Also Yardımcı back to TSG?
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TSG Hoffenheim may have found its new coach – at Sturm Graz, where sports director Andreas Schicker, who was signed last month, also came from. Christian Ilzer, who has been working in Styria since 2020, indicated on Tuesday that he might soon move to Kraichgau.
“There was a phone call on Sunday in which the option of a change was discussed for the first time,” said the 47-year-old, according to the “Kleine Zeitung” on Tuesday after team training. In principle, he has already received “many offers”, but the job at TSG seems to particularly appeal to him. Ilzer said: “This constellation with Andi Schicker as sports director, an exciting team in Hoffenheim and the opportunities there, combined with how Sturm is currently doing, could tip the scales for me for the first time.”
There is “no right time,” the former Austria Vienna coach continued, “but the moment seems good.” With Sturm, Ilzer won the championship and cup double after last season, had already achieved the latter in 2023 and is already at the top of the current table in Austria with the team. In Hoffenheim last Monday, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo had to resign. The TSG and Graz are currently still negotiating the possible transfer modalities for Ilzer.
Crisis in Hoffenheim: Can Graz loan player Yardımcı help?
TSG loan player Erencan Yardımcı (22) could also follow the coach to Hoffenheim in the winter. The Turkish striker has three goals and two assists in eleven competitive games with Sturm Graz so far and, according to Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg, impressed those in charge at his parent club so much that a return campaign is being considered. They believe that Yardımcı can immediately help the Hoffenheim team, which is only 15th in the Bundesliga table after five defeats this season.
