Confirmed! Ried loses Sports Director to Rapid

SK Rapid announces the signing of Wolfgang Fiala.

The 38-year-old Viennese joins from SV Ried and will take on the position of Technical Director at the Hütteldorf club starting October 1st.

The Presidency's Sports Committee, led by Stefan Singer, held numerous discussions to broaden the sporting management, and ultimately chose Fiala, who has proven himself in the Bundesliga.

As Technical Director, Fiala will primarily focus on the areas of Performance & Health (including athletics, medical department, sports psychology, as well as sports and team management), player development from youth and academy levels towards maximum permeability into professional football, the development of coaches at all age levels, and ensuring uniform football development and methodology across all boys' and men's teams at SK Rapid.

Fiala "a proven expert"

President Alexander Wrabetz commented: "Our comprehensive analysis clearly showed that while we can count on top experts in all areas, we have structural room for improvement to optimize the conditions for future sporting success. This involves better connectivity between our academy and the professional teams, a necessary reduction in our injury-related absences, and ensuring that the uniform football development – including playing philosophy, training methodology, and much more – developed with the management and approved by the Presidency, is sustainably implemented across all age groups, from young boys to professionals in the Bundesliga."

"I am very pleased that we were able to attract a proven expert for the internationally renowned model involving a Technical Director, and I would like to warmly welcome Wolfgang Fiala to SK Rapid, who will begin his initially three-year engagement on October 1st," Wrabetz continued.