Gattermayer leads WAC to the sensational cup victory-a dream comes true!

Gattermayer leads WAC to the sensational cup victory-a dream comes true!

The ÖFB Cup final on May 2, 2025 ended with a historical victory for the WAC. Coach Dietmar Kühbauer, who was made of compromised and often in the shadow of his players, led his team to a 1-0 over Hartberg. The decisive goal scored Angelo Gattermayer, who took his great chance after only 88 seconds in the field to achieve the emotional Highlight of his career. Gattermayer, only 22 years old, cried on the pitch after the goal and then expressed in the ORF interview: "I can't put in words what is going on in me." The WAC thus fulfilled the dream of its first cup title in the club's history, a performance that club boss Dietmar Riegler also described as a "dream of fulfillment".

Gattermayer's goal was prepared by Ervin Omic with a precise flank that took into account the header strength of the talented attacker. Despite his previous challenges, including a change to the German third division club SV Waldhof Mannheim, who brought barely playing time, Gattermayer was grateful for the support he received from Kühbauer. Only the WAC had believed in him in 2023, and Kühbauer, once prejudiced as a player, sees parallels to his own career. He emphasized: "It is important to give difficult players an opportunity."

The way to success

Gattermayer's path until the final was not easy. After half a year in Germany, he returned to Austria to serve his presence service before signing a loan contract at the Sku Amstetten. During this time, he demonstrated during the final that cohesion in the team is the key to his success. He announced: "Today is no limit." These words testify to the unshakable belief in itself and the performance, which, together with the support of his trainer, made it possible for him.

dr. René Paasch, an expert in talent development in young football, has shown that sporty performance depends on physical, physiological, psychological and social factors. Important aspects include the trainer player relationship and support from the parents. No wonder that the WAC and especially Kühbauer played a crucial role in Gattermayer's career. The influence of social factors on talent development is increasingly researched and has gained importance in recent years.

a new chapter for the WAC

With the Cup victory, a new era opens up for the WAC. Kühbauer and his team have achieved great efforts and little resources. Success is not only proof of hard work, but also for the ability to grow out of difficult situations. The club will enter this historic night in the annals of its history and now plan the next steps to consolidate the performance and to secure further successes.

Overall, both players and coaches can learn from this example: belief in themselves and in the potential of others can make the decisive difference to get to the top in competitive sports.

The joy of winning the title remains a day that everyone in the club is remembered for a long time. As the club boss Riegler said: "We have achieved something big with small means."

For further insights into the development of young talents in football and the associated processes: [The sports psychologists] (https://www.die-sportpsychologists.de/2019/07/dr-rene-paasch-talentpfl.

For more information about the final and its protagonists, visit: Laola1 and and Today.