Gorenzel: Three transfers - and then change yourself?

Will they soon be working in a team? Gorenzel (left) and Lion idol Pacult, currently coach of Austria Klagenfurt. © Imago

Lions sporting director Günther Gorenzel sits on packed suitcases. While he waits for the green light for his change of club, he makes it clear for 1860 new signings.

Günther Gorenzel to Klagenfurt! The sporting director of TSV 1860 is longing for this headline - and demonstrated his solidarity with the sixth place in the Austrian Admiral Bundesliga on Saturday. In the season-ending victory of the Pacult team (2-1 against Rapid Vienna), Gorenzel was spotted in the stands of the Wörthersee Stadium. He told the Kronen-Zeitung, which approached him: "I'm only here as a fan." Followed by the postscript: "Unfortunately, I can't comment on more at the moment." Nobody wants that in tough change poker.

Gorenzel in the stands of the Wörthersee Stadium

No one from the lions has made any official statements either. Gorenzel's fate will be decided by the advisory board, which has equal representation, but on Thursday evening could not bring itself to release him, at least not an immediate one and free of charge. It is questionable whether Austria will play along, because firstly, the Carinthians are known for keeping their money together – a transfer fee in the mid-five-digit range does not fit well into the concept. And secondly, the squads for the 2023/24 season are being built now, not in July. At the moment, it therefore looks as if Gorenzel (contract until June 30, 2024) will fulfill exactly this task in his function as 1860 managing director.

1860 insists on transfer fees in the mid-five-digit range - still

According to reports, the Austrian finally has clarity that he is allowed to make transfers within the framework of the approved budget (4.5 million euros) even without the approval of the committees. The lions are planning just three, and the reduced budget does not allow for any major leaps. The first contract has been signed, as our editors know from a reliable source – it should be made public in the next few days. The other two transfers are expected to be fixed later this week. The names are still secret, but what is certain is that there is a new nine – and probably one or the other player that coach Maurizio Jacobacci has cast for 1860 in his home country, Switzerland.

The first of three new additions is fixed and will be made public shortly

Meanwhile, one lion after the other quietly says goodbye, most recently Marius Wörl (to Hannover, loan to Saarbrücken in conversation) and substitute goalkeeper Tom Kretzschmar, Marco Hiller's loyal representative - after 17 years at the club ("I was always proud to wear the lion on my chest"). The list of fresh ex-Lions now includes 13 names - a powerful eleven including substitutes. The graduates in alphabetical order, as a service for fans who are slowly losing track: Bär, Belkahia, Boyamba, Deichmann, Freitag, Holzhauser, Kretzschmar, Lex, Moll, Tallig, Wein, Willsch, Wörl.

So it's high time that something happened on the access side. Prediction: If Gorenzel is done with his three 1860 transfers, he has done his duty - and will be allowed to take a permanent seat in the stands of his dream club Austria Klagenfurt in the future.