The former team defender acted rather reserved on the pitch, but he was more talkative at the subsequent media event. Hinteregger still saw a lot of catching up to do. But he wants to be fully involved in the Bundesliga again in the spring.
“I immediately noticed what was wrong,” said the Carinthian after his debut in Waidmannsdorf. He mentioned speed and liveliness. “The most important thing is to get back on track competitively.” Getting to know your new teammates is a priority, both on the pitch and in the dressing room. Hinteregger has signed with Klagenfurt until the summer of 2026, and he will be eligible to play again from January 1st.
“Martin hasn’t forgotten anything”
Peter Pacult was confident that he could count on reinforcements in the new year. “Martin hasn’t forgotten anything,” said the Austria coach. It is still difficult to say when Hinteregger will be the expected support again. However, according to Pacult, one thing is clear: “Anyone who knows him knows that when he sets his mind to something, he follows through with it.”
After retiring from professional sport almost two and a half years ago, Hinteregger has been a striker for SGA Sirnitz in the Carinthian lower house since the summer of 2022. From autumn he was player-coach of the fifth division club. The 67-time team player made headlines through a dispute with a fan who reported him. He sustained a serious injury after a fall on his shoulder and was therefore unable to train for the past two months.
A comeback in the top division recently appealed to the now father of the family more and more, as he explained. “I’m interested in football again, even though I was never completely away,” he said and also stated: “My ambition is too great to kick around in the lower leagues.” Klagenfurt Austria recently suffered a 7-0 defeat at Sturm Graz. The club is currently in ninth place in the Bundesliga. With Hinteregger comes a real Carinthian who should also attract more fans to the Wörthersee Stadium.
Comeback in the Bundesliga against Salzburg is planned
When talking to the young footballers, he noticed that Carinthia was looking for role models and idols, said Hinteregger. This is also why the move to Austria followed. “It’s a win-win situation for both sides.” In December he wants to make up for the physical deficit. “I will do everything I can to be 100 percent fit for the first game of the spring.” Then it’s against his former club Red Bull Salzburg.
The defender, who lives in St. Veit, described the expectations associated with his comeback as his “biggest challenge”. But he also has high expectations of himself. Hinteregger was confident in his usual manner. “What I achieved in Salzburg at the age of 18, I can do it in Klagenfurt at the age of 32,” he said, looking back on his start in the professional business. “I’m really positive about it.”
In any case, Austria wasn’t just celebrating a sporting coup. The Hinteregger jerseys with the number 13 were a hit on Tuesday. As a precautionary measure, a night shift has already been started, as managing director Peer Jaekel reported. “Many orders have also been received from the Frankfurt area.” Hinteregger won the Europa League title with Eintracht in 2022, then spoke about motivation problems and drew a – temporary – conclusion.