Dietmar Kühbauer Appointed as LASK Head Coach After Departure from WAC

A major development has occurred in the Austrian Bundesliga as Dietmar Kühbauer assumes the role of head coach at LASK, following his exit from Wolfsberger AC (WAC). This move marks Kühbauer's return to the Linz-based club, where he previously served as head coach during the 2022/23 season.

The 54-year-old manager has agreed to a contract valid until summer 2027, with an additional one-year extension option. This appointment comes as LASK seeks to address a challenging period in the league, with the club currently positioned near the bottom of the standings and only marginally above the last place after a string of unsatisfactory results.

Kühbauer's return to LASK follows a productive spell at WAC, where he recently led the team to their first-ever Austrian Cup victory and nearly secured a domestic double. Despite facing limitations in transfer policy, Kühbauer was able to assemble a competitive squad that performed well in the league, positioning WAC as a primary challenger to the current leaders, Sturm Graz. However, WAC narrowly missed out on group stage qualification in both the Europa League and Conference League this season.

The transition to LASK comes at a time when the club is seeking stability after parting ways with their previous coach, Joao Sacramento, in late September. Interim coach Maximilian Ritscher was unable to reverse the team's fortunes in his short tenure. As part of the new coaching team, Kühbauer brings along assistant coach Manfred Nastl, while existing staff including goalkeeper coach Philip Großalber, fitness coach Leopold Angerer, and video analyst Mario Milanic will remain in their roles.

Kühbauer has emphasized his motivation to restore consistency and belief within the LASK squad, aiming to guide the team back into competitive form. His earlier tenure with the club saw LASK finish third in the league, though differences in squad planning led to his departure after a single season.

At WAC, club leadership expressed surprise at the timing of Kühbauer's exit, having been given little indication of an imminent change. The club now faces the task of finding a suitable replacement as they continue their campaign with a cohesive squad showing promising recent performances.

Kühbauer's first test as LASK's head coach is set to take place following the international break, with the club eager to improve its position in the league under his leadership. WAC will also be entering a new era as they search for a new head coach to build upon the team's recent progress.