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Kleer believes in championship: Vienna derby as a turning point for Vienna!
New coach Hans Kleer gives First Vienna FC a breath of fresh air ahead of the Vienna derby. Can they realize their championship plans?
Kleer believes in championship: Vienna derby as a turning point for Vienna!
The First Vienna FC 1894, Austria's oldest football club, is in the midst of change and is facing an important small Vienna derby against the Floridsdorfer Athletic Sports Club. With Hans Kleer as the new head coach, who previously worked at ASKÖ Oedt, the Döblingers have hope for a turnaround. Kleer, who coached Floridsdorfer AC from 2011 to 2015 and won the Regionalliga East with Vienna in 2017, brings a breath of fresh air, but the first games were bumpy: the team only got one point from two matches. On September 28, 2023, the club finally celebrated its first win under Kleer with a 3-0 win against Kapfenberg, who was visibly relieved after a series of games without a win.
The coach emphasizes that he does not have the time for comprehensive preparation with the team. Despite the turbulent situation, Kleer remains optimistic and sees chances for a championship: “The conditions are there, you just have to believe in yourself,” he said. Most recently, he switched to a three-man defense in the 2-0 defeat against Klagenfurt. This tactical experiment brought about a more stable defense, but the offense continues to suffer greatly. Vienna only scored three goals in the last five championship games. The mood in the stands is tense, which Kleer can understand, and he appeals to the fans to be patient.
Challenges on the way to the Bundesliga
Sports director Andreas Ivanschitz has set a clear goal of getting promoted back to the Bundesliga, which increases the pressure on the players. In particular, the absence of striker Marco Djuricin, who will be out until after the international break due to a torn ankle ligament, could prove to be a decisive disadvantage. The FAC is considered an unpleasant opponent and will do everything in its power to deprive Vienna of the next points.
The current table situation shows a certain urgency: Vienna is currently in 7th place with 12 points, while the leader St. Pölten already has 22 points. The fans, who always support their club, are worried about the poor performances in recent games and are hoping for improvement as quickly as possible.
A look at the club's history
First Vienna FC has a long and eventful history. Founded on August 22, 1894 in Döbling, the club was one of the most successful in Austria in the late 1920s and 1930s and won, among other things, the Austrian championship. The 1931 Mitropa Cup was also a great triumph, in which the team did not lose a single game. Despite numerous successes, painful relegations and financial difficulties followed in recent decades, which pushed the club into the lower leagues several times. But the Viennese didn't let themselves get down and have been fighting their way back up step by step since 2019, most recently in the second division in 2022.
Whether Hans Kleer can bring about a turnaround with his experience and the right feel for the game will be seen in the coming weeks. One thing is certain: Döbling has a lot attached to this derby and the fans are hoping for a return to their old strength.