FC Lokomotive Leipzig,[7] but the reserve team successfully adapted to the Oberliga and came to dominate.
The team finished the 2014–15 NOFV-Oberliga Süd in first place, and won promotion to the Regionalliga Nordost.
The club instead a spot near the Sportschule Egidius Braun of the Saxony Football Association (SFV) at Abtaundorf.
The club initially planned to partner with Leipziger FC 07, forming a joint team in the fourth tier Landesliga Sachsen.
[19] The partnership was meant to last for one year, after which RB Leipzig was to continue as an independent, and reserved the right to advance.
A few weeks before the start of the season, the partnership ended and RB Leipzig announced that it was to compete as an independent.
[23] The team played its first competitive match on 7 August 2016 in the first round of the 2016–17 Saxony Cup away against SV Johannstadt 90.
[24] The RB Leipzig women's team joined the 2016–17 Landesliga Sachsen (effectively skipping the 5th tier), generating criticism from several clubs.
[25][26][20][27] The criticisms were heard, and after a roundtable discussion with other clubs and the SFV, Leipzig offered to play the season starting seven youth players each game.
[30][31] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.
The main ground is the RB training centre at Cottaweg, which is shared with the professional team.
Other grounds include the Sportschule Egidius Braun of the Saxony Football Association (SFV) at Abtnaundorf.
[36] A planned training camp in Halle in 2015 was cancelled for security reasons, after threats of violence from local fans.
RB Leipzig was the only club in Germany with two teams left in the final rounds of the German championship in 2015.
[49] In June 2013, RB Leipzig created its first two women's junior football teams (C and D), starting from the 2013–14 season.
The establishment of a successful youth academy is an integral part of the club's long-term strategy and philosophy.
[58][59] Sporting director Ralf Rangnick said in 2012 that the ambition was to each year inject one or two players from the youth academy to the professional team.
Shortly after Ralf Ragnick became Sporting director in July 2012, he began an extensive restructuring of the club.
RB Leipzig recruited the duo Frieder Schrof and Thomas Albeck from the VfB Stuttgart youth academy in September 2012.
During his time at the club, the A- and B-junior teams won 15 German championships and Schrof became head of the youth department.
[66][67] Other partners included the Gutenbergschule and the Sportschule Egidius Braun of the Saxony Football Federation (SFV).
[68] The youth academy was certified with the highest rating, three stars and the label "Excellent", by the DFB and the DFL in July 2015.
[70][71] The style of play taught at the academy is aggressive, ball oriented, and run intensive, with forward defense and fast transitions.
The academy imposes fines for weight gains and its Code of conduct forbids unusual hair styles and tattoos.
[71][75] The scouting system operates worldwide, in cooperation with other football clubs in the Red Bull sporting portfolio.
Talent Scouting Day in 2015 drew participants from Leipzig and surrounding cities, from Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, and even Austria.
[81] Later complaints came from Eintracht Frankfurt, after 15-year-old talent Renat Dadachev left the club for RB Leipzig in 2014, allegedly for much higher pay.
[70] In 2015, RB Leipzig was noted for signing the 15-year-old talent Elias Abouchabaka from Hertha BSC for a transfer-fee of 250,000 euros.
RB Leipzig was accused by Hertha BSC for disregarding a Gentlemen's agreement on young talents between the 36 Bundesliga clubs.