“You can’t deny Dominik that he gave everything for LASK and achieved something,” said LASK President Siegmund Gruber. The ex-team boss of the ÖFB women is undisputedly an expert. “But we lack the conviction that under the current pressure – triggered by the recent poor results and performances – he will manage to bring our team back into the form we need to achieve our goals for the season.”
LASK qualified under Thalhammer for the group stage of the Conference League, which begins on Thursday with the guest appearance at HJK Helsinki, but in the championship it did not go as planned. After the 0-2 home defeat against Austria on Sunday, the Linz team slipped to penultimate place in the table with just six points. In the last six championship rounds, LASK remained without a win and only scored five goals – fewer than any other league team.
Perplexity after Austria bankruptcy
At LASK, Thalhammer, who followed Valerien Ismael in July 2020, also held the position of sports director, from which he has now also been relieved. After the defeat against Austria, Thalhammer seemed at a loss. “You can say about the first few laps that the games were decent, but the performance wasn’t good today,” he admitted. “I know what we can do, but we’re not bringing it onto the pitch at the moment. After conceding the goal, faith was gone after the last lack of success. “
LASK dismisses coach Thalhammer
In view of the mixed start of the season with three defeats and the penultimate place in the table in the Admiral Bundesliga, LASK has parted with Dominik Thalhammer. The trainer was released from his duties on Monday with immediate effect.
Against Austria, fan calls for Thalhammer’s transfer through the Paschinger Stadium had already been echoed. The club management reacted less than 24 hours later. Thalhammer had been left outwardly after the game. “The criticism is understandable because you want to see LASK in other table regions. You have to live with such reactions. ”However, one or the other critical statement turned out to be too hearty for the 50-year-old’s taste. “Words come up that make me think I won’t take my children with me to the stadium anymore.”
Third place in 2020/21 and cup final
LASK closed the 2020/21 season with Thalhammer on the command bridge in third place behind champions Salzburg and Rapid. In the Europa League, the athletes scored ten points in the group stage, but just missed promotion to the sixteenth-finals behind Tottenham Hotspur and Royal Antwerp. In the Cup, they only failed in the final against Salzburg.
Wieland has a UEFA Pro license and was Kotrainer under Ismael in the 2019/20 season. During the summer break he returned to LASK as Thalhammer’s assistant. Rene Gartler remains an assistant. Wieland will make his debut as head coach of LASK at the away game in Helsinki.
