Kulovits interim coach
After sports director Markus Katzer negated a coaching debate at the weekend, record champions Rapid Vienna announced their separation from coach Zoran Barisic on Wednesday. The former sports director made himself a coach in October 2022 and remained as head coach after two months as an interim solution. In the current season, the Hütteldorfers have so far fallen short of expectations; after 14 rounds, the team is only in eighth place and is therefore in danger of missing out on qualifying for the championship round.
In addition to Barisic, long-time assistant Thomas Hickersberger also has to take his hat off. Amateur coach Stefan Kulovits is taking over the reins on an interim basis. After the end of the transition period, he should train the regional league team again.
“This decision was particularly difficult for me and it was important to me to analyze the entire situation calmly and rationally over the weekend after the last game in Hartberg. Although we put in decent to good performances in many games, the points we scored were ultimately far too low. Both with regard to the past championship group, but especially to the first 14 rounds of the current season. The potential of our squad is much greater than has been exploited so far and now it is important to find a head coach who is ideally suited for us and who, if necessary, can also be hired with an assistant coach of his choice. It is part of my job – as with players – to constantly look at possible alternatives when it comes to coaching staff, and I am sure that we will make a good decision. I won’t comment on any names until a final decision has been made, but I can assure you that we will think outside the box in the search,” said Katzer.
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