OFC Managing Director Matthias Georg is “100 percent convinced” of the new coach Ersan Parlatan. Georg had already signed him in Steinbach.
Offenbach – After Eleven match days, the regional football club Kickers Offenbach presented its third coach. When making the decision for Ersan Parlatan, Managing Director Matthias Georg provided deep insights, but with conviction made a plea for the 45-year-old, who was head coach at league rival TSV Steinbach Haiger from January to September before he was Co coach to second division club 1. FC Nürnberg. “He knows the league and has worked successfully in Steinbach,” explained Georg. “And we wanted a coach who would develop a team.”
All of these factors ultimately spoke clearly in favor of Parlatan. “We had a few candidates,” admitted Georg. But only Parlatan was 100 percent convinced that it represented the best – and ultimately also the most affordable – solution. On the other hand, the fact that Georg had already signed Parlatan in Steinbach played a minor role. Back then, in January 2022, Parlatan was previously active as an assistant coach at the Turkish Süper Lig club Konyaspor. “Of course it makes a lot of things easier when you’ve already worked together,” said Parlatan. But the task itself was decisive for the commitment. “I’m proud and happy to be able to coach such an ambitious team and such a traditional club,” he said.
New OFC coach Parlatan: “I could have continued working in Nuremberg”
The football teacher, who at the beginning of September exchanged his position as head coach for that of an assistant in the 2nd division at 1. FC Nürnberg, stressed that he made a conscious decision to switch to the OFC. “I could have continued working in Nuremberg, but I see the power and the opportunities here.” “It’s not an easy task,” he said, referring to the nine points behind SSV Ulm 1846: “But we want maximum success and will do everything we can to reduce the gap.”
Parlatan’s entry at the present time was definitely a big issue for the OFC managers, who, according to Georg, would have voted in favor of signing the native of Berlin. “But we don’t see the risks, we see the opportunities,” emphasized the managing director. “We have four brutally difficult games ahead of us,” he explained, referring to the games at VfB Stuttgart II, against SSV Ulm 1846, at Georg and Parlatan’s former club, TSV Steinbach Haiger, and against FSV Mainz 05 II. There is also the quite tricky Hessen Cup game at Türk Gücü Friedberg. “But I am convinced that we will be successful with Ersan in the medium term,” says Georg.
OFC: Managing Director Georg thanks interim coach Kaminski
Parlatan will at Kickers Offenbach meet his former Steinbacher goalkeeper coach Sascha Rausch. He will continue to work with him as well as with assistant Ivica Erceg. Matthias Georg expressly thanked the three-week interim coach Alfred Kaminski. “Alfred gave the team what they needed. Now he can leave the office completely undamaged. When he is back from vacation we will talk about his future role.”
Communication is also the big issue in the first days of Parliament’s term. On Wednesday he exchanged ideas with his coaching team and introduced himself to the team. “We think from game to game,” he announced. He wants to forgo major changes for the time being, instead continuing on Kaminski’s path. “It’s about stability and enjoying football,” emphasizes Parlatan: “This team has potential.” And what does he want for his time in Offenbach? “I want to work here in the long term.” (Jörg Moll)