The golfer Lex won't be there anytime soon: The lion captain's contract is extended

Created: 01/07/2022Updated: 01/07/2022, 8:33 AM

From: Uli Kellner

“I can't do more than a caddy”: On the Wednesday afternoon when there was no training, Stefan Lex kept his namesake Stephan Salger company - on the golf course.

© Stefan Matzke / sampics

How do you recognize third division clubs in a training camp in the south?

Florian Waitz from the Match IG agency, formerly a team manager at 1860, knows this from years of experience.

"The higher class the clubs play," explains Waitz, (36), "the greater the quota of golfers in the team."

In Belek, where the lions hold their winter camp until Saturday, there are golf courses in all forms, allegedly even the only one in Europe that can be played 24 hours a day thanks to extensive floodlighting.

However, see above: Except for the long-time second division player Stephan Salger, 31, there is no professional in the Löwen squad who has a handicap, let alone a handicap.

Alone Salger did not have to tee off on the free Wednesday afternoon, because someone who, according to Waitz's logic, should also have golf experience, spontaneously joined them: Stefan Lex, 32, once even a Bundesliga player for Ingolstadt.

But, so Lex dryly: "I can't do more than the caddy role."

TSV 1860: Head of sport Gorenzel announces the contract extension on the hotel terrace

The new captain had every reason to joke, because at the same time on the hotel terrace, Lex's future as a professional footballer was “holed” - officially announced by sports director Günther Gorenzel.

"The contract with Stefan Lex has been extended to the end of the 2022/23 season due to a certain option," said the Austrian solemnly: "I can confirm that our new captain will also be on board next season - provided that he doesn't want to end his career first. "

While the new 1860 captain drove the golf cart and got a taste of the elite sport, routine defender Salger showed that he has a handicap of 16 for a reason.

© Stefan Matzke / sampics

He doesn't want to, as Lex already indicated on the first day in Belek.

"I don't want to leave, that's no secret," the striker declared on Monday, not wanting to anticipate the club's notification of completion.

He also said on the subject of career planning: "That sounds stupid, but I want to play as long as I'm healthy, my body allows it, I have fun and can help the team."

TSV 1860: Captain Lex's golf career can wait

Neither Lex nor Gorenzel wanted to reveal which clause exactly took effect.

According to reports, the Eittinger had to come to 20 competitive games to book another year with his club.

Depending on which competitions count, the new team captain has already exceeded his target (20 appearances in the 3rd league and two each in the DFB and association cups).

In any case, Lex didn't see the big occasion for the celebration, but also didn't want to mess about the obligatory drinks participation of the teammates.

"It's not a new contract, it's just an extended one," he said, adding with Lex humor: "I'll have a round of water after dinner."

Conclusion from striker Lex: "For now I'll stick with the big balls." © Stefan Matzke / sampics

It's easy to say in the all-inclusive hotel, but Lex emphasized once again that he also subordinates everything to the goal of playing a furious second half of the season with his lions.

The golf career can wait.