Viran Morros sits on the sidelines at the Foxes Training Center. The Spaniard has a lively conversation with his new coach Jaron Siewert while he watches the club’s A-youth on the floor. “I’ve always enjoyed watching young talents. I’m looking forward to working with them, ”says the 37-year-old.
The head of defense of the Spanish national team, who was most recently under contract with Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona, was finally brought to Berlin not only because of his undoubtedly impressive sporting qualities, but also in the hope that he will pass on his experience – to his teammates as well as the young players with whom the professionals share the hall.
“He has earned so many merits and is an incredible person to be respected. The man has inhaled the success and is happy to pass it on, ”explains sports director Stefan Kretzschmar. 14 championship titles in Spain and France, three Champions League trophies and gold medals at the 2013 World Cup and the 2018 and 2020 European Championships speak their own language.
No wonder that the Füchsen quickly agreed that Morros would be the perfect support in the defensive center that had become vacant. After Jakov Gojun’s departure, this is the crucial point that will make the difference between the pursuer and the front runner this year.
“Showed great interest right from the start”
The engagement of the sympathetic Spaniard was a pure stroke of luck. Morros was already thinking about ending his career when his former teammate and Füchse player Lasse Andersson asked him if he would not like to come to Berlin. “The two are good friends. I wish I could say I planned this coup well in advance, but it was all very short-term, ”said Kretzschmar, looking back at what was probably one of the most discussed transfer of this Bundesliga season.
Morros, on the other hand, didn’t have to be persuaded for long: “You showed me a lot of interest right from the start. We liked each other straight away and I liked what they were up to with the club and how I fit into it. ”And so Morros became the next building block in the new departure of the foxes.
For the observer, this departure can be seen most clearly on this year’s jersey in bright yellow, which is intended as an homage to the first years in the Bundesliga. Since their promotion in 2007, the Füchse have continuously increased to a team that can not only count itself in the top third, but also qualified for the Champions League in 2011 and reached the Final Four under the then coach Dagur Sigurdsson at the first attempt.
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The following season they also played in the highest European league. The Berliners could not build on these glorious times in the last few seasons. With the European Cup, international business became the minimum goal, but the Champions League was only flirted with. Since the installation by Stefan Kretzschmar as the new Sports Director almost two years ago, this perception has shifted again.
Philosophy and community of the association
The 218-time national player brought a breath of fresh air to the communication channels, triumphed with Puma as the new outfitter and followed by extraordinary transfers. It is becoming more and more clear with the foxes that one no longer just glances up, but attacks again.
Starting with Dainis Kristopans, who made a stopover in Berlin between his stints at Vardar Skopje and Paris Saint-Germain, via Lasse Andersson, who came to the Foxes from FC Barcelona. Added to this are the recent commitments of defense specialist Morros and, from 2022, of Max Darj, who is a crucial component in the Swedish national team both in attack and defense. Last but not least, the sensational transfer from the Danish Olympic MVP Mathias Gidsel should be mentioned.
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“I have noticed again and again recently that word has got around and that our idea has met with a lot of approval,” says Kretzschmar. He has succeeded in maintaining the premise of his managing director Bob Hanning regarding increased youth development and at the same time winning renowned handball players for the team. And this concept also impressed Morros.
Even though the big city with its museums, nightlife options and good restaurants certainly contributed to its contribution, it was ultimately the philosophy of the association and the associated community that encouraged the Spaniard in exile to become part of the Füchse family.
At the start of the season against HSG Wetzlar (Thursday, 7:05 p.m.), Morros has to sit on the sidelines again. The defense giant is suffering from a torn muscle fiber, but ideally should be ready for action from next week. The Füchse continue against Leipzig (September 12) and Melsungen (September 16). On September 21, the club will face the Polish club KS Azoty-Pulawy SA in the second qualifying round of the European League. In any case, Morros can hardly wait to face the new challenges in Berlin.
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