Sturm Graz

After summer of changes both in personnel and at the helm, Sturm enjoyed very solid campaign and they had the best defensive efficiency in the entire league under their new coach Ilzer. From very early on things looked good with Sturm losing just once in the first 12 rounds (W7 D4) and beating Salzburg twice during the regular season. Kept 8 clean sheets in these first 12 games and goalkeeper Jörg Siebenhandl became the first goalie in Austria to win consecutive Player of the Month awards. Sturm’s momentum was halted in early 2021 though with 4 defeats in 6 rounds in January and February + semi-final exit from the Austrian Cup after heavy defeat vs. Salzburg in-between. The main reason for this negative run was the lost defensive efficiency. However, come play-off time Sturm rediscovered their stability at the back and 3 home wins in the play-offs proved enough to secure prestigious top 3 finish. Sturm’s forward actions improved late in the season with winter signing Yeboah having slow start to his time at the club but then scoring at will in the last 5 play-off games to hint of much more to come from him next season. Sturm’s main goal now will be to keep their back line intact during the summer months and coach Ilzer seems more than happy to continue relying on the same group of players with just 1-2 new additions possibly added to help with the demands of playing both in Europe and domestically.

Player of the Season: Jorg Siebenhandl