In the Carinthian League

The time of laptops is over

Völkermarkt's Franz Polanz (left) is the oldest coach in the Carinthian league and relies on the "old school". Marcel Kuster, meanwhile, is the youngest at 36. He also says: "You can't overtax the players!"(Bild: PEssentheiner, Sobe)

After last week's dismissals: the average age of coaches in the Carinthian League is now 48.2 years. Landskron with Hannes Lassnig (37) and Völkermarkt with Franz Polanz (62) have been waiting forever for a win - the clubs are dealing with the situation in different ways.

The generation of laptop coaches is having a hard time in the Carinthian league. With Alexander Stroj (33) at St. Jakob/Ros. - new is Thomas Höller (47) - and Markus Uran (34) in Köttmannsdorf - he was replaced by Alex Suppantschitsch (52) - the youngest coaches to date were fired last week.

This is how old the Carinthian League coaches are

• Franz Polanz (Völkermarkt) 62 years old
• Nevenko Vasiljevic (Bleiburg) 60 years old
• Nenad Pavicevic (Austria Amateure) 54 years old
• Mario Romac (ATSV Wolfsberg) 54 years old
• Richard Huber (SAK) 53 years
• Harald Proprentner (Kraig) 53 years
• Rudolf Perz (KAC) 52 years
• Alex Suppantschitsch (Köttmannsdorf) 52 years
• Thomas Höller (St. Jakob/Ros.) 47 years
• Christian Trappitsch (Donau) 45 years
• Christoph Morgenstern (Lendorf) 44 years
• Philipp Dabringer (Spittal) 43 years old
• Mario Verdel (ATUS Ferlach) 40 years
• Karl Schweighofer (Treibach) 40 years
• Hannes Lassnig (Landskron) 37 years
• Marcel Kuster (Velden) 36 years

Landskron coach counted out
The third in the group could be Landskron's Hannes Lassnig - after seven games without a win and recently four defeats in a row, the 37-year-old is very much under fire. "Co" Stefan Stresch, who has also been in charge of training recently, could soon take over.

"Of course I know that we have to score points. As a coach, I'm responsible for what the boys do," Lassnig says ahead of Friday's game at ATSV Wolfsberg - which he will coach on crutches after undergoing knee surgery on Monday.

Hannes Lassnig (left) is counted out at Landskron.(Bild: Sobe)

Even the oldest must deliver
Meanwhile, the oldest coach in the league is firmly in the saddle: Franz Polanz (62) at Völkermarkt - although his team has not won in nine games. On Friday they have to go to leaders Treibach.

The club is behind me. If I realize that it no longer fits, I'll leave myself!

Franz POLANZ, Trainer Völkermarkt

"We have started a change together. Developing young players has always been my thing," emphasizes Polanz, who knows: "The club is behind me. If it no longer fits, I'll leave of my own accord!" He has former player Philipp Grilz (33) at his side as his "co". "We have different perspectives. He's the youthful part, I pull the strings."

Velden coach Marcel Kuster.(Bild: Ersteller : Hermann Sobe , 9232 Rosegg, Urheberrecht , Credit -Photo by Medienservice HS H.Sobe)

Rookie coach: "You have to be allowed to make mistakes!"
The youngest coach is now Marcel Kuster. The 36-year-old is currently in second place with Velden, who host Bleiburg on Friday, and is right on course for an ÖFB Cup place. He knows: "As a young coach, you need a long-term plan and the trust of the club - you have to be allowed to make mistakes! In addition, you can't overdo it with analysis and new methods."