In Hoffenheim the crisis becomes a game of chess

Christian Ilzer took up his position as head coach at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim full of euphoria and wants to be the last to turn off the lights at the training center in Zuzenhausen. “I will spend a lot of time here. For the most part I will be at home here. In Graz I was often there until midnight,” said the 47-year-old Austrian when he was introduced.

Read more after the ad

Read more after the ad

A week after parting ways with Pellegrino Matarazzo, Ilzer is now supposed to lead the Kraichgauer team out of the crisis and the bottom of the Bundesliga table. His future stadium, where the debut on Saturday (3.30 p.m./Sky) RB Leipzig, second in the table, is coming, he still has to get to know them.

“If you put a very good chess player at a chess board and the game is in the middle, he doesn’t need to know what happened before.”

Christian Ilzer, coach of TSG Hoffenheim

“I arrived yesterday evening and everything was already dark. I only noticed the landscape today. “I’ve never been to the region,” said Ilzer. At TSG he first received a tour. Ilzer sees the new job in the Bundesliga after his double win with Sturm Graz in Austria as a “top opportunity” and “great opportunity”.

Read more after the ad

Read more after the ad

Change in the package from Graz to Kraichgau

The coach doesn’t have to worry too much: with Andreas Schicker, who also came from Graz in October as the new sports director, and Paul Pajduch (technical director at TSG), virtually all of the Austrian champions’ managers moved to Hoffenheim. Ilzer also brought his assistant coaches Dominik Deutschl and Uwe Hölzl with him. The squad also includes ex-Grazer Alexander Prass.

The Hoffenheim team had to pay a transfer fee to Sturm Graz for Ilzer, which, according to media reports, was between 2.5 and 3 million euros. In addition to the dream goal of the Bundesliga, the potential of the team and the presence of Schicker were crucial for his move, said the Styrian.

In view of the crisis facing Kraichgauer, who have also only achieved one win in the Europa League, the new hope knows: “We don’t have much time.” Neither Ilzer nor Schicker wanted to commit to a specific target. “It will now simply be very, very important to score points in the Bundesliga. “We know that there are now opponents where it won’t be easy,” said Schicker.

Football coach at the age of 17

“We want to find each other very, very quickly,” emphasized Ilzer. He stands for attractive football – “intensity, activity, being present in every phase” is what he demands from his players. The Styrian started as a coach at the age of 17 because several knee injuries ended his playing career very early. He worked his way up from the eighth division, studying sports science and working as an electrical engineer.

Read more after the ad

Read more after the ad

Comparison with “very good chess player”

“It is the league that is an absolute goal for every coach in Austria,” said Ilzer about the German elite class. He described his challenge as a beginner in the middle of the season as follows: “If you put a very good chess player at a chess board and the game is in the middle, he doesn’t need to know what happened before. He will assess the situation and make the right moves. That’s how we want to proceed here too.”

Ilzer has put the search for an apartment on the back burner for now. His wife and his two school-age sons will continue to live near Vienna: “Their center must be stable, I am the one who circles.”

Ian Ilzer: The pressure is indeed there, but it’s ⁣something I’ve⁤ faced before. My⁤ approach⁢ is to focus on our process, build confidence within the squad, and create a supportive environment. It’s about staying calm, communicating effectively,‌ and making sure every player knows their role. We need to unite as a team and channel that pressure into positive performances on the pitch.

Sure, I’d be ⁣happy to help you with that! Here’s a structured interview with two ​guests:

Thematic Section 1: ⁢Transition from Graz to Hoffenheim

Guest 1: Christian Ilzer, Head Coach at⁢ TSG Hoffenheim‍

Guest ⁣2: ⁢Uwe Seeler, Sports Commentator and Former Bundesliga Player

Host: Welcome ⁢to both of you! Christian, you have just taken over as head coach ‍at TSG ⁢Hoffenheim after a ​successful stint with Sturm Graz in Austria. Uwe, you have been following the Bundesliga closely. How has Hoffenheim faired this season?

Christian Ilzer: Well, first of all, thank you for having me. Yes, Hoffenheim have been ⁤struggling this season and are currently at the bottom of ​the table. They haven’t had the best start to the season, but ⁣they​ are still a talented team with a lot of potential.

Uwe Seeler: Absolutely, they have some exciting players‍ like ⁣Baumgartner, Kramaric, Bebou, and others. However, they‌ have not been able to gel as a team and have​ faced a lot of injuries.‍ The departure of Pellegrino Matarazzo was unexpected, so it’s great to see Hoffenheim bring in ‍someone like Christian Ilzer to steer the ship.

Host: Christian, you bring along a lot of experience from⁣ Sturm‌ Graz. What made you take‍ up this opportunity at Hoffenheim, ‌and how do you intend to turn things around?

Christian Ilzer: Well, I see this as‍ a fantastic⁣ opportunity. The potential of the team,⁤ the presence of Andreas Schicker as the sports director, and the project at⁣ Hoffenheim were just too good to pass up. As for turning⁢ things around, we don’t have much​ time, ​and it’s essential that we start scoring points quickly in ‍the Bundesliga. We’ll work hard to find⁣ our rhythm and play attractive football with intensity,‌ activity, and presence in every phase.

Uwe Seeler: That’s interesting. Hoffenheim⁤ fans will ‍certainly ⁣be excited⁤ about ⁣your arrival. I think they’ll appreciate your commitment ‍to playing attractive football. But, how do‍ you plan on dealing with the pressure of being the new guy and​ taking over mid-season?

Christ