Peter Stöger becomes successor to Robert Klauß as Rapid Wien coach

Rapid Vienna aims to enter the next two seasons of the football Bundesliga with Peter Stöger, who already wore the Rapid jersey as a player from 1995 to 1997, as their coach. The 59-year-old Stöger is leaving his current position as sports director at second division club Admira Wacker. In his past as a coach, he led, among others, Wiener Austria to the championship title (2012/13).

Peter Stöger celebrated successes with Rapid Vienna and Wiener Austria

At Wiener Austria, Stöger also experienced his most successful time as a player. From 1988 to 1994 and from 1998 to 2000, he was part of several successful teams of the Favoritner, winning the championship three times from 1991 to 1993. With Rapid Vienna, Stöger achieved championship honors in the 1995/96 season. Additionally, he played as an attacking midfielder for Vorwärts Steyr, Vienna, FC Tirol Innsbruck, LASK, and Admira. In 2005, Stöger returned to Wiener Austria first as a coach, then as sports director, and led the team together with Frenkie Schinkels to the double in 2005/06. After his second term at Wiener Austria, the Viennese brought 1. FC Köln back to the German Bundesliga and subsequently to the European Cup, before stepping in for a few months at Borussia Dortmund. His last coaching position was - after another return to Wiener Austria - in 2021 at Ferencvaros in Budapest.

Katzer relies on the experience of Peter Stöger

"I am very pleased to be able to take on this responsible task from June. Of course, I have followed Rapid very intensively and attentively in recent years," Peter Stöger was quoted in a statement. "I am convinced that we have a squad with great quality, and the academy, along with the second team, has many players with potential for higher tasks." Peter Stöger will make detailed comments in exactly one week at a press conference. By then, Rapid Vienna will have completed the two playoff games for the last European Cup spot in the Bundesliga - the opponent is either LASK or Hartberg.

At the end of April, Rapid Vienna had relieved the German Robert Klauß, who was blamed for the increasingly weaker performances of the team after a strong start to the season. In the Conference League, Rapid Vienna had reached the quarter-finals but was eliminated at home against Djurgarden after a 1-0 victory in Sweden in the return match. Stefan Kulovits, one of Klauß's assistant coaches, took over as interim coach. The former professional is also expected to have a fixed role in Peter Stöger's coaching team.

Rapid Vienna's sports director Markus Katzer had played with Peter Stöger at Admira as a young professional in the early 2000s. "Peter Stöger is an experienced personality who knows national and international football inside out," he said. "Due to his past as a player at Rapid and his sensationally successful coaching stint at 1. FC Köln, he also knows very well how to handle all the opportunities - but also risks - at football clubs with a highly emotional environment, as is the case with us." Peter Stöger will be "a real reinforcement both sportingly and personally."

Wrabetz corrects media reports about Peter Stöger

Rapid Vienna President Alexander Wrabetz also commented on the appointment and selection process. "There were very well-suited personalities from home and abroad, and contrary to other media reports, the decision was only made internally a few days ago," he emphasized. In mid-May, ORF initially reported online that Peter Stöger would be the next Rapid coach. Shortly thereafter, other media reported the same. Rapid Vienna's managing director Steffen Hofmann said he was looking forward to the collaboration. Peter Stöger reminds him of Josef Hickersberger, whom he "greatly appreciated as a coach and person." Hickersberger was once both a player and later a coach at Wiener Austria and Rapid Vienna - the same now applies to Stöger.

(APA/Red)

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