Peter Stöger takes over Rapid Vienna: A new style of football is needed!

Peter Stöger takes over Rapid Vienna: A new style of football is needed!

SK Rapid Wien has hired Peter Stöger as its new head coach. This was announced on June 2, 2025. Stöger takes over from interim coach Stefan Kulovits, who was not considered for the position. Stöger, who has an impressive career behind him, is not planning any fundamental changes to the squad and would like to work with the existing staff.

His approach is to better showcase the players and make optimal use of their individual qualities. Stöger, who has already been responsible for clubs such as 1. FC Köln and Borussia Dortmund, emphasizes that he does not want to be restricted as a defensive tactician. Instead, he plans to act flexibly and vary the game system as needed.

Strategic direction

Stöger has clearly defined that he wants to give the players a feeling of security. He sees great potential for a consistent and successful style of play at Rapid Vienna. Markus Katzer, the club's sports director, will support Stöger in specifically signing players who can immediately add value to the team. His goal is to initiate playful development and at the same time achieve more consistency.

The decision to approach work with a flexible approach could prove crucial to improving player confidence and performance. Stöger has already proven in the past that he can work successfully both offensively and defensively, such as in his years at 1. FC Köln, where he orchestrated promotion to the Bundesliga and kept the team in the top ten in the league for a long time.

Short profile of Peter Stöger

Peter Stöger began his football career in 1988 at Austria Vienna before playing for many clubs through various positions, including SK Rapid Vienna. During his active career he won the championship three times and was part of the Austrian national team, with which he played 65 international matches.

After his playing career, he switched to coaching and was able to celebrate several successes with Austria Vienna. His time at 1. FC Köln, where he wanted to develop into the “Klopp of Cologne”, is also fondly remembered. He highlights Klopp's achievements and describes it as an audacious dream to reach similar heights in Vienna.

Before returning to Rapid, Stöger worked as sports director and coach at Admira Wacker, where he finished second in the second division in the 2024/25 season, but missed promotion to the Bundesliga. His new challenge at Rapid Vienna starts with a contract until 2027 and the ambition to lead the team back to the top of the league.

Overall, Peter Stöger brings a wealth of experience and tactical know-how that he would like to use to lead Rapid Vienna into a successful future.

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