Remember me
When Oliver Glasner’s appointment as Nottingham Forest manager was confirmed, many wondered whether a potential reunion with one or two of his successful Crystal Palace squad might be on the horizon.
But amid those immediate links with players such as Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta, it is another former player who Glasner is set to be reunited with more immediately.
Xaver Schlager knows how Glasner operates, having played under him for two years at Wolfsburg. The midfielder was a big influence as the German club reached the last 16 of the Europa League, before subsequently qualifying for the Champions League with a fourth-placed finish in the Bundesliga.
In February it was announced he would leave RB Leipzig — where he spent the last four seasons — at the end of his contract, as the player sought a fresh challenge.
At the time he was linked with Italian giants Juventus and there has been significant interest in the 28-year-old since. But, while a deal with Forest has not yet been completed, he is expected to join up with the rest of the squad on their pre-season training camp in Portugal — after opting for a reunion with a head coach he knows well as part of a two-year-deal.
So what is Schlager like and how will he fit into the Forest squad?
Talk to those who have worked with him at Leipzig — where he won the German Cup and the German Super Cup, while making 81 league appearances — and they paint a picture of an unflinchingly honest character, with a traditional set of values. Schlager is somebody who will give a straight answer to a straight question, regardless of the topic.
Oliver Glasner with Xaver Schlager at Wolfsburg in 2021 (Focke Strangmann – Pool/Getty Images)
At Leipzig, according to sources speaking anonymously to protect relationships, he always put particular emphasis on respect and manners, which made him a strong, positive influence on the younger players at the club. Schlager was a key figure in helping academy players when they made the step up into the first team — he would teach them the value of always saying, ‘Good morning’ and being respectful to staff.
They are qualities that would help him fit right in at the Nigel Doughty Academy, where similar values are instilled in the youngsters.
On the pitch, Schlager — who operated as vice-captain last season — is seen as a leader and will stand up for his team-mates in the dressing room. Leipzig had locker room issues a few years ago, when a few players were regarded as not pulling their weight — and Schlager was one of the senior figures who challenged them and urged them to improve their mentality.
With Elliot Anderson having agreed a £116million move to Manchester City, Forest have a void to fill. And while Schlager is not seen as being a direct replacement for one of the best players to have pulled on the Garibaldi Red over the past two decades, he will bring leadership qualities.
Away from the pitch, Schlager is a voracious reader and has an inquisitive mind. He has an input in two different businesses, one being a restaurant in Langenhart, close to where he grew up in Austria. The other is a party bus company which he kick-started with two brothers who previously drove the team buses at another of his previous clubs, RB Salzburg.
Most importantly, on the pitch at Leipzig, he was a tough, combative, ball-winning midfielder with technical ability.
Leipzig’s playing style is about ball progression — similar to the mentality preferred by Glasner at Palace — and there would not be room in their side for a player who was not capable of carrying the ball or progressing the team down the pitch.
He established himself as one of the most well-rounded midfielders in the Bundesliga. If not for two separate cruciate ligament injuries, in 2021 and 2024, there is a belief that he would have played at a very high level. Any fitness issues seem to be behind him now — Schlager played more than 2,000 minutes in all competitions for Leipzig last season.
His ball-carrying ability would potentially give Forest the kind of thrust they might lack in some of their other midfield options — Ibrahim Sangare, Nico Dominguez and Ryan Yates all bring different qualities to the table — while he is also capable of mopping up loose balls.
In February, Germany legend Lothar Matthaus suggested Bayern Munich should make a move for Schlager, having compared him in style to another former Germany international, Bastian Schweinsteiger. “Since Leon Goretzka is leaving Munich, Schlager could be a good fit,” Matthaus told Bild. “He has international experience, and has known the Bundesliga for years. In Leipzig, he’s not just responsible for the physical work, but also contributes to the team’s attacking play.”
Schlager took his tally of international caps to 55 as part of the Austria squad that were beaten 3-0 by eventual winners Spain in the round of 32 at the World Cup.
Leipzig made a concerted effort to persuade the Austrian international to stay with them, but failed to do so, over the course of several meetings. The press release announcing Schlager’s departure from Leipzig described those discussions as being ‘open and honest’.
“Xaver has played a key role at RB Leipzig and always gave his all on the pitch. We owe him a debt of gratitude and naturally wish him all the best for his next chapter,” said RB Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schafer at the time. Schlager himself was dignified in his departure, pointing out his desire to: “Experience and try something new. It wasn’t a rejection of RB Leipzig, but rather a decision to pursue something new.”
Glasner’s target is to bring European football back to the City Ground, following Forest’s progression to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where Vitor Pereira’s side were beaten by top-flight rivals Aston Villa.
Schlager might just help the rest of the team adjust to Glasner’s approach along the way.