05. 02. 10. - 15:00

• more Sports news
• RSS Feed Sports

05. 02. 10. - 15:00

Kraft takes LASK hot seat

Helmut Kraft has been named new LASK Linz manager.

Bosses at the struggling Bundesliga side – who have failed to win a league match since a victory over Kapfenberg on 23 September – said today (Fri) the Tyrolean agreed to take on the job.

The news comes just two days after LASK president Peter-Michael Reichel sacked German Matthias Hamann as manager.

The former LASK captain was dismissed after publicly claiming he had not been informed about transfer decisions. Hamann was especially unhappy with the club board’s decision to sell striker Roman Wallner – who has found the net 14 times so far this season – to champions Red Bull Salzburg.

Reports in the Oberösterreichische Nachrichten newspaper that Hamann gave the green light to players to hold a "booze session" on the last night of the training camp in Turkey might not have strengthened his position either.

Kraft, the new man in charge, was replaced as coach at businessman Frank Stronach’s club Magna Wiener Neustadt in December. Sixth-placed Wiener Neustadt are now managed by former Rapid Vienna defender Peter Schöttel.

LASK, currently in eighth, face leaders Rapid Vienna as the Bundesliga gets underway again after the winter break on 12 February.

Austrian Times

Related articles: football

1. Austrian coach sacked after one match in Croatia

   » Sports 2010-03-08

   The first Austrian football coach to work in Croatia’s top-flight league was sacked after just one match.

2. Bundesliga top teams drop points

   » Sports 2010-03-08

   Sturm Graz still have a chance of winning their third Bundesliga league title as the three top teams dropped points over the weekend.

3. Danish press hammer team over loss to Austria

   » Sports 2010-03-05

   The Danish media have slammed the country’s football team after Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Austria.

4. Josko stays on board as SV Ried sponsor

   » Business 2010-03-05

   Upper Austrian windows and doors producer Josko is to remain the main sponsor of Bundesliga side SV Ried, it was announced today (Fri).

5. Austria 'gain self esteem' as team beat Denmark

   » Sports 2010-03-04

   The Austrian national football team say it is on its way to regaining some self esteem after beating Denmark 2-1 last night (Weds).

6. Sex scandal-less Scharner explains hair madness

   » Sports 2010-03-03

   Wigan Athletic star Paul Scharner has revealed why he dyed his hair black and white last year.

7. Janko named new national team captain

   » Sports 2010-03-02

   Red Bull striker Marc Janko has claimed Austria "needs eleven captains on the pitch" after being named the national team’s new skipper.

8. Rapid title dreams suffer setback as 'Bulls' win in Vienna

   » Sports 2010-03-01

   Red Bull Salzburg have extended their lead in the Bundesliga after beating second-placed Rapid Vienna by a score of 1-0 yesterday (Sun).

9. Standard Liege end Bulls' European march

   » Sports 2010-02-26

   Red Bull Salzburg coach Huub Stevens admitted Belgian champions Standard Liege had the better players as the Austrian champions crashed out in the Europa League.

10. Red Bull Arena may get natural grass pitch

    » Sports 2010-02-25

    Red Bull Salzburg has revealed plans to replace the stadium’s artificial grass pitch with natural soil in a bid to host national team matches.

'Sudoku Day' in Vienna this Sunday
Around 1,500 people are expected to take part in Sunday’s "Sudoku Day" competition in Vienna.

Bosnian minister calls for Austrian investments
Bosnia-Herzegovina's Minister of Communications and Transport Rudo Vidovic has invited Austrian investors to play a bigger role in the Balkan country.

Vienna to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with cultural festival
Vienna will celebrate the 17 March St. Patrick’s Day this year with a 20 March parade on the Ringstraße and eight cultural events from 13 to 24 March, it was announced today (Fri).

Salzburg flight school is bankrupt
Salzburg flight school Flight Track Trainings GmbH entered bankruptcy proceedings today (Fri), the Alpine Land Creditors Association (AKV) reported.

Robber fails to be taken seriously
A 29-year-old drunk became a laughing stock after failing to rob a Spar supermarket and a Bank Austria (BA) branch yesterday (Thurs) afternoon, police said.

Austrian Peter Löscher named top-earning German company boss
An Austrian has been named as the best paid CEO among German companies listed by the country’s stock market index DAX in "crisis year" 2009.

Job anxiety slowly ebbing
Austrians’ anxiety about losing their jobs has been slowly ebbing, according to results of a new poll by Linz public-opinion research firm Spectra released today (Fri).

Blown-up explosives factory to reopen
The Austin Powder GmbH emulsion explosives factory that blew up on 11 March 2008 is going to reopen this April, according to firm chief Wolfgang Schuster.

Nurse goes loopy at Linz General Hospital
A nurse ran amok yesterday (Thurs) at Linz General Hospital (AKH), attacking her instructor after failing a further education course for the third consecutive time, police said.

Car fuel prices lower than the EU average
The prices of petrol and diesel-fuel in Austria are lower than the EU average, the Economics Ministry said today (Fri).