Stöger, the man who 'saved' Dortmund and launched Sancho

His name is Peter Stöger and he directs the plans of Ferencvaros, Betis rival on this second day of the Europa League, from his bench. The story of his arrival on the bench of the Hungarian team has a lot of bizarre, although for the moment his command at the head of the team has found a favorable path that awakens the illusion in Budapest. Born in Vienna, at 55 he intends to re-execute a triumphant plan after doing so in the past, both in the Austrian and German Bundesliga. He reigned in Austria Vienna before making the leap to the German championship and becoming almost a legend for Cologne, which he took to Europe before leaving. After that, he even earned a chance at Borussia Dortmund and did not disappoint.

Dortmund had dispensed with their coach Peter Bosz in 2017-2018 and chose Stöger to save a campaign that had become more complicated than necessary in the middle of December. The current Ferencvaros manager did not hesitate: he took the bench, led Dortmund to fourth place to qualify for the Champions League and left to make way for Lucien Favre this summer. Task accomplished. In addition, it boosted the career of Jadon Sancho, at that time a promising young man who had just arrived from the Manchester City youth teams. and to whom Bosz had hardly given a chance. With Stöger he had a leading role in the Bundesliga and shone in his appearances.

Now another twist of fate takes him to Budapest. After three consecutive titles in Hungary, the Ukrainian Sergei Rebrov decided to leave in the middle of June this year due to disagreements with his directive. The chosen one was Stöger and he does not have it easy at all. The demands ask him to reign in Hungary and fight in Europe to qualify for the next round of this demanding Europa League. But you know what the challenges are. And he has a new one on the table at the gates of receiving Manuel Pellegrini's Betis at the Groupama Arena.