Klein: "This is a story for eternity"

Nobody would have expected that back then. In the 2007/08 season, the SC Gaißach surprisingly managed to secure the relegation place to the district league. 

BY NICK SCHEDER

Geretsried / Gaißach - It was one of those games in which all the dams broke only after the final whistle. The 2-0 at TuS Geretsried in the 2007/08 season had secured SC Gaißach's relegation place to the district league. But a few minutes later, the celebration arias were immeasurable: The stadium announcer announced the result of the game of the supposed promoted FC Deisenhofen: The leader lost 1: 2 against Kellerkind FC Aich, who had not won all season away. Underdog Gaißach won the title by one point. "That was a story forever," says SCG coach Norman Klein at the time. "That was the absolute highlight of my coaching career."

Surprise master

Almost 1000 spectators watched the game on May 31, 2008, supposedly the duel for second place in the Southern District League. Nobody dared to hope that it was about the championship. "Nevertheless, we absolutely wanted to win this game," says Klein, known for motivating his team again and again with flaming speeches. So it was again this time after a goalless first half, in which the red card for TuS striker Florian Beham played in the cards for the guests. In the cabin, the former second division footballer, who also liked to take his place in the final phase, brought his team into position again. "They were as hot as fries fat," says Klein. "They wanted to win the game for themselves." So substitute Thomas Pföderl took the lead after 65 minutes, before SCG goalkeeper Philip Zehetmair with an ice-cold counterattack to 2-0 closed the sack shortly before the final whistle. But it was only the defeat of the highly favored leader that lifted the mood of the Gaissacher to an even higher level.

Expired beer before the triumphal procession

Nothing was prepared. No t-shirts, no victory drink. The one-and-a-half hour wait before Wolf-Peter Schulte brought the trophy from Deisenhofen to Geretsried was reduced by the fair loser to the Gaißachers with soft drinks. "Ralf Zahn has provided us with Oktoberfest beer - half a year has passed," says Klein with a grin. "But it still tasted good." The Gaissacher's journey home was like a triumphal procession. They crowded into buses that were much too small, stopped in Tölz and celebrated the unexpected championship on the Isar Bridge. According to Klein, the festivities lasted for a week. At least there was still a lavish reception in the town hall. "It was somehow a success like Asterix," says Klein. "A small Gallic village against the Roman Empire."

Because the outsiders - in the season forecast of the Tölz courier the thumbs down showed that it was against relegation - always surprised against the big ones. Especially against Deisenhofen and Geretsried. Tireless commitment, struggle to the point of falling over, these virtues may have made up for a lack of playful qualities, the coach says. Klein conceded that maybe a little bit of luck was in one or the other game. For example, in a game in Solln, when only a controversial corner kick whistled the Gaissacher 2-1 winning goal. “But we also had an amazing team. It worked perfectly as a team. "

Gaißach relied on the youth

After a sag during the season, the Gaissacher relied on the youth - and that paid off. So Adi Floßmann scored 20 goals in his first adult season. Philip Zehetmaier showed executioner qualities. The brothers Thomas and Michael Pföderl as well as Hannes Schlosser, Hans Müller and Thomas Haslinger also proved to be important players and exceeded expectations. Markus Pleyer was a strong backing between the posts, even though the Gaissacher trump cards were clearly on the offensive, which is regularly proven by goal-rich games. In addition, Sepp Kaltenhauser was an important and experienced midfield strategist for the winter break. The team was very enthusiastic. Without grumbling, almost all of the players gathered for training, to which Klein - at that time almost revolutionary in the district league - called three times a week. "We were the classic workers," says Klein. "And therefore worthy masters."

And so the Gaissacher also decided to win this legendary game at TuS Geretsried. For the master maker FC Aich, something jumped out: "You got a barrel of beer from us," says Klein, but makes it clear: "That was not previously agreed."