Engl Grünfelder: The Naturns fireman says goodbye

For a long time, Engl Grünfelder had a reputation as a successful firefighter. No wonder, after all, Grünfelder stepped in for his unsuccessful predecessors during the championship in three seasons and managed to keep Naturns in the top league twice. Only in his last rescue operation in the 2013/14 season was he unable to prevent the disaster and thus relegation to the national league. Now, in mid-May 2016, after two and a half years as Naturnsspäter's full-time trainer, Grünfelder announced his departure. What is certain is that the former Lower Vinschger player is no longer just the man with the helmet and the water hose who, as a part-time worker, was always able to free the house that had caught fire from the flames. In fact, as a full-time trainer, Grünfelder proved that he also has technical skills when rebuilding the building, which means that he has now created a fire-safe home from the once highly flammable house in Naturns. The state league title last year and the best season result in the club's history in this league season (fourth place, 51 points) testify to this fact.

"It was a great time" After three years in the service of his hometown club, the emotionally charged motivational expert saw the time had come to make room for change. Together with his brother Gustav, who acted as assistant coach this year, the trainer is withdrawing from the Naturns sidelines. “It was a great time - but a total of five years is enough,” said Engl Gründfelder, who was particularly enthusiastic about the young players: “Compliments to the boys, but also to the whole team, who were a great group.” He doesn't know where or whether Engl Grünfelder will fill a coaching position next season. “If an offer comes, I would consider it.”

Several candidates for successor It is not yet clear who will take over from the Grünfelder brothers. “We have several candidates in mind, but nothing has been decided yet,” explained Günther Pföstl, the sporting director of Naturns. Pföstl, however, was able to confirm the whereabouts of Matthias Bacher (who has been repeatedly associated with Virtus Bozen in the past), Peter Mair (St. Martin was particularly interested in him) and Michael Aiello. Martin Metz will no longer be in the squad: the defender is moving to Verona for professional reasons, which is why he is taking a break from his football career.

Thomas Debelyak, Sports News

https://www.youtube.com/embed/CNbkMal3Z-M

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Engl Grünfelder: The Naturns fireman says goodbye

Engl Grünfelder, like his brother Gustav, will no longer be on the SSV Naturn sidelines in the future. The club announced this at the request of SportNews.

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