New coach an issue

This is what Klagenfurt’s squad would look like now!

(Bild: GEPA)

In sporting terms, things are going well and Austria Klagenfurt will be looking to move closer to the European dream with points from Hartberg on Sunday. But the squad planning is sobering! A total of 14 contracts are still expiring - an overview:  

Austria Klagenfurt's European dreams remain fully intact. After the heroic 4:3 victory over Salzburg, coach Peter Pacult 's team will take on Hartberg away from home on Sunday.

But one thing is sobering despite all the sporting heights: the squad planning. So far, only Flo Jaritz has been extended and Tobias Koch has been brought on board from BW Linz. Even Christopher Wernitznig (for whom things look good) has not yet been extended:

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/GEPA pictures/ Matic Klansek)

So a total of 14 contracts are still running out. An overview:

• Andy Irving is definitely moving to West Ham.
• Sinan Karweina is being courted by Rapid and Turkish clubs.
• Nicolas Wimmer is still thinking about it, has a financially better offer from Blau-Weiß Linz on the table. But the chances of him staying are there again!
• Goalie Phillip Menzel will move to Saarbrücken.
• Max Besuschkow returns to Hannover after his loan.
• Till Schumacher has a financially more lucrative offer from Sandhausen.
• Markelic and Djoric no longer play a role in Pacult's plans.
• They want to keep loan player Schwarz and are hoping to reach an agreement with Rapid.
• It remains to be seen what will happen with Benatelli, Arweiler, the injured Straudi  and long-term patient Maglica .

Tobias Koch moves from Blau-Weiß Linz to the Wörthersee in the summer(Bild: Austria Klagenfurt/Marco Walter)

Looking at the current squad for the 2024/25 season, it makes you feel queasy - currently there would only be 18 men including youngsters. What's more, there would be no real left-back in the squad as things stand. The loan players David Toshevski and Laurenz Dehl, who are coming to Klagenfurt for the first time, wouldn't help much either. It is also doubtful that the team will be able to plan for the returning Iba May and Moritz Berg. In short: action must be taken soon!

Rolf Landerl(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Armin Rauthner)

However, a transfer coup could succeed for the youngsters. Managing director Peer Jaekel is about to bring Rolf Landerl on board for the academy. The 48-year-old most recently coached Admira and Horn, was once a Portugal and Holland legionnaire and, thanks to his wife from Ferlach, has a strong connection to Carinthia, where he played for Viktring, Wernberg, Mölltal and also Austria Klagenfurt!