Choosing your own boss? This is probably wishful thinking for many employees. Christian Eichner, head coach of Karlsruher SC, currently has this “luxury problem” with some reservations.
Eichner is looking for his boss, but…
Since the 40-year-old is head of the task force after Oliver Kreuzer’s release, Eichner is at the forefront of the KSC’s sporting work. He can therefore play a decisive role in the search for a suitable successor – so he can choose his new boss. But it’s not that simple after all.
Christian Eichner and Oliver Kreuzer in conversation. | Image: Carsten Kitter
“When it comes to the final phase, I think it makes sense for the coach to be involved in the decision, and I will do that to a certain extent. But the decision-making authority lies with the advisory board,” was Eichner’s answer to the question of how he has a lot of say in the search for a successor to Oliver Kreuzer.
Since Eichner would again form a duo with the new head of sports, “which has to endure day and night cooperation and storms”, it is important for Eichner to be taken along on this issue. Nevertheless, Eichner – despite significantly more work and more phone calls – can also see positive things in his current double function.
“As a sporty head, I take my advantages. I can now bring in even more of my own ideas,” said Eichner at the KSC press conference before the game against Darmstadt 98. Eichner was able to bring in his ideas beforehand, “but it was even more clearly defined and the points that Oliver has taken over are also partly on my desk.”
Eichner is also “totally relaxed”
Similar to KSC President Holger Siegmund-Schultze, Eichner sees the current situation as “completely relaxed.” He now has the opportunity to learn things from other areas and “I don’t have the feeling that something else is suffering from it at the moment. I’m totally satisfied.”
Team KSC vs Arminia Bielefeld | Image: Mia
Eichner also has no concerns about the coming season. “We can make 100 percent decisions and now the players have to give feedback,” said the KSC trainer. Eichner can understand the scenario in which he puts together a squad as head of the task force and a new sports director would not agree with this at all.
But says: “If someone comes at time X, they should already be aware that we will probably already have our squad together. But then there is also the fact that in football you stand together for better or for worse. That’s the case with KSC , I’m totally optimistic that we’ll have a good exchange.”
Achieve transfer proceeds vs. sporting success
And further: “We have great trust and were already involved in these things before. It wasn’t a one-man show by Oliver Kreuzer, it was always together.”
Image: Mia
Eichner would like to look at the fact that something could change at KSC in terms of transfers and fluctuation with a new sports manager – after all, Oliver Kreuzer was also released because he achieved little transfer income – from different perspectives.
“It is the case that we will try to generate revenue. We have to find a good balance.” On the one hand there is the sporting value of a player, on the other hand the financial opportunities that arise with a transfer.
Example Tim Breithaupt
“For example, Tim Breithaupt didn’t necessarily have to transfer him and there was also the fact that he has great sporting value. Nevertheless, we will try to make one or the other transfer in this area,” explains Eichner.
Karlsruher Tim Breithaupt. | Image: Uli Deck/dpa
No matter how you decide in the end, the key criterion is: “KSC ultimately plays at least in the 2nd Bundesliga. We’ve done that well in recent years and have also been able to develop one or two young players with us,” says the coach.
No internal objections at Stindl
Eichner understands the comment that a return from Lars Stindl would not fit into this concept. “We want to compare the club’s wishes and the possibilities on the market. But you don’t always get what you want.”
You try to deal with it honestly internally and Eichner expressed the wish to other people that you should approach him openly if you have other thoughts about the players. When it came to Lars Stindl, Eichner did not hear any internal concerns, but “saw much more the opportunities that Lars offers.”
2023-04-21 09:28:00
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