It isn't just our Red Bulls who have seen a few things happen over the extraordinary long winter break, as a lot of other ADMIRAL Bundesliga teams have also used the time off productively and have been active in the transfer market. Before the Bundesliga restarts this Saturday against Austria Lustenau (Kick-off at 17:00 CET), we are taking a look at the other eleven teams to see how they got on over the winter.
SK Sturm Graz | 2nd place | 33 points
The biggest transfer in the league saw Sturm snap up Bryan Teixeira from Austria Lustenau, who had the most goal involvements of anyone in the league before the break. 21-year-old loanee Arthur Okonkwo, a huge talent from Arsenal, is keeping goal now for Christian Ilzer's side.
They have lost no major players on outgoing transfers, but did send a few future prospects out on loan. There was bad news on the medical front - with Jakob Jantscher absent for several weeks due to a calf muscle injury. We saw very clearly to our cost in the UNIQA ÖFB Cup that the Graz side have lost none of their strong form over the winter.
LASK | 3rd place | 27 points
That LASK triggered the purchase option on Marin Ljubicic, who has scored nine so far this season, should not have been a surprise. The squad has been reinforced by several loan players too like Moses Usor (attack, Slavia Prague), Ibrahim Mustapha (attack, Red Star Belgrade) and Maksym Taloverov (defender, Slavia Prague). Four players departed the club on loan.
It wasn't the most spectacular preparation period, but Didi Kühbauer's side got the result they wanted in the cup quarter-final. The have a lot to look forward to this spring with the opening of their new Raiffeisen Arena. With our away double, you can travel to the stadium to support our Red Bulls there.
SK Rapid Vienna | 4th place | 24 points
The biggest chance at Rapid is probably the appointment of club legend Steffen Hofmann, who was promoted from the coaching staff of the reserve team to become the sporting director. Things have been fairly quiet on the transfer market, albeit not entirely silent. Two injuries forced the club to act with Thorsten Schick and Martin Koscelnik both out for a few weeks.
Coming in to solve the personnel shortage was Denso Kasius from FC Bologna. Philipp Wydra has also been attracted back to the Austrian Capital. Zoran Barisic's mean needed extra time in the quarter final of the cup to see off WAC 3-1. On 5 March we have an Austrian Klassiker in Vienna, and with our away double offering you can accompany our Red Bulls there.
WSG Tirol | 5th place | 24 points
Tirol have shown with their transfer activity that they are content with their current position of fifth. WSG did not make any signings, even though lead striker Nik Prelec left the club for Cagliari Calcio in Italy.
Thomas Silberberger's side are to make their 2023 competitive debut against WAC on Saturday, and just a week later we visit Innsbruck.
SK Austria Klagenfurt | 6th place | 21 points
Klagenfurt are going for continuity. They have tried to strengthen their squad with a number of loan moves over the winter. Nicolas Binder (from Rapid) and Vesel Demaku (from Sturm Graz) are to play for Austria this spring. They have lost Gloire Amanda, however, whose contract was terminated a few days ago.
In the UNIQA ÖFB Cup, Klagenfurt checked favourites LASK for long periods, but ultimately lost 0-1.
FK Austria Vienna | 7th place | 20 points
When you consider that the Violets started the season on -3 points, that they are in contention for a spot in the championship group is a solid achievement. They decided nonetheless over the winter to part ways with coach Manfred Schmid and instead appoint Michael Wimmer, who was caretaker coach of VfB Stuttgart recently.
Little has changed to the squad - loan player Billy Koumetio returned to Liverpool ahead of plan, but Doron Leidner (Olympiacos) and Filip Antovski (NK Istra) came in on loan.
SC Austria Lustenau | 8th place | 18 points
The newly promoted side from the western tip in Austria were the surprise package of the autumn, but the departure of Bryan Teixeira, with more goal involvements than any other player in the league, has to hurt. Lustenau are trying to fill his shoes with two loan signings – Emrehan Gedikli from Trabzonspor and Nemanja Motika from Red Star Belgrade.
We will get an idea for ourselves at the weekend how they do without their best player this season. SC Austria Lustenau are to visit us at the Red Bull Arena this Saturday 11 February at 17:00. Tickets are available online in the Ticket Shop as well as at the stadium's Ticketing & Service Center.
RZ Pellets WAC | 9th place | 17 points
WAC have reinforced their back line by signing Tim Oermann from VfL Bochum. The 19-year-old made four appearances so far in the German Bundesliga this season and is to gain experience in Austria on a loan. Otherwise, everything has been fairly quiet in Robin Dutt's squad. Lukas Schöfl returned from FAC while Nikolaos Vergos has gone on loan to PAS Lamia.
The Wolves may have been beaten 1-3 in the ÖFB Cup, but they showed they are a force to be reckoned with by pushing Rapid all the way into extra time.
Cashpoint SCR Altach | 10th place | 15 points
It has been all action as far as loan deals are concerned at Altach this winter, with a few exciting changes to the squad. In Marko Lazetic (a striker who scored against us in the UEFA Youth League this season) and Andreas Jungdal, two AC Milan youngsters are to play at Altach for the rest of the season. Simon Nelson (Sturm Graz), Jurica Jurcec (NK Jarun), David Herold (FC Bayern Munich II) and Husein Balic (LASK) have all also come on loan to boost Miroslav Klose's team.
The loan of Alexis Tibidi has been terminated early by VfB Stuttgart, on the other hand. The Frenchman was the pivot of Altach's attacking play in the autumn. Amankwah Forson also returned to us ahead of schedule.
SV Guntamatic Ried |11th place | 13 points
In the last friendly match of the winter preparation period, goalkeeper Samuel Sahin-Radlinger suffered a serious meniscus injury that ruled him out for several months. The Upper Austrians acted to recruit free agent Richard Strebinger. The 29-year-old was in the Bundesliga for Rapid between 2015 and 2022.
Additional reinforcements have arrived in the signings of Stefan Kordic (Kapfenberg SV), Aleksandar Lutovac (Partizan Belgrade), Roko Jurisic (HNK Rijeka) and Christoph Lang (on loan from Sturm Graz).
TSV Egger Glas Hartberg | 12th place | 11 points
Going into the winter break bottom of the table led to a turbulent rest period at Hartberg. Coach Klaus Schmidt left his position and Markus Schopp replaced him. Goalkeeper and captain Rene Swete surprisingly called time on his career. Fabian Ehmann from SV Horn is now due between the sticks for TSV.
Numerous transfers and loans came, including Ousmane Diakite (permanent move), Mamadou Sangare (loan) as well as Julian Halwachs on a permanent deal from our co-operation partner, FC Liefering. An old acquaintance has returned to try to revitalise the Hartberg attack in Donis Avdijaj.
