The designated ÖFB President Gerhard Milletich on the team boss and the construction of a training center.
After his official assumption of office at the Ordinary General Assembly on October 17th in Velden, two challenges await the designated ÖFB President Gerhard Milletich.
On the one hand, the future head of the largest sports association in the country has to clarify the team boss and, on the other hand, a crucial location issue, namely those for the new ÖFB office and the training center.
National coach Franco Foda has come under pressure from the completely screwed up September course. Although the German was confirmed by the still-ÖFB boss Leo Windtner for the October games against the Faroe Islands and Denmark, what happens afterwards is still open.
Milletich kept a low profile on this matter for the time being. “I think it's good that the team boss has been confirmed. I don't believe in shooting from the hip, ”the 65-year-old told the APA . In the coming weeks, for example, the ÖFB sports commission will discuss the subject of team bosses.
Would a change of coach with only four wins in twelve games this calendar year actually be a shot in the hip? The ÖFB team only won against the Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Ukraine and Moldova in 2021.
World Cup play-off
David Alaba and Co. no longer have a realistic chance of first place in the group and thus direct qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The ÖFB kickers, however, are pretty safe in the World Cup play-off, which will increase in March 2022, thanks to the Nations League group victory last year.
Should a new team boss be relied on in the decisive games, he could probably already be ordered for the November matches at home against Israel and the Republic of Moldova in order to be able to work with the team earlier.
However, that would mean a premature separation from Foda and probably also his assistant coaches. Their contracts run until the end of the World Cup qualification, i.e. probably until March 2022, and would be extended to the end of 2022 in the event of participation in the World Cup. An early departure from the coaching staff would therefore be a somewhat costly affair.
However, the ÖFB has to keep its finances under control, especially because the establishment of an association training center and a new ÖFB office is to begin soon. In the past, Windtner spoke out clearly in favor of the Vienna-Aspern location, but the Upper Austrian faced quite a bit of headwind from some of his colleagues on the presidium, also in connection with the financing model.
Milletich emphasized that the costs for the huge infrastructure project will be evaluated again. “But basically I have a positive view of Aspern as a location.” The new district of Vienna could soon be awarded the official contract by the ÖFB Presidium.
