Dietmar Kühbauer says it would be negligent to turn down an offer from Bundesliga club LASK. “For me, LASK is a club with huge potential.” The Burgenlander, who – as exclusively reported by OÖN – succeeded Andreas Wieland as LASK trainer on Tuesday, wants to see this exhausted again soon. Of course, Kühbauer also knows that his involvement in Linz is controversial because of his rapid past. He wants to convince skeptical fans with performance.
“I live in the here and now”
He is not a man who wallows in the past, said Kühbauer at an online media event on the occasion of his remarkable commitment. “I live in the here and now.” The 51-year-old, who was revered as a Rapid icon, promised the skeptics: “I’m now the LASK coach, which means 100 percent for LASK. I’ll always do it that way. Before that, I was the Rapid coach and that both clubs have developed rivalries because of their quality, is also quite clear.” From his point of view, this rivalry now takes the form of: “She ruled.”
Video: How the LASK fans think about the new coach
fruitful conversations
Kühbauer reported fruitful talks with the LASK managers around sports director Radovan Vujanovic and above all club president Siegmund Gruber. “I agreed with the President on many points, so it was clear to me that I would sign here.” His contract runs until the end of the 2023/24 season.
Under Wieland, Linz lost 4-0 at WSG Tirol. The Upper Austrians, who started the season with great ambitions, missed out on the championship group and are only second in the qualifying group. According to Kühbauer, the short-term goal is to secure first place in the qualifying group and thus maintain the chance of international business via the league play-off. “The top play-off must definitely be reached in the new season, that must be the goal,” said Kühbauer. “An international participation would of course not be the worst.”
In terms of play, the neo-coach said: “Pressing is everywhere, but I don’t think it’s like we’re going to be constantly chasing the ball in all zones.” As in his previous positions, he brings along Manfred Nastl as an assistant coach, his debut will be on Saturday in the home game against TSV Hartberg.
High expectations
LASK sports director Radovan Vujanovic expects a lot from Kühbauer, who has proven “that he can reach a team quickly and at the same time develop it further,” explained Vujanovic. “Not only his successes at Rapid, but his statistics alone against LASK speak for his qualities.” As a coach, Kühbauer played 14 times against the athletes, the record is eight wins and three draws and three defeats.
Kühbauer lost his job as Rapid coach in November after more than three years. Already on Tuesday he led the training at his new employer for the first time. And asked for an acclimatization period, although he “of course all” knows the players. His ideas about the future squad also remained his secret on Tuesday. According to Kühbauer, he first wanted to give all players the chance to audition.
As a professional, Kühbauer made 55 international appearances and played abroad at Real Sociedad and VfL Wolfsburg, with Rapid he became a champion, cup winner, European Cup finalist and a participant in the Champions League. As a coach, he led Admira and WAC to the European Cup. For the SKN St. Pölten, Kühbauer laid the foundation for the leap into the master group in autumn 2019 before switching to Rapid. With the Hütteldorfers, Kühbauer was runner-up twice, and Rapid twice bought the ticket for the Europa League group stage.
Source: Nachrichten
