Kicker Editorials | Austrian takeover of Hoffenheim “one of the biggest failures in Bundesliga history.” | OneFootball

Amid an epic rant from one of the club’s long-time professionals and rumors that unsuccessful head-coach Christian Ilzer is in line for the axe, the German footballing journalism establishment continues to turn against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Ever since the controversial sacking of long-time sporting director Alexander Rosen prior to the beginning of the season, Kicker Magazine has remained heavily critical of the Bundesliga club. Two more editorials were released this week.

Journalists working at Germany’s preeminent footballing publication have gone so far as to suggest serious foul play in Sinsheim. Club patriarch Dietmar Hopp technically kept a promise to return his hometown club to 50+1 administration last spring. Despite the fact that Hoffenheim qualify as a fan-owned club the DFL books, every administrative move this season came from an elite cabal of decision-makers. Hopp’s money remains evident in the transfer budget.

Kicker’s veteran reporters Michael Pfeifer and Frank Lußem both published columns this week. Pfeifer filed a piece describing the lack of attendance at Saturday’s humiliating home loss to 1. FC Union Berlin – South stand ultras failure to respond to an appeal from the stadium PA announcer at the PreZero Arena. Hoffenheim ultras were known to be exceedingly loyal to Rosen; a man who helped cultivate and build their ranks.

Lußem’s editorial focuses more on the club’s decision to bring in Andreas Shicker from Sturm Graz to replace Rosen. Schicker wasted little time in sacking trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo and hiring his Graz head-coach, Ilzer. This – in Lußen’s words – “friendly takeover” counts as one of the German top-flight’s biggest disasters. Three assistant coaches (and striker Erencan Yardımcı) followed Shicker and Ilzer from Graz.

In another highly interesting piece released on Kicker’s website today, journalist Benni Hofmann delves into the apparent discrepancy between Dennis Geiger’s famous “€90m outlay” rant and the figures reported by transfermarkt and other sources.

Hofmann points out that the bonuses attached to deals to bring in defender Robin Hranac this summer and striker Gift Orban this winter might push the current €76m estimated figure closer to €90m.

Orban – succeeding thus far in Kraichgau – could cost the club a further €3m-€4m in bonuses. Hranac – an absolute flop thus far – came attached with €3.2m in performance dividends.

GGFN | Peter Weis