“Kickers Offenbach: New Sports Director Holds Personnel Interviews Ahead of Player Departures and Potential Captain Disembarking”

At the regional football league team Kickers Offenbach, the new Managing Director Sport, Christian Hock, will hold personnel interviews in the coming days. Many questions are open. The captain might even disembark.

Offenbach – The new triumvirate of the Offenbacher Kickers office has started its work, with two positive events. On Friday evening, Head of Marketing Dominic Stumpf and Managing Directors Sebastian Möller (Finance and Organization) and Christian Hock (Sport) appeared together for the first time at the last home game of the season against Bahlinger SC – and promptly turned out to be lucky charms. Because the 2-1 after a 0-1 deficit ended a series of nine winless competitive games in a row. On Sunday, the trio stayed at the summer festival of the OFC fan museum. The mood was relaxed.

This week, however, things are getting serious again, especially for Hock. A tight program awaits the 53-year-old with decisions that will not always be well received by the people he is talking to. The new sports director of the regional football league wants to talk to all the players in the squad on Tuesday and Wednesday to tell them whether the Kickers are still planning with them in the future.

As already reported, Shako Onangolo, who has not been considered for weeks, Jost Mairose (who has only played 405 minutes) and Dejan Bozic (was not in the squad again on Friday) and Dejan Bozic (who was not in the squad again on Friday) are unlikely to receive any offers from the players with an expiring contract. Jakob Zitzelsberger and Lucas Hermes also provided few arguments. For veteran and crowd favorite Maik Vetter (31, absent on Friday due to a torn inner ligament) after the renewed injury, the question arises as to whether his body can keep up with another season at this level. In any case, the longest-serving player (since 2014 at the OFC) should be tied to the club beyond the end of their career.

Whether the goalkeepers David Richter and/or Michael Zadach stay depends on how the Kickers basically plan in this position. Hock assumes a squad with three goalkeepers. Maximilian Engl, most recently number one on behalf of the injured judge, is still under contract until 2024, but is one of a number of players who would not be surprised if there was a premature separation.

This also includes Sebastian Zieliecki. The captain and defense chief, back in the starting XI against Bahlingen after an injury-related forced break in Mainz, is still tied to the OFC until 2025, but after two missed promotions and the many trials and tribulations this season, he no longer seems as confident as he once was. In addition, his family is said to be homesick for Poland. The body language also leaves a lot to be desired. And: The Kickers have strong alternatives in Maximilian Rossmann and Jayson Breitenbach.

Semir Saric could even have played his last game in an OFC jersey against Bahlingen. The midfielder, who came from the west regional league club Wuppertaler SV before the season, is said to be dissatisfied with his role and would therefore like to leave the club. The 25-year-old saw his fifth yellow card shortly after he came on (because of complaining) and is therefore missing in the final game on Saturday at relegated Eintracht Trier. The Kickers had also hoped for more from Rafael Garcia (also under contract until 2024). The former third division player has made 30 appearances this season but has only started 19 times (three goals, five assists).

The game against Bahlingen gave the first glimpse of how Hock would like to play in the future: fast, with a direct train to the goal. It was particularly dangerous when passes were played behind Bahlingen’s defense – “to Wanner and Feigenspan, the guys with speed”. Feigenspan had only sat in the stands under interim coach Alfred Kaminski the week before at the 0: 2 in Mainz. He was in the starting XI when Hock made his debut as head of sport. The 53-year-old has clear ideas – and clearly communicates them internally. Despite the two goals, he sees room for improvement, especially in the center of the attack. There is still something wrong with the “box occupation”. One or two classic center forwards are to come, a premature separation from Philipp Hosiner is also conceivable.

At the same time, Hock is driving the search for a trainer. He said it should have the “OFC gene”. It is unclear whether the newcomer should have worked for the Kickers or just embody their virtues. Hock does not comment on names. In the case of Rüdiger Rehm he made an exception. As a former second and third division coach, the former Wehener has other ambitions.

By Christian Düncher