"Need new impetus"

Silberberger leaves big footsteps behind

Farewell: Thomas Silberberger(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

Thomas Silberberger and WSG Tirol will go their separate ways at the end of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season. His decision was already made last summer. "The club and I need new impetus," the outgoing coach revealed at the press conference. His future is still open. 

Since Friday lunchtime, when an extraordinary press conference was announced for Wednesday, there has been speculation (resignation of president Diana Langes-Swarovski), whispering (new investor) and discussion (voluntary withdrawal from the Bundesliga). Today at 11.33 a.m. the bombshell burst: Thomas Silberberger will vacate the coach's chair at WSG Tirol at the end of the current season!

Big "parade" at Silbi's announcement(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

"I will not allow myself any time off"
"I wanted to create clarity, that's why I'm taking this step," the red-white-red coaching dinosaur, who was at the helm of Wattens for eleven years, made clear, "and I don't have a plan B!" But one thing is certain - the 50-year-old from Wörgl will not be away from the soccer business for long. "Even after 17 years as a coach, I won't be taking any time out."

Highs and lows
Neither the soon to be retiring coach nor his friend and sporting director Stefan Köck see the early announcement as a disadvantage: "I will invest everything in ensuring that we stay in the league. And the players too - after all, it's about their future." Silberberger's decision has been maturing since last summer, when new impetus was needed for him and WSG Tirol. "Köcki and I first discussed it last May. The Bundesliga format also drove me a little bit into this decision - which was clear during the preparation." Eleven years that were paved with successes, but of course also lows. Just two of many examples:

June 1, 2019: "The promotion in Horn was certainly the most emotional highlight for me. Second place in the Bundesliga coaches' poll behind Jesse Marsch." July 4, 2020: "The biggest disappointment. The relegation, plus the injury after my motorcycle accident. That was bitter." Weeks later, after the Mattersburg financial disaster, the positive energy returned.

Silberberger's green and white ERA

Regionalliga West 2013 to 2016 (90 games)

2013/14 Final 2nd place.

2014/15 Final 2nd place.

2015/16 Final rank 1.

67 wins - 13 draws - 10 defeats

Second division 2016 to 2019 (102 matches)

2016/17 Final rank 5.

2017/18 Final rank 7.

2018/19 Final rank 1.

42 wins - 30 draws - 30 defeats

Bundesliga 2019 to 2024 (currently 150)

2019/20 final rank 12.

2020/21 Final rank 6.

2021/22 Final rank 7.

2022/23 Final rank 9.

2023/24 Final rank ?

41 wins - 36 draws - 74 defeats

"This is still a bit strange for me"
Köck will now have to start looking for a coach. "That's still a bit strange for me too. But I have clear ideas about what would be good for the club. There's a clear profile of requirements." The sports boss, who will also have to go through new developments as a result of Silbi's resignation, prefers an Austrian soccer coach: "I'm sure there are some friends among them. Why shouldn't I talk to them?" Like Thomas Grumser, Markus Mader or the jobless Zoki Barisic. In any case, Silberberger's successor will have to be prepared for the big and deep footsteps he will leave behind on May 19!