Club veteran in an interview
©IMAGO
In the list of Rapid Vienna’s most used players, Markus Katzer does not occupy any of the top positions. And yet it was enough to become a crowd favorite during his active time. The former defender has now been in charge of the Green-Whites’ sporting affairs as Sports Director for almost two years. In an interview with Transfermarkt, the 44-year-old talks about his club, the development of market values and youth work.
“Whoever sticks together wins. For me, the motto of Dionys Schönecker, the long-time Rapid coach, still has great meaning today,” explains Markus Katzer and raves about his club: “The Rapid spirit means fighting until the end. The Rapid quarter hour symbolically illustrates the connection between the team, club and fans. I hear from many football fans around the world that the atmosphere here is one of the best in the world. This is something we as a Rapid family can be proud of.”
Katzer knows from his own experience how passionately the fans support their SK Rapid. Katzer played a total of 273 times for the 32-time Austrian champions and earned a reputation as a crowd favorite due to his combative nature. Two duels in particular remain in his memory.
Katzer played for Rapid from 2004 to 2013
“As a player, I experienced many great, emotional games. Especially the games that brought us towards the championship. But if I have to highlight two games, then they are the duels against Hamburger SV in 2009 and against Aston Villa in 2010. HSV came to us at the Prater as a top team and we confidently sent them home 3-0. And our promotion against Aston Villa in Birmingham (3-2 in the Europa League qualification, editor) a year after the win at home was also phenomenal,” says the two-time champion player.
At that time, Katzer was already planning his post-career career. A job outside of football would not have been an option for him. The Viennese native did not experience the hole that professionals sometimes fall into after the end of their careers. The transition was smooth. During his playing days in 2018, he took on the role of player-coach at First Vienna FC before being promoted to sports director at the same club. Katzer says: “It was important to me to learn everything from the ground up. When I left Rapid, I wanted to broaden my horizons. I wanted to get to know new fields and new perspectives. That’s why I also worked as a player advisor for a time in order to get to know this market from the inside. At First Vienna I learned the complete basics, also because everything was amateur. Be it how player registrations or player negotiations work or how a game day is organized. But I also did atypical things, like acting as a greenkeeper and working on which fertilizer was best for the lawn.”
Katzer: “Since my childhood there has only been Rapid for me”
The performance at First Vienna brought Katzer into the focus of his favorite club, Rapid Vienna, which hired him as the new sports director almost two years ago. “I have roots with Rapid. Since I was a child I have only had Rapid. First as a fan, then as a player and now as a person in charge. “I obviously have high expectations of myself and want to do my part to put the club on a successful footing,” says the 44-year-old.
Although the Hütteldorfers have a large fan scene and fan culture and can boast a history rich in tradition, the past few seasons have been characterized by average years. But something has been happening for months, which is partly due to the people involved, Katzer and head coach Robert Klauß. While Klauß gave the team a plan that was reflected in very clear offensive football, Katzer was spot on with the previous newcomers. Together they now want to lead the club into a better and calmer future.
“It doesn’t matter whether you talk about DNA or club philosophy,” emphasizes Katzer. “In the end, it is essential that you have a clear path and follow it, regardless of what happens. Before we signed Robert Klauß, we asked ourselves fundamental questions: Which game idea suits Rapid, which types of players suit Rapid, which coach will be able to attract the fans. In general, it can be said that not every player or coach is a good fit for the respective club. It is important to know: where the club comes from, what makes the fans tick, how the club has developed in recent years. All of these topics must be incorporated into future directions. It is important to consciously take your time when answering the questions and taking the appropriate direction.”
The fact that something is developing at Rapid is particularly evident in terms of the squad values and the individual market values. Since Katzer took office, the Green-Whites have achieved the largest percentage increase in squad values of any Bundesliga club. But is it even possible to implement the club’s philosophy even in difficult times in a time when everything is subordinated to success and emphasis is rarely placed on healthy growth?
Katzer: “95 percent of our summer commitments were plan A”
“The most important thing is to find the right balance,” says Katzer. “The balance between purely sporting success and at the same time the development of players. Of course it’s nice when players are part of Rapid for a long time and stay that way, but there will also be players who will leave Rapid again. In terms of transfer revenue, it is therefore important to develop player profiles that are in demand in Europe’s top 5 leagues. In this case, it is also good to imagine where a particular player could end up and what market value he can achieve in the future. The increase in market value shows us that we are doing a good job here at Rapid – and by that I mean all areas.”
Katzer also has a clear idea of what optimal management should look like. An important component is understanding the player side and being able to empathize with the professionals. “After each transfer period, we analyze and reflect on the transfer processes: where we were good, where we were bad. It’s not about the sporting aspects, but for example; Did we approach Player X too boldly or too laxly? I also consciously seek feedback from the new hires and ask them directly what impressed you in the conversation or what can we do better. It is incredibly important to constantly improve and not stand still.”
Katzer has been back at Rapid as managing director since the beginning of 2023.
An important interface in his work is the regular exchange with head coach Klauß and the scouting department. Katzer says: “I get along really well with Robert. You can tell that we both have great fun and joy at work every day. I have complete trust in him, he has complete trust in me. In terms of scouting, we of course also work with several shadow squads. However, it is important to have full focus on Plan A when signing a player. There will be moments when you have to resort to plan B or C, but I think you should try everything to implement your plan A with all your energy. Of our summer commitments, 95 percent were our plan A.”
Katzer on Rapid’s “traditional disease” and youth work
Although Katzer has spent most of his playing career at Rapid and knows the club inside out, he faced hurdles in his early stages. “The problem that prevailed here for a long time was the disease of tradition. I often had to listen to: Markus, we’ve always done it that way. Markus, we’ve never done it like that before. I think it’s important to pick people up and take them on a new path. The best way to do this is with open, transparent communication. I’m the type of person who has a lot of energy, has a fundamentally positive attitude and likes to make decisions. But I am also someone who is reflective. When I hit a dead end at full throttle, I spit on my hands and see how I can fix the mistake and learn from it.”
Katzer also has a clear attitude towards the promotion of young talent: “The goal is not for us to publish statistics at some point saying that x young players have made their debut for Rapid in the last few years, but rather the goal should be for x young players to have a sustainable jump in made the professional team. We also have a clear concept in the youth sector. Basically, we want to initially focus on players from the Vienna area and only then scout throughout Austria. I am convinced that no youth player has to go to Germany to become a professional footballer. The requirements, infrastructure and conditions that we have at Rapid are outstanding. The chances of becoming a professional here are significantly better than at many clubs in Germany.”
The euphoria in the Rapid environment has increased significantly in recent months due to current developments. Rapid is currently in close contact with the reigning champions and current league leaders Sturm Graz. But while some fans dream of a glorious future, there are others who are more concerned that the successful duo Klauß/Katzer could soon go their separate ways. Finally, there are rumors of Katzer leaving for the German Bundesliga.
“If I’m honest, I don’t bother with these rumors at all,” says Katzer. “I also don’t worry about what might happen in two, three or four years. My focus is entirely on the present. I also don’t feel like I have to take the next step now. With Rapid we are only at the beginning of the journey and we still have a lot to do here.”
Interview: Henrik Stadnischenko