Summer chat with the new head coach and both Raffl brothers

Thursday, 24. July 2025 |

Summer chat with the new head coach and both Raffl brothersManny Viveiros: “I'm excited to see what happens here in the next few years.” // Press conferenceEC Red Bull Salzburg introduced new head coach Manny Viveiros and new forward Michael Raffl at a press conference today at Hangar-7 in Salzburg, with long-time Salzburg captain Thomas Raffl also joining them on stage.

Abokarte 2025/26

With Manny Viveiros, the Red Bulls have brought a new head coach on board who has already made ice hockey history in Austria as a player and coach and is therefore no stranger to the sport. After his previous stints with VSV and KAC, the 59-year-old Austro-Canadian is returning to Austria after nine years in Canada and will now steer the fortunes of the record champions of the win2day ICE Hockey League.

Manny Viveiros

"I've been following the league closely over the last few years while I was in Canada, and I have to say that it has developed enormously. The same goes for the national team. You can also see this in how the Red Bulls and other Austrian teams are performing in the CHL. The Red Bulls have always integrated young talent into the team and developed them further. I'm very excited to see what happens here in the next few years. Especially with both Raffl brothers united in one team."

The complete press conference with the head coach and the two Raffl brothers can be found in the following video:

Press conference in the Hanga-7

One of the most prominent new additions not only in Salzburg but in the entire ICE Hockey League is Michael Raffl, the younger brother of Salzburg captain Thomas Raffl. The 36-year-old forward has played nine seasons (!) in the NHL, among other things, and now wants to help the Red Bulls win their next championship title alongside his brother.

Michael Raffl

"I still love to push myself hard in the summer and prepare myself as best I can for a long season. I'm staying the way I am and doing things here exactly as I've always done them. The culture in the team is world class. You can see that from the fact that the team has won the championship every year for the last four years. I'm staying true to myself, trying to help the young players and contributing what I've learned over the last few years. But first and foremost, I want to fit into the team so that the success continues."

Thomas Raffl, on the other hand, is starting his 15th season with the Red Bulls and could set a new milestone in the coming season when he plays his 1,000th league game (across all clubs). At 39, the Salzburg captain is also the oldest player in the league, but you would never know it.

Thomas Raffl

"Of course, it's nice to be able to play with my own brother. It's been a long time since we played together in a club team. But I also know that he came to Salzburg to be successful and to win. That's what I'm striving for, just like Manny, and together we're sure to have a powerful team again that will have a chance to compete for the title in the end."

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