Feldhofer's GAK debut: Fight for relegation against WSG Tyrol!

Feldhofer's GAK debut: Fight for relegation against WSG Tyrol!

On March 28, 2025, the Grazer AK (GAK) will start the decisive game against WSG Tirol under the new direction of Ferdinand Feldhofer, with the aim of preventing the immediate relegation from the Admiral Bundesliga. Feldhofer, a former professional von Sturm Graz, is optimistic and emphasized that there is a clear plan for the coming game in Liebenau. His debut as a trainer is under the sign of urgent because the WSG Tyrol is only in the table one point in front of the GAK. The game takes place at 5 p.m. and is followed in the live ticker.

The WSG Tirol is also under pressure. Trainer Philipp Semlic, who has a connection to Feldhofer, wants to prevent the Styrian jubilee mood on Saturday. Both trainers can fall back on personal knowledge, since Semlic Feldhofer 2020 was followed by SV Lafnitz. Semlic emphasizes that each player has to act at the limit for 90 minutes in his games to be successful.

preparations for the debut

Feldhofer is working intensively to give the GAK team new self-confidence. Despite the challenges in the implementation of his tactical ideas, he is confident. Returners like Petar Filipovic and Laszlo Kleinheisler ensure additional stability, while goalkeeper Jakob Meierhofer was not in training due to dental operation. Feldhofer also plans to start the qualification group with a combat -emphasized and defensive style of play, which is considered crucial in the current situation.

The importance of a victory cannot be assessed highly enough, especially in the relegation battle. The GAK fans are optimistic. Statistical analyzes show that the club's coaching history is often shaped by positive effects after changing. For example, David Preiß started his term in 2017 with a 2-0 win against Trofaiach, while Gernot Messner started 2-0 against Horn in 2023. Ferdinand Feldhofer has never lost a debut game in his coaching career, a fact that nourishes the hopes of a positive effect of his office and influenced his entire career.

trainer effects and statistics

The current season was analyzed in detail to evaluate the effect of coaching changes. Detailed statistics show a clear point of points before and after changing coaches. At Niko Kovac, for example, the scoring of 0.80 rose from 0.80 to 1.20, a pleasant increase that indicates a positive influence. M. Tullberg and B. Svensson also had significant increases in the points. This data illustrates that the "trainer effect" can be sporadic in the long term, but often brings a mental thrust for the players at short notice.

The squad combination on this decisive day reflects the return of several players who have returned from their national team time. Antonio Tikvic, Tio Cipot and Sadik Fofana will train for the first time under Feldhofer. The pressure to achieve a significant result could also motivate the players.

Overall, the debut of Ferdinand Feldhofer will expect an charged and decisive match between GAK and WSG Tyrol, which is not only important for the teams, but also for the trainers. Both the tactics and the mentality of the players could be decisive during this critical phase of the relegation battle while the time is pushing.