Who is Ognjen Zarić?

Profile

Biography

Ognjen Zarić, born 1989, is a Serbian-Austrian football coach and the head coach of SCR Altach in the Austrian Bundesliga. Known for his modern and tactically disciplined approach, he emphasizes intensity, clear structure, and player development, with coaching experience across professional and youth levels in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

Zarić joined SCR Altach attracted by the club’s strong organization and the people behind the project. He believes the club has the potential to grow further in the Austrian Bundesliga and aims to support its long-term sporting development by building a competitive and well-structured team.

Known for his modern and tactically disciplined approach, he emphasizes intensity, clear structure, and player development, with coaching experience across professional and youth levels in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

Earlier in his career, Zarić gained valuable experience at FC Basel, one of Switzerland’s most successful clubs. He worked as an assistant coach with the first team, gaining exposure to senior international players and European competition, while also coaching the U18 and U21 teams and helping develop some of Switzerland’s top young talents.

He later coached FC Winterthur, where his first season was highly successful with the team exceeding expectations. The following season was more challenging due to several squad departures, but the experience further shaped his development as a coach.

Zarić promotes an active, intense style of football based on tactical clarity, strong organization, and collective strength, while allowing players the freedom to express themselves. His ambition is to help build a stable and successful future for SCR Altach, moving beyond survival battles in the Austrian Bundesliga. Reaching the Austrian Cup final for the first time in the club’s history already stands as an important milestone.

Zarić promotes an active, intense style of football based on tactical clarity, strong organization, and collective strength, while allowing players the freedom to express themselves.

Key Insights

• Ognjen Zarić is the head coach of SCR Altach in the Austrian Bundesliga.
• His coaching philosophy is based on intensity, tactical clarity, structure, and collective strength.
• His experience includes SCR Altach, FC Basel, and FC Winterthur across senior and youth football.

Our Exclusive Interview with Ognjen Zarić

How did your football journey begin?

As a child and teenager, I was a good football player. Like many others at that age, I dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. However, after graduating from high school, my path led me to study law. At the same time, I started working as a coach, with the goal of helping players improve and bringing them closer to achieving their own goals in football.

You are currently Head Coach for SCR Altach in the Austrian Bundesliga. What attracted you to the project?

What impressed me about the club is the organization itself, but above all the people who work here. From the very beginning, it felt like a very good fit. I also believe that together we can continue to develop the club, and I want to contribute my part to that process.

How would you describe your football philosophy?

I stand for an active style of football. Intensity is very important in our game, and I think you could already see that in the first few weeks. For me, it’s about having clarity in all phases of the game. We want to be tactically well structured. I believe in a strong collective in which individuals can develop and express themselves. And, as in life in general, I believe that courage is essential.

I believe in a strong collective in which individuals can develop and express themselves.

You have coached at FC Basel and FC Winterthur. How would you describe your experience in the Swiss Super League?

Basel was a great experience for me. I had the opportunity to work with the first team, which included around 20 senior international players from many different countries. At the same time, as U18 and U21 coach, I was able to train some of the best young players in the country. My time in Basel, playing in front of an incredible crowd and being involved in international matches, was very formative for me.

In Winterthur, our first year was very successful and we clearly overperformed. The second year, however, became much more challenging due to many departures from the squad, and that was certainly a negative experience for me personally. But even that added to my experience and enriched my journey as a coach.

Who have been some of the key mentors or influences in your coaching career so far?

I have had the opportunity to meet many interesting people. I have always been, and still am, open and willing to learn. I’m interested in the best coaches in the world, but I’m also inspired by sports outside of football and by successful business leaders. People who have to make decisions and are willing to stand by them with all the consequences, who remain clear in their thinking and approachable as human beings – those are the kinds of people who inspire me, no matter which field they come from. In the end, it’s also true that my wife does everything for us as a family – she is my key mentor.

What are your ambitions and goals for the upcoming seasons?

I want to do my part in helping to build a successful future for SCR Altach. Fighting for survival until the very last matchday, as in previous seasons, cannot be the goal here. We are on a very good path to changing that. Reaching the cup final for the first time in the club’s history makes all of us very proud and will remain a special moment forever.

FAQ

Who is Ognjen Zarić?

Ognjen Zarić is a Serbian-Austrian football coach and the head coach of SCR Altach in the Austrian Bundesliga.

What is Ognjen Zarić’s coaching philosophy?

He promotes an active, intense style of football based on tactical clarity, strong organization, and collective strength.

Which clubs has Ognjen Zarić coached?

He has coached at SCR Altach, FC Basel, and FC Winterthur.