arrival, with Barnsley 21st in the Championship table having taking just a point from their opening four games.
“I must start by thanking Gerhard for the last 11 months. Tasked with maintaining the club’s Championship status, he took a difficult position at Oakwell last November,” said chief executive Dane Murphy.
“Despite the seven-point deficit and COVID-19, his belief never wavered and the night at Brentford (when Barnsley won on the final day of the season) will live long in the memory of all supporters.
“As much as we wanted Gerhard to remain at Oakwell we were not in a position to deny him this opportunity with a buy-out clause in his contract and his connection within the Red Bull set-up.
“Looking toward the immediate future, the recruitment process for a replacement has already begun and we will update supporters when appropriate. In the interim, Adam Murray will take charge of first team matters.
“This club has good people across numerous departments that will do their utmost to assist Adam.”
Struber signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to replace Daniel Stendel last year, arriving with Barnsley bottom of the Championship.
Survival rarely looked likely, but was secured when the Tykes won their final two matches and Wigan’s 12-point deduction for going into administration was confirmed.
Struber's departure is not unexpected after he publicly questioned the club's ambition following Barnsley’s Sky Bet Championship defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
“For me, it’s not the goal to always play in the relegation zone,” he told BBC Radio Sheffield.
“I have other ambitions and aims and I cannot feel that the owners have the same ambitions and goals like me. My future is open and we will see.
“Every year, every season, this is a big, big fight with a big, big energy until the last game to stay in the league – and, one more time, it is a big question to the owners, is this the goal? For me, no.”
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