Petrovic seals Sturm return
Monday, September 8, 2003
Article summary
SK Sturm Graz have turned to old boy Mihajlo Petrovic to replace the dismissed Gilbert Gress as coach.
Article body
Three-month reign
Gress's reign lasted only three months after ambitious Sturm found themselves second from bottom after seven games of the Austrian Bundesliga campaign. The 45-year-old Petrovic, who was born in Belgrade but holds Austrian citizenship, is sure that he can lift the club back into the upper reaches of the table.
'Real potential'
"I am convinced that the team haven't shown their real potential yet," said Petrovic, who was a key member of Sturm's defence from 1985-93. He began his coaching career in 1996 by taking charge of the club's amateur team while also acting as assistant to former coach Ivica Osim.
'Vast knowledge'
Two years later Petrovic moved to Slovenia, where he worked for a number of clubs. "Petrovic did a good job in Slovenia, he has a vast knowledge of Austrian football in general and especially about Sturm Graz," said Sturm's managing director Heinz Schilcher. The new coach will begin his tenure with a tricky home match against last season's double winners FK Austria Wien on Saturday.
