Hartberg is looking for a new goalkeeper coach. Christian Dobnik, the previous keeper coach, is surprisingly leaving the Bundesliga club for Greece. The 38-year-old has accepted an offer from Greek champions AEK Athens and will leave the team in the coming days.

Currently, Hartberg sits 6th in the Bundesliga table. With 33 points from 22 games (8 wins, 9 draws, 5 losses), they are just five points behind leaders Sturm Graz. Markus Schopp's team has scored 29 goals and conceded 24 – a solid record.

Who is stepping in temporarily?

A familiar face appeared at Friday's morning training session: former Austrian national team goalkeeper Christian Gratzei helped out as a goalie coach. "I'm just helping out," grinned the 44-year-old, who himself played 77 Bundesliga games for Hartberg. Gratzei will not be Dobnik's permanent successor.

Coach Markus Schopp is now actively searching for a new goalkeeper coach. The timing is tricky, right in the middle of the season. Dobnik's departure came as a surprise to the club, even if the offer from Athens was sportingly attractive.

What does this mean for Hartberg?

Losing a specialized coach is never ideal, especially during the current season. Dobnik had built a strong reputation in recent years. His work with Hartberg's keepers contributed to the solid defensive performance – just 24 goals conceded in 22 matches speaks volumes.

But the club reacted quickly. With Gratzei, an experienced man is ready who knows the club and the league inside out. The internal solution gives the team time to find a suitable successor.

What happens next?

The management around sporting director and coach Schopp will hold talks in the coming days. An external candidate is expected to take over the position long-term. Until then, Gratzei remains on board, ensuring stability in training.

Hartberg has already shown this season that it can handle setbacks. The team is fighting for a spot in the championship group. A new goalkeeper coach will support this path – whether from Austria or abroad.