That's what you know each other for:
The hidden talents of Union professionals
After the morning session on the training ground of ATV Irdning, another event awaits the Eisernen on Friday evening: the traditional fan evening with the traveling Unioner fans. The perfect opportunity to get to know the professionals from a different side. But what are the players and coaches actually known for within the team?
What talents are hidden behind jerseys and football shoes? The answers showed: There is far more in the Union squad than just footballing ability.
The Creative Ones
Not everyone picks up the ball again right after training: Captain Christopher Trimmel, for example, also uses his creative streak off the pitch. As many Unioner know, tattooing is one of his great passions and is likely to earn him some recognition away from football as well. His fellow countryman Leopold Querfeld is similarly creative. The center-back prefers to reach for pen and paper, spending his free time drawing and painting.
The Artists
Musical talent is also present within the team. Carl Klaus is not only known for his love of Mallorca but also considers himself a talented musician. Livan Burcu, on the other hand, sees his strengths more at the microphone and names rapping as his special skill. And the coaching staff is not untouched by music either. At the latest since his DJ performance at the barbecue afternoon, it is known that head coach Mauro Lustrinelli has a feel for the right rhythm not just on the training pitch. U19 player Duje Sliskovic also brings a remarkable talent, as the young player enjoys sitting at the piano and demonstrates a sense of touch that is usually required on the football pitch.
Season opener for the men's professional teams at the Stadium An der Alten Försterei.
Union hosts Ipswich Town.
The Ball Acrobats
However, it is not possible to go entirely without a ball. Wooyeong Jeong impresses with an unusual specialty: keeping a tennis ball in the air. In addition, the South Korean has made a name for himself in the team for his iced coffee, which is apparently very popular among teammates and staff. Dmytro Bogdanov also stays active and names juggling with his hands as his special strength. Oluwaseun Ogbemudia, on the other hand, leaves the soccer field for his favorite talent and swaps the pitch for the Padel court. There, according to his own statement, the defender also feels very comfortable. He is known within the team primarily for a hurdle he has now overcome: his initial failure to pass the driving test. By now, it can be chuckled about, as he has successfully retaken it.
The Thinkers
Not all talents can be observed immediately. Assistant coach Sascha Stauch revealed a fondness for mathematics and is likely one of the most analytical minds in the training camp. “Math and physics advanced courses in school,” was his brief explanation for his preference for numbers and formulas.
The responses show: Behind the professional footballers lie far more than just training plans, game formats, and competitive matches. Musicians, artists, math fans, iced coffee experts, and Padel players are just as much part of the training camp routine as passing drills or sprint duels. Perhaps it is precisely these little quirks that gradually allow many different personalities to form a real team.
Quote of the Day: “Phew, I'm so bad at everything,” Oluwaseun Ogbemudia replied to the question about his hidden talent, probably providing the laugh of the day.
Diary entries at a glance:
