Bombshell at Austria Wien: Sporting Director Michael Wagner Resigns with Immediate Effect

Wagner himself cited changed circumstances as the reason for his resignation. "As the framework conditions have changed since my appointment as sporting director, I have decided to end my activities as sporting director," he explained. He spoke of "the right time for this step" but refrained from providing further details on the reasons.

Despite his short tenure, Wagner drew a positive conclusion from his time in office. "Within a short period, we succeeded in creating important structures and taking the first crucial steps. Together with the entire sporting management, important decisions for the club's future have been made in recent weeks and months," Wagner said. He cited the transfer of Ifeanyi Ndukwe to FC Liverpool and the early contract extensions of Sanel Šaljić and Vasilije Marković as concrete successes.

No Successor: Tasks to be Distributed Internally

Sporting Director Tomas Zorn, who has held the position since the end of January 2026, respects Wagner's decision. "I thank Michi for the trusting cooperation and his commitment to Austria and wish him all the best for his professional and private future," Zorn stated. He also emphasized that the position of sporting director will not be refilled.

Michael Wagner's previous responsibilities will be taken over internally within the existing structure. "In recent months, we have further developed the sporting organization and created clear responsibilities within our sporting management," Zorn explained. The focus remains unchanged on the promotion and development of young talents.

Background: Tensions and a Power Struggle

President Gollowitzer emphasized that the club will consistently pursue the strategic path it has embarked upon. "We will consistently continue on this course," he said, referring to the clear focus on the promotion and development of young players, which was deliberately strengthened with Wagner's appointment.

Behind the scenes, tensions had apparently been increasing recently. According to consistent reports, the cooperation between Sporting Director Zorn and the sporting department had not been optimal in recent months. Communication problems and substantive differences, particularly regarding squad planning, were considered central sticking points.

Compounding the issue was the overlap in contractual responsibilities between Wagner and Zorn, with the Sporting Director hierarchically superior to the Sporting Director. The relationship between the two was also reportedly not the best, with numerous disagreements.

The Precedent: Werner's Withdrawal and Zorn's Rise

Wagner's resignation comes at an already turbulent time for the club. Just a few months ago, Jürgen Werner had withdrawn as Sporting Director. In the course of this, there were reports of an escalated power struggle between Harald Zagiczek and Werner. Zagiczek had originally appointed Wagner.

Tomas Zorn was proposed as Werner's successor – a contractually guaranteed right of Werner's. After his presentation to various committees, Zorn was unanimously elected as the new Sporting Director by the Supervisory Board. President Gollowitzer played a key role in building support for the German and dispelling initial skepticism within the club.

Outlook: Austria Relies on Continuity and Young Players

In parallel, the club has been pushing for some time to buy back shares from the investor group WTF, which includes Jürgen Werner and his co-investors. This buyback has not yet been successful, as the club lacks the necessary financial resources. President Gollowitzer is conducting negotiations with the investor group.

Two experienced individuals remain on board in the club's sporting management: Manuel Takacs as Academy Director and Robert Urbanek, who is responsible for the transition area from the academy through the Young Violets to the first team. Both work in the club's sporting directorate.

Sportingly, the past season was mixed. Austria Wien finished the Bundesliga season in fourth place. However, there was a bright spot for the women's team: Austria's women's team became Austrian champions for the first time.

Michael Wagner himself looked back conciliatorily in his farewell statement. "When I was asked in November if I could support Austria in a difficult phase, I gladly accepted this task," he said. He will remain closely connected to the club and wishes it all the best on its future path.