The farewell to coach Harry Lange marks a turning point in Graz. President Herbert Jerich draws a clear line in the sand and looks forward. For the club boss, one thing is certain: the 99ers need a new direction and a different demeanor. A new top trainer is coming!
“For me, the defeat in Linz was like déjà vu,” explains Jerich to the “Kronen Zeitung”. “It feels like the previous season. We started well there and then didn’t make it to the semi-finals.” Even though the team is in fifth place in the table, things haven’t been going well for him lately.
In the summer, Jerich increased the budget and made targeted investments – new leading players, more quality, higher expectations. “We did so much in the summer, now I want to see the results,” he says.
The decision to change the coach was not easy. “The sporting leadership wanted to change my mind, but I don’t want to blame myself for not trying everything,” emphasizes Jerich. The search for a successor has already begun – and is firmly in the hands of the president. “I make the final decision. The sporting leadership will work through a list of candidates and submit CVs. Afterwards there will be personal interviews,” explains Jerich. The president knows exactly what he wants. “A capazunder should come. Someone who has already won a championship in a top league and has a lot of experience,” is how he describes the desired profile.
Image: HCI / PAPA Productions
