Lassnig gone too
©IMAGO
Champion SK Sturm Graz announced the dismissal of coach Jürgen Säumel on Monday evening. The 41-year-old Styrian took over the Graz team in November 2024 as the successor to Christian Ilzer, who had moved to Hoffenheim, and then led them to their second championship title in a row. However, the Blackies have collapsed in the current season and are only in third place at the winter break and are the worst home team in the Bundesliga. In addition to Säumel, his assistant Martin Lassnig also has to go.
In addition to his mediocre sporting achievements, Säumel’s downfall was a public dispute with sports director Michael Parensen. The German came to Graz in November 2024, after Säumel’s initially temporary promotion, as Andreas Schicker’s successor. Parensen’s transfer policy was disappointing, however, and the squad lost massively in value and breadth. This was denounced by Säumel in interviews, and Parensen’s lack of trust was recently publicly criticized by the coach. This has now finally been withdrawn from Säumel.
Michael Parensen said about the dismissal: “I would like to thank Jürgen Säumel for his work, his expertise and his commitment to SK Sturm. We did not make this decision easy for ourselves, but due to developments in the last few weeks and months, we feel forced to take this step. Due to the results, but especially the performances of late, we have come to the conclusion that a new impulse from the coaching bench is necessary for the spring and the rest of the season. We will all pull together, in order to show the true face of SK Sturm again as quickly as possible and to bring joy to our fans.”