Wednesday, April 20, 2011

2. Soccer-Bundesliga: FC Augsburg wants long-term success

Congratulations they resisted categorically. Reason: too many subjunctives. The Augsburg left it rather be with a sober style and flow. "The 1-0 at Karlsruhe was certainly an important step," said goalscorer Tobias Werner, "but we have not gone up. We celebrate until we've done it. "The match on Monday night was the tenth in succession without defeat.

Four rounds of play before season's end, the Augsburg as runners of the second division now six points clear of the relegation place, to the much better goal difference than Bochum. And yet, says general manager Andreas Rettig: "We have a good role model: The Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund will meet even with eight points no congratulations to the championship.

Why should we do it differently? "The attitude may be a hint to attend understatement, but it is significant for FC Augsburg. "We are realists," says Rettig and then try the phrase that is used quite often in Augsburg: "We know where we come from." The once 23 years in amateur football still dominate the thinking.

With that mixture of humility and prudence, they also accepted that business ran last summer under the title "Fast Movers". They played an excellent season, were even in the Cup semi-finals, but weakened in the last league games. So it was only enough for third place. Augsburg had in the play-offs, subject to Nuremberg, and the first rise of the Bundesliga club's history was more vision.

"We have learned our lesson," says Rettig. Last summer, have the Augsburg very effectively increased, which is the most obvious cause of their consistency: The FCA has the most balanced squad in the league. "We can compensate, four, five losses," said Rettig. The current success story, however, is not only an episode of two perfect years, but a strategic construct that is associated primarily with three people: President Walther Seinsch, manager and coach Jos Luhukay Rettig.

Eleven years ago the club had Seinsch adopted. Million this time lacked in budget, Augsburg was forcibly transferred to the fourth division. Seinsch, who once earned his money in textile discounters, unified vision, capital and business expertise. He promised to return to professional football and a new stadium.

Since 2006 Augsburg again plays second-rate, for two years in the new arena, a mature Bundesliga stadium for 30,000 visitors. "Apart from Hoffenheim, there is no club in Germany, which financed its stadium with a higher equity proportion than us," says Rettig. 45 million euros brought to the club, only a third of which was financed through borrowing.

That Seinsch and his group of investors will withdraw in the coming season, is part of the plan. "We have now been able to stand on his own. Only then we would not have played for the rise, "said Rettig. "From next season on the circumstances, different." And also from the location had Augsburg Premier League potential.

The Augsburgers it comes to sustainability and long-term success. Rettig speaks of peace, continuity and predictability. That would have to upgrade personnel properly during ascent, to be judged as a first-league ready, Rettig called "a problem that is not really one. And before that we must rise first.

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