TM interview
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With the SK Sturm Graz he won the double in the 2023/24 season: David Affengruber was a top performer with the Blackie’s service providers and contributed significantly to the success of the Styrians. Nevertheless, the central defender did not decide to extend his contract and in the summer of 2024 dared to jump into Spain’s second -class FC Elche. At the transfer market, Affengruber talks about his successful time in Austria and its new beginning on the Iberian Peninsula.
The Lower Austrian once began his career at his home club in Wieselburg, from which he made the league in the academy of Ligakrösus Red Bull Salzburg in 2013. From the 2019/20 season, Affengruber was part of the squad of the Farm team Liefering, in which he finally made his debut in professional football in July 2019 at the age of 18. One and a half years later, the defender received a contract with the professionals of the Salzburgers and from then on belonged to the Bundesliga squad of the series master-in January 2021 he played for the first time in the highest division. Affengruber looks back very positively with the bulls: “That was a very educational time at the time. I was in a team with Maximilian Wöber, for example, Zlatko Junuzovic and André Ramalho. You could really absorb a lot of them. At that time it was primarily necessary to take a lot in training and then again show in missions at Liefering. ”
In his only season at the Salzburg professionals, Affengruber was also allowed to celebrate his first double. “We had a very successful year, also with Liefering (second division vice behind Blau-Weiß Linz, d. Red.), But my second double victory with a storm was very different,” he says.
After a half of the year as a Bundesliga professional in the Mozart city, the central defender switched to league competitor Sturm Graz in the summer of 2021. “I had a good exchange with Salzburg at the time, and I wanted to play as much as possible. Since this was not certain in Salzburg due to the competitive situation and I had good conversations with a storm, I saw in Graz a higher chance of a lot of time and therefore better opportunities to develop, ”explains Affengruber.
David Affengruber in the jersey of the SK Sturm Graz.
This assessment turned out to be right, Affengruber was directly set for the Styrians: “Fortunately, I made the change, you have to say afterwards.” For the first time, he was able to prove himself internationally for the Grazers, and Sturm managed the qualification for the group phase of the Europa League through a playoff victory against the NS Mura. “The two qualifiers against the Slovenes were very special and the games in the group phase will always be remembered, even if they did not go out well. For example, running in Monaco is very special. “
From runner-up to the double winner
His first Bundesliga goal was achieved in his second league game for the Grazer in his second league game: “It is not my main task to score goals, but it is still nice to meet every now and then.” Sturm ended the 2021/22 season as runner -up, in the Cup the Graz failed on league competitor SV Ried in the round of 16.
The 2022/23 season should be much more successful: Sturm became runner -up behind Salzburg again in the league, but in the Cup you won the title for the first time since 2018. “That was my first great success, where I really worked regularly. It was a cool game, you can’t imagine a better cup final as a storm against Rapid, ”says Affengruber. And the “best cup final” should also be available again in 2023/24 and again the Graz decided the game in their favor. After leading the Hütteldorfer, the Blackies turned the game to a 2-1, Affengruber prepared the gate to compensate that Rapid defender Leopold achieved crossfield by owner.
“The 1: 1 and then turning the game was very special, but I couldn’t say which of the two titles was more beautiful for me, both were incredible.” In general, Affengruber games against the Viennese seem to have done it, he already scored the winning goal in added time in a league game against the Rapidler in February 2023. “Games against Rapid are always very special, whether in the cup or in the league. You can tell the mood before the games all week, ”he says.
After two second places, Sturm also won the title in the Bundesliga in the 2023/24 season – but without a monkey gruber. The defender had to watch in the last two season games against LASK and Klagenfurt, in which Sturm each had a match ball. “The game against Klagenfurt was definitely the hardest of the season for me. The mood and the weather were magical, everything was done for the title – but it just didn’t work for me, the doctors rank from an assignment, and that would not have helped the team. ” Even without a monkey gruber, the title win was won, his defense colleague Gregory Wüthrich, of all things, paved his way to the championship with his goal to 1-0, and Amady Camara finally fixed the victory over the Carinthian in added time. “It was a day for the history books, it was special for every single player,” says Affengruber.
Segunda División instead of Champions League
Despite the double victory and the associated participation in the Champions League, Affengruber left the Graz in the summer of 2024, let his contract expire in the state capital. After several weeks of association, the defender signed the Spanish second division club FC Elche at the end of August. “After leaving my contract, I wanted to take a step abroad and see new, experience new football. I am a hundred percent behind my decision and do not regret anything. “
Affengruber was directly set for the team from the Valencia region, with moose he is in the middle of the promotion race – the team occupies fourth place after 27 games – only one point is missing from the leaders Mirandés. “The table is extremely tight, it remains exciting until the end, so my teammates also reported it to me.” The legionnaire says about people who criticized his change from a Champions League club to the second Spanish league: “There are always critical voices in football, you shouldn’t worry too much about it.”
In addition, Affengruber believes that football is not comparable: “This is a completely different way to play, I have never had the ball on my foot so often. There are different entrances that can lead to success. Comparing to the Bundesliga is very difficult. ” The goal with moose is very clear to the 23-year-old: “I want to get up with this current position in the table with the team, it would be a lie if I said something else. We will see whether it will work or not. But I’ll give everything for it. “
Although Affengruber has already shown National and International with Sturm Graz, the former U21 team player has never been part of the A national team. “I hope that Ralf Rangnick’s call will come. It is always the goal of playing for your own country. I have to play well in the club, the climb would of course also help. If the club plays successful and well, you automatically play better football yourself – and this is the only way to get to the national team. ” Finally, the Lower Austrian also lets another goal to be announced – to be launched in Laliga: “There are already some well -known stadiums in which you would like to play as a professional.”
Interview by Dorian Schuster