The 38-year-old shaped Sturm into a top club in four years and is leaving the double winner for a new role at TSG Hoffenheim. However, there is a lot of “clean-up work” waiting there.
Andreas Schicker is taking the next step on the career ladder. After terminating his contract with Sturm Graz, the 38-year-old Styrian was appointed managing director of sports at the German Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim. Schicker has worked in Graz since 2018 and has been successful as sports director since 2020. He is considered the successful architect of the reigning double winner, three titles and million-dollar transfers adorn his era.
“I’ve been given the chance to prove myself here – I’m extremely grateful for that. The successes of the last few years – the titles, the players who have made the step from Graz into top European football, as well as the overall development of the club and the team – make me extremely proud,” said Schicker in a club statement and thanked all colleagues. “I am looking forward to the tasks that await me – but I can promise that Styria will always remain my home, I will continue to follow SK Sturm closely and will remain connected to this club forever.”
Lots of transfers
The promotion of the chief scout in 2020 became a very special liaison. By signing coach Christian Ilzer and leading players such as Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Gregory Wüthrich, Schicker laid the foundation for a previously unthinkable run of success. His hit rate on the transfer market was exceptional, especially in the first few years. The strikers Kelvin Yeboah (6.5 million euros), Rasmus Højlund (20.0) and Emanuel Emegha (13.0) brought the club financial power and international reputation. This summer, Alexander Prass (up to 12.0) followed him to Hoffenheim. Prass, who is currently with the ÖFB team, is looking forward to the reunion with a “top person and top man”.
Schicker took Sturm into new spheres and structurally professionalized him; he will be remembered in Graz for his millions in income and his down-to-earth demeanor. Sturm boss Christian Jauk recently painted the picture “from apprentice to superstar who is sought after in Germany”. There are parallels to the former successful Salzburg manager Christoph Freund. The two will now meet again in Germany. Friend in the service of FC Bayern, sent by Hoffenheim.
There had been rumors about a move to Germany for months. A commitment to Werder Bremen did not come about, and Schicker Hoffenheim canceled shortly afterwards. He basically owed it to Sturm to finalize the squad planning for the CL season, said Schicker after the brilliant 5-0 win against Salzburg on Sunday. Only his successful work in Graz allowed the Styrian to continue openly flirting with the larger football world with the acceptance of the club, fans and media.
Man for Dietmar Hopp
He remained the preferred candidate for billionaire financier Dietmar Hopp – even though the Hoffenheim fans openly rejected his commitment. “Schicker: Firecracker throwers have no place in Hoffenheim,” was what a banner in the stadium told him. Schicker had to have his left hand amputated in a firecracker explosion in 2014. “I want to convince the TSG fans of my good work,” said Schicker to APA. But it’s not just a fan scene that is dissatisfied with 16th place, but also rumored power games within the club and influence from outside.
He was greeted with warm words by Hopp: “Andreas Schicker stands for a clear playing philosophy and has earned an excellent reputation in the industry in recent years thanks to his skilful transfers of young talent.” TSG now has large parts of the management level, including the Managing Director of Finance and the Sports Directorate (Frank Kramer), restructured.
As a player, Schicker always stayed in Austria. The ex-U21 team defender played a few games for Austria Vienna, a few more for Ried and Wiener Neustadt. As a manager, his scope for action in Graz is almost exhausted, and the current season certainly shows the pitfalls in squad planning above a certain level. The moment for a change seems right for everyone involved. Austria’s double winner is now facing the most important personnel decision in four and a half years. It is unclear who will succeed Schicker.
