Patrizio Morini is back coaching in South Tyrol, one year after being dismissed by SSV Brixen. © T. Debelyak

He's back: Morini takes over regional league team

It was no secret that Patrizio Morini hadn't yet finished with South Tyrolean football. However, the fact that the coaching icon has signed with Gitschberg Jochtal in the regional league is still surprising. What are the reasons behind this deal?

10 December 2025

From: cst

“Yes, it’s true, we’ve changed coaches,” begins Benjamin Putzer, the sporting director of the Eisacktal team. After the first half of the season, which Gitschberg Jochtal finished in 6th place (23 points) in the Landesliga, they parted ways with coach Stefan Putzer. What were the reasons for this?

“We would like to thank Stefan. On a personal level, it was a very difficult decision, but from a sporting perspective, it was necessary for us on the committee. We parted on good terms,” said Putzer about the now former coach. He openly admitted that they had expected more. “Above all, the points tally is too low. With the reinforcements we made in the summer, we had expected to be competing in the top three.”

Morini takes over: "He quickly agreed to help us."

The new man at the helm of the joint team is a name that could hardly be more prominent. Patrizio Morini is taking over at Gitschberg Jochtal. The 69-year-old was unhappy in San Marino this summer and has returned to South Tyrol. Now he is expected to inject new energy into the newly merged Landesliga club. Is promotion to the Oberliga even one of the club's goals?

Stefan Putzer's time at Gitschberg Jochtal is over. The club stated that the separation was amicable. © D. Laner

“To be honest, we’ve never really discussed that in detail. Our first goal is to be competitive in the Landesliga (regional league). Whether the Oberliga (fifth tier) is a medium-term objective is something we haven’t yet considered within the club,” said Putzer regarding the team’s sporting goals. As for the squad, there will be few changes over the winter months. As things stand, Gitschberg Jochtal will enter the second half of the season with the same team.

Regarding the signing of Morini, the sporting director said: “For Patrizio, this is a matter close to his heart. He spent his last season as a player in Mühlbach and won his first title there as a coach.” Morini quickly agreed after being contacted by the club. “One of the best and most successful coaches in South Tyrol was available. We didn’t have to think about it for long.”