The Austrian national hockey team without Corinna Zerbs? Felt incomplete for many. That's why the Viennese, who has long since made her home in Frankfurt, is back - as a national coach. Last year she resigned as an active player after 16 years as a long-term manager, captain and top scorer after 144 international matches, and last weekend she signed her contract as the new team boss. And continues the Frankfurt export to the Austrian Hockey Association (ÖHV). In addition to this full-time job, the sporting director of SAFO Frankfurt will succeed Chris Faust. Born in Frankfurt, he has already left his mark on a number of international engagements as well as at many clubs in Rhein-Main as a trainer and specialist.Faust resigned after four years at the ÖHV.
But that's not enough transfer of Frankfurt hockey expertise to the Alpine republic.
Because while Corinna Zerbs takes over the women's selection there, Robin Rösch has accepted the offer to train the Austrian men's national team from now on.
The 50-year-old joined SC Frankfurt 1880 as sporting director a good year ago.
Rösch will also do the job at the ÖHV in addition to his duties on the Main.
"The SC 80 also benefits when I stay up to date internationally, expand my wealth of experience and always represent the club," says Rösch.
"It will be an exciting story"
For Corinna Zerbs and Robin Rösch, their new “part-time jobs” also include looking after the Austrian U-21 team. An enormously eventful winter is ahead for the 32-year-old. Because of the postponements caused by the corona, three major events are on the schedule for you in the coming indoor season: the U-21 European Championship shortly before Christmas, the European Championship in mid-January and the World Cup in February.
Even as a player, Corinna Zerbs had helped the Austrians to compete in the A-Pool with the strongest opponents in the world. Could your authority as sporting authority suffer due to your quick change from fellow players to superiors? As a long-time captain, she had been listened to before, “when I opened my mouth,” she says with a smile. “Sure, now it's time to put on a different hat. It's going to be an exciting story. "
It will also be exciting to see how she will be able to cope with the various challenges.
After all, she is fully involved at SAFO as a coordinator for the female area, as a trainer for the U14, U16 and U18 teams and as a player for the women who, thanks to Corinna Zerbs' development work in the past four years, have not been in the third division for a long time on the field, second division in the hall - stand there.
Sometimes you have to make compromises
It should also be mentioned that the hockey traveling salesman is also an assistant coach for the Hessen team (U14 and U16) and for the U18 at the federal level. In the latter function, she will now take a break, the others she would like to continue. “Sometimes compromises will have to be made. But SAFO has shown itself to be very tolerant of this opportunity that came up in my home country, ”says the future frequent flyer.
Robin Rösch, who also works as a trainer instructor at the World Hockey Federation, is challenged in a similar number of fields.
In addition to his managerial role in the eighties as a sports director, the native of the Black Forest is also regularly on the training ground.
“From the first men in the Bundesliga to children up to six years old,” he says.
So now the return to the international scene.
As coach of the Dutch men's indoor selection, Rösch was world champion in 2015.
With the Austrians, he is now taking over the reigning world champion, who is facing a radical change and will have to integrate some young players in the future.