Albert Riera appointed head coach of Red Star Belgrade
Riera replaces Dejan Stanković after Red Star’s early Champions League exit; coach says he will prioritize the current squad.
Red Star Belgrade officially presented Albert Riera as their new head coach on August 16, 2026, stepping in after a turbulent start to the season that cost his predecessor the job.
The club dismissed Dejan Stanković following what has been described as a Champions League debacle and elimination in the qualifying round at the hands of Maccabi from Israel, prompting urgent changes in Belgrade.
Riera arrives with the immediate task of stabilizing a team under heavy scrutiny, in a club environment where slips are rarely tolerated and pressure from supporters runs high.
The 41-year-old is a well-known name in Spanish football and has built a reputation as a coach in recent years; before taking the Red Star post he worked at Celje in Slovenia and most recently managed Hertha Berlin.
On his first day in the role Riera set out his priorities clearly: "My priority are the players who are part of the squad; first I will talk with them. If some players want to leave — and that is not the case — they may do so. I will ask the sporting director: if someone wants to go, we don't need him. First I want to get to know the players; those who are here are my priority. To give them support and a chance to prove themselves. We have another 15–20 days for that," Riera said.
The incoming coach emphasized direct contact with the squad and signalled that any further roster moves will be coordinated with the club's sporting leadership as he begins an assessment of the team ahead of the coming fixtures.
Photo: press material from the event
