Expires in the summer

GAK is working on a new contract for coach Messner

GAK is well on the way to the Bundesliga.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

GAK are well on their way back to the Bundesliga. The leaders are eleven points ahead, but there are still two Styrian derbies to go before the next team break. Off the pitch, the team is working on an extension with coach Gernot Messner. The Carinthian could follow in his father's footsteps.

Like father, like son! Kurt Messner once managed promotion to the Bundesliga with Spittal as coach in 1983/84 - Gernot Messner is on the verge of climbing Austria's top flight with the GAK. After 18 rounds, the Red Devils have an eleven-point lead over FAC in the 2nd division. Twelve rounds are still open. "We have two tough games before the team break. Sunday against Sturm Amateure, then Lafnitz. If we get through that positively, that's a huge step. But one thing is clear - you don't become champions every day, you always have to work hard for it."

Twelve "final games" still await Gernot Messner and the GAK in the Second Division.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Messi sees the team spirit and attitude as the great strength of his squad. "I'm proud of the players. They have been giving their all for their dream in every training session since the start of preparations. Of course, last year's difficult campaign really brought us together, and that's helping us now. We've learned a lot from it. "

Last season, GAK lost out on the title in the final round with a 1-1 draw in Dornbirn and were overtaken by BW Linz by one point. "I myself was extremely battered, but at some point you have to put that behind you and start again."

Of course, last year's difficult campaign really welded us together, which is now coming in handy. We've learned a lot from it.

Gernot Messner

And the 43-year-old Carinthian (who is currently working on an extension to his expiring contract with GAK) can make history. "Schoko" Schachner led the traditional Graz team to the Bundesliga title in 2004. The team went bankrupt in 2007, then restarted in the 1st division in 2013 and made it all the way to the 2nd division, where "soccer workaholic" Messner now plays a key role.

The Carinthian recharges his batteries with his family.(Bild: zVg)

An important support for "Messi" is his family. Wife Bettina and the children are also there live at every home game. "I'm a family man, that's where I recharge my batteries."

Spoilt for choice
At the weekend, however, Messner is probably spoiled for choice. Only Oberleitner (back problems) and Schiestl (army) were missing from training on Wednesday. Michi Lang has been back in full team training since the beginning of this week. "I can still feel the outer ligament, it will be like that for a while. But it's a pain that you can live with. But I noticed straight away that it's fully resilient again."