Hinteregger celebrates a comeback: Will Klagenfurt win against Salzburg?

Hinteregger celebrates a comeback: Will Klagenfurt win against Salzburg?

On February 9, 2025, on the first matchday of the Austrian Bundesliga, a remarkable comeback is imminent: Martin Hinteregger, the 32-year-old ex-ÖFB player, returns to the Austrian football pitches after 3,087 days and will play with Austria Klagenfurt against his former club, Red Bull Salzburg. After a turbulent season for Klagenfurt, which ended with a 3-0 defeat to the Bulls, the team under coach Peter Pacult is hoping to turn things around with Hinteregger's experience. Hinteregger, who played over 140 games for Salzburg, knows about the challenges that await him and the team. In an interview he emphasized: “I feel very comfortable and am on the way to making up for the physical and athletic deficit.”

Expectations and challenges

The Salzburg team, currently weakened by several injuries, have to re-motivate themselves after a phase marked by defeats. Coach Thomas Letsch, who is looking for stability after, among other things, a 1:5 defeat in the Champions League against Real Madrid and a 1:2 in the Cup against LASK, jokes: “If we think that we can do it with the left because of our individual quality, we have a problem.” Hinteregger could be the key for Klagenfurt to survive against the struggling Salzburg, who urgently need a win after three competitive defeats this season oe24.at reported.

Peer Jaekel, managing director of Klagenfurt, sees Hinteregger's return as significant for the club and the young team, which urgently needs leadership and experience. The anticipation for Hinteregger's first game - and at the same time the question of whether he can live up to expectations after his long absence - is growing. With an explosive combination of experience, talent and the urgency of a positive start to the season, this duel will be a special event not only for the players but also for the fans. Hinteregger, who shares the feeling that it's not just about him but about the entire team, is optimistic that he and his team can turn things around this spring salzburg24.at reported.