NÖN: As a coach and player, you have been an integral part of Austrian football for many years. What were the most impressive moments for you during this time?
Joe Yun: One of my highlights as a player was when Christian Ully was the first player in the AFL to run over 1000 yards. As his pre-blocker, I was proud to be able to contribute a lot. 2012 was an outstanding year as a coach. With the newly founded Dragons Ladies, we made it into the final in the first year. The 2019 Women’s European Championship in Leeds was also very formative. That was a great challenge that we as a team mastered excellently.
“We urgently need to recruit people to put the team on a stable footing.” Joe Yun, coach of the Broncos Klosterneuburg.
How did the Klosterneuburg Broncos land such an experienced trainer? These are often difficult to find, especially in lower divisions.
I know Thomas Mayr, the new President of the Broncos, from our time together as a player at the Danube Dragons. I was not tied to a coach and Thomas knew that. He asked me if I would like to coach the Broncos and we had a few conversations. I liked the concept very much and it is a very exciting task, so I accepted.
What is it about this job that appeals to you?
The Broncos are a young team that presented themselves very well in the first few years. I was even allowed to coach against the Broncos with the Dragons II. But the team knows ups and downs and has character. In addition, the core of the squad is very motivated and has great potential.
You have been able to form a good picture of the state of the team and the club over the past few months. What do you think are the main challenges facing the Broncos?
Building up the squad will certainly be a Herculean task. All the players who are currently there are very motivated, but the squad is still a bit too small to actually play as we imagine it to be. We urgently need to recruit people to put the team on a stable footing.
The long break and the failure of last season increased the loss of players here?
That is hard to say. Before that, there were apparently some players who were not entirely satisfied with the general conditions and also players who changed clubs. Those players who were there last fall are still there now.
Those players who were there last fall are still there now.
You mentioned the rather thin squad and the recruiting of new players. What is planned here?
Here we will rely very heavily on regular tryouts, which the association also wants. The first will take place on May 28th on the Presslerwiese. Everyone over the age of 18 is cordially invited, in football there is a position for everyone.
In return, where do you see the strengths of the team and the club?
There is a lot of fresh air in the whole club and we are constantly developing and becoming more professional. I believe that we can now offer a very good environment. Of course, this also helps us to concentrate on our training and is a good basis for our development as a team. Not all teams in the lower divisions have that. The family idea, which is preached in many associations but not necessarily lived, is also very strong here. Players also help with work on the pitch and everyone wants to contribute a part.
What are the goals for the season, which should start in August after a short preparation period?
The long-term goal is, of course, advancement, that is out of the question. There are still many open questions for this year. The preparation will be very short and all teams have had a very long break. The climb is not impossible. But you shouldn’t underestimate the other teams. You never know exactly who will be ahead of the game or what will happen in preparation. With our environment and the structure, I am very sure that the long-term ascent is definitely realistic.
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