Deal soon in the bag?

Who Ilzer will take with him when he leaves Sturm

Christian Ilzer will take his hat off at Sturm.(Bild: Sepp Pail)

The departure of Christian Ilzer is probably only a matter of days. The Sturm coach is keen to take up the challenge of getting Hoffenheim back on the road to success with Andreas Schicker. Clubs and advisors are already in talks. The transfer could only fall through because of the money.

The weather matches the farewell mood. A grey autumn sky stretches over Sturm's office in Messendorf on Tuesday morning, with only the green training pitches providing a few splashes of color in the bleak atmosphere. Christian Ilzer, wearing a cap and wrapped up in a thick Sturm anorak, is full of energy as usual. There is nothing to suggest that this will be one of his last sessions in the black training kit.