What is being sought?
A sporting director. Or as supervisory board chairman Josef Pröll calls it: "We are looking for an architect for the sporting future of the ÖFB and Austrian football."
It's a job that requires many skills, as it's about nothing less than the "overall strategic responsibility for sports development from grassroots to elite sports."
Whether this person – like predecessor Schöttel – will have an indefinite contract or a fixed-term one, the ÖFB does not want to commit to at this time.
Schöttel's previous salary is the "benchmark," but "we will be able to show some flexibility," says Pröll.
Will the structure change?
No. "There is no reason to pursue new paths outside of the statutes," Pröll clarifies.
The new sporting director will therefore not be the boss of national team coach Ralf Rangnick. He will lead the Sports Directorate, which includes the youth national teams, youth and coach training, grassroots sports, the science department, and women's football.
How is the search conducted?
The company "Ernst & Young" will drive the process as an external HR consultant.
Anyone can apply until October 23. However, the ÖFB will also actively suggest names. "We will approach people," says Pröll, thinking of "certainly ten to 15" individuals.
He also says: "I encourage ÖFB employees to put themselves forward for this process."
An "objectified procedure for evaluating their skills" will then create a short-list from all applicants, which should be available in November. "Ernst & Young" will thus conduct the initial interviews with candidates.
This will be followed by hearings "in a small circle," before the entire ÖFB Supervisory Board is set to make a decision this year.
Is there a perfect person for this job?
It sounded a little sarcastic when Rangnick spoke of an "all-singing, all-dancing person" in connection with the job profile.
Pröll clarifies: "We are not looking for an all-singing, all-dancing person, but rather, with a broad profile, for interesting personalities who can shape football."
He does not want "to issue a job advertisement from the outset that is tailored to one or two individuals just because someone wishes it."
This broad profile is intended to ensure that "more people come into our selection pool." He knows this process, it is common in business, says Pröll, "in such a process, we have often come across people whom we never would have thought were in the running."
Should it be a coach or a manager?
Ideally, both. Management experience is an advantage, as is a UEFA Pro Licence. But neither is mandatory, nor is German language proficiency.
Pröll rules out that someone will come who has had nothing to do with football until now. At the same time, he clearly states that he wants to "enhance the management parameters" compared to the past.
Above all, he wants "to find someone who doesn't just administrate, but proactively shapes, takes matters into their own hands, and prefers to allow one idea too many rather than one too few."
"Providing new impulses, driving innovations, initiating change processes" – these are keywords he throws into the discussion.
Will it ultimately be Ralf Rangnick?
Pröll has to grin when this question comes up.
"With Rangnick, we have a great coach; I don't think there's any such consideration," the Lower Austrian dismisses.
