Alexander Zorniger was an idiosyncratic tactician. After assistant roles and work in southern Germany, he became head coach of RB Leipzig in July 2012, succeeding Peter Pacult. He won promotion to the 3. Liga in his first season and to the 2. Bundesliga the next.
But when Leipzig began to lose touch with the Bundesliga promotion places in spring 2015, his attacking principles collided with Ralf Rangnick’s demands. Zorniger said he did not have to go up; Rangnick wanted promotion immediately. Zorniger refused to change the system, so the club announced they would part ways at season’s end.
Zorniger resigned early on February 11, 2015.