Cup victory, European Cup, sporting crises, relegation, promotion, relegation and persistent injuries: Thomas Reifeltshammer has experienced a lot in his professional career – and all of this in the jersey of a single club, SV Guntamatic Ried. Hardly anyone in Austrian football stands for loyalty to the club like the 32-year-old, who announced the end of his playing career on Monday, the ON reported.
For Reifeltshammer, the end is also a beginning. The fact that he remains loyal to his SV Ried and changes to sports management is not surprising, the timing is. The central defender still had one year of contract, last season he was a captain in the starting line-up and played a key role in staying up in the Bundesliga.
“The timing may be surprising, but I notice that I can make a difference together with sports coordinator Wolfgang Fiala and managing director Rainer Wllinger. I thought about the decision very well – even after consulting my wife Doris. The sadness of the team’s training start was still within limits. But the first few games it will feel weird not being on the pitch anymore. “
Cheer for the teletext
SV Ried has been with Reifeltshammer since childhood, his father played in the club himself, grandfather Manfred Grasl, who unfortunately died in 2020, was a member of the Riedern for 70 years and the good soul in the VIP club. “When I was a little boy in the old stadium, I was already there at home games, and I watched the away games at home on teletext,” recalls Reifeltshammer with a smile.
Reifeltshammer completed his first minutes of action for the professionals in November 2009 against Mattersburg. The way there was anything but easy. “At the age of 15 I went back to Neuhofen from the Rieder Football Academy because I couldn’t see any further way there. The subject of a professional career was over for me.”
It turned out differently: SV Ried and Neuhofen entered into a cooperation, coach Michael Angerschmid quickly took a liking to his footballing qualities, his career suddenly went in the other direction again, but it couldn’t go without obstacles: when he was about to make the leap to the professionals , he dragged off pneumonia, his health was critical, he was in the hospital for more than three weeks.
After half a year he returned to the field and played 316 competitive games for SV Ried in the following twelve years. After sensationally successful seasons with cup wins, cup finals and European Cup, difficult years followed. Relegation and three years in the second division. Reifeltshammer remained loyal to his club. “There were incredibly difficult times when you didn’t know what to do next. Leaving the SVR was never an option for me. The rise was amazing and incredibly emotional. When I held the championship trophy, That was a great satisfaction after these difficult years of sport, “says the 32-year-old, who became Lukas’ father in January 2020. When the second division was about to be canceled due to the corona pandemic, Reifeltshammer also took the floor off the field and called for a league continuation – with success.
Perfect sporty conclusion
As captain, he led the SVR to stay in the Bundesliga. “It was the perfect athletic conclusion for me,” says the 32-year-old. He describes the end of his career as “a decision for the future”. Fuball and SV Ried, which Reifeltshammer describes as the “heart club”, will continue to play a major role.
“Above all, I have to thank my wife Doris and the family for their incredible support over the past few years,” says Reifeltshammer. From now on he will be helping away from the green turf to re-establish SV Ried in the Bundesliga for the long term. “If we pursue a longer-term strategy, then I believe that we can build on the successes of the past,” says Reifeltshammer with conviction.
A black and green career:
2009, the beginnings: Reifeltshammer will celebrate his Bundesliga debts for SV Ried on November 27, 2009. In the home game against Mattersburg, he will be substituted on shortly before the end.
2011, the breakthrough: The central defender finally made his breakthrough in the 2011/2012 season. He plays in all games, he is only absent once due to a suspension.
2017, relegation: After many successful years, Reifeltshammer and SV Ried are relegated from the Bundesliga after a home defeat against Mattersburg. But he remains loyal to “his” club and stays in Ried.
2020, ascent: After three seasons, SV Ried finally made it to the top in the 2019/2020 season with captain Reifeltshammer. In the Bundesliga, the 32-year-old leads the SVR as captain to avoid relegation. He will resign on June 14, 2021.
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