Exactly ten years ago, Dieter Leeb took on the role of club president in the district capital. Back in Neunkirchen, the ball wasn’t rolling as successfully as it is today: “In 2014, we were in the last third of the 2nd class, we consolidated and became champions. In the years that followed, we competed at the top and became second in the 1st class South in 2022,” Leeb reflects and explains the new course: “We have recently worked a lot with foreigners, but it didn’t yield much. Now we want to go with homegrown talent; in the last test, we had an average age of 21.8 years.”
Leeb is particularly proud of the U16 – the youngsters achieved a small miracle in the spring, sensationally lifting the championship trophy in the state league before Wiener Neustadt. “I have been coaching these boys since they started at five years old, and now they have become champions in the Eastern state league. On July 12, they were able to receive the champion plate from the state governor. We want to solidify them in the club and integrate them into the senior team,” says Leeb.
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Currently, around 100 children are playing in the youth teams, which include five teams and a kindergarten. Leeb wants to recruit more staff for the future hopes: “I have done good basic work with my team; now we want an overarching youth coach. With professional personnel, we want to guide the children through childhood and youth; that is the top priority.”
Last season, the Neunkirchen team wanted to compete at the top in the 1st class South – after a mixed autumn, followed by a strong spring, the Goger team finished the season in eighth place. In 2024/25, the stakes won’t be as high, as Leeb reveals: “We have a great goalkeeper as our centerpiece and many young Neunkirchners. We can immediately get into the relegation battle, which we fundamentally want to avoid and fight for a midfield position.” If the situation becomes serious, adjustments can still be made in winter: “We will see if we are missing something, or which position it is. Then we can upgrade there,” says Leeb.
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