TSV Egger Glas Hartberg started preparations for the spring Admiral Bundesliga season on Monday. Markus Schopp, a returnee to the coaching position of Styria, was in charge. He was appointed as Klaus Schmidt’s successor at the bottom at the beginning of December and should protect Hartberger from relegation.
Schopp had already been in charge of Eastern Styria for three seasons from 2018 to 2021 and now has overall responsibility for sport with the Hartbergers. The obligatory performance tests for Dario Tadic and his companions are scheduled before the first training session on the pitch.
Hartberg currently has six friendlies lined up, the first of which is next Tuesday in Hungary against Zalaegerszeg. For the periods from 23 to 27 January and from 30 January to 3 February, short training retreats are scheduled in Catez and Moravske Toplice and then in Slovenia. The competitive match will start on February 12, guest match of the 17th round against the penultimate SV Ried. It will then be a question of broadcasting the “Red Lantern”.
Hartberg relies again on Schopp
A month ago, TSV Hartberg introduced its old and new trainer in Markus Schopp. In the dual role of coach and head of sport, the 48-year-old is now expected to get the club back on track.
“Right entry” in the fight against relegation
“It was a very busy time I had in Hartberg then,” Schopp recalled in an ORF interview of his first term at Hartberg. “And there are still many faces that were there then. That means it was also something of a homecoming.” For club president Erich Korherr, the 48-year-old “also brings the right input to the players.”
In his dual function, Schopp naturally has more expertise than before – and equipped with these, he is already able to think more precisely: “I will be able to contribute much more concretely to the idea. It is important to develop strategies on how we can adapt the Hartberg project to the future. I want TSV Hartberg to show a suitable face for us. We are working on it and fine-tuning it”. He expects a lot from the players: “Whoever is there is welcome. Those who have a problem with that will have a difficult time with myself.
