Fireman in demand

Stöger: Comeback in the German Bundesliga?

Is Peter Stöger moving to VfL Bochum?(Bild: Mario Urbantschitsch)

Is Peter Stöger moving to VfL Bochum? The rumor mill is buzzing, "Sky" claims to have already found concrete negotiations between Bochum and Admira. Only the club itself, where Stöger is currently acting as head of sport, doesn't want to know anything.

"That can only be a hoax." Both Admira managing director Niklas Belihart and sports director Philipp Thonhauser were almost paralyzed when the "Krone" called. Peter Stöger to Bochum? Bilateral talks already underway at club level? Admira are - credibly - completely clueless. Stöger himself was present at the 60th birthday party of Flyeralarm founder and Admira board chairman Gerhard Bügler on Sunday. There, too, a possible comeback in the German Bundesliga was not an issue.

Stöger the favorite?
It is quite possible that Stöger is not contractually obliged to obtain a possible release from the club. Nevertheless, it is piquant that for "Sky" he was already considered the clear favorite for the - at least temporary - legacy of the now officially retired head coach Thomas Letsch in the early afternoon. Bochum wanted to sign the former Austria champion and Cologne and Dortmund coach at least as a "fireman" for the next six weeks and prevent relegation with him. This has indeed come frighteningly close. After the unfortunate 2:1 defeat against Cologne at the weekend (with goals conceded in the 90th and 92nd minute), the gap to the first relegation place is now only three points "thick".

The fire is burning
So there is a fire in the Ruhr region. And Stöger is supposed to put it out. It seems hard to imagine that talks between Stöger (and his management) and Bochum are completely out of the blue. A statement from Stöger himself or his entourage has not yet been forthcoming. Just as realistic, however, are the very recent assurances of the official Admira protagonists that they have no information.

Admira's acute media presence - also in Germany - is assured in any case. Quite in contrast to Bochum's relegation.