End of a historic era

Mister Volleyball set himself a monument in Salzburg

Uli Sernow coached Salzburg teams for 33 years, switching from the men's to the women's team in 2010.

(Bild: ANDREAS TRÖSTER)

The end of a historic era: Uli Sernow drew a line under his long career as a coach on Saturday after more than 1200 matches in Austria. He will return to his old home in the new year.

It's a circle that has come full circle for Uli Sernow after 34 years in Klagenfurt. There, where Salzburg's Mister Volleyball coached his debut game with the Paris Lodron men in 1990 - having just arrived from the GDR - he gave his last commands as a coach on Saturday. From the PSVBG women in the league match for fifth place - which was lost 3-0.

"Of course it's something very special," said Uli, who traveled in a large bus for his last game with the girls. There was plenty of room for celebrating, for emotions, but also for memories. Of a time that brought Sernow to Austria in 1990. Because the German, who was born in Jüterborg in 1958, knew how to read the signs of the times as a GDR national coach ("I was given the kiss of the hand overnight") after the fall of the Berlin Wall. "Suddenly there were two coaches, two national teams and it seemed that the top East German officials were first looking for a place to stay," recalls Sernow, who focused fully on volleyball at the age of 14 and was recruited by TSC Berlin just two years later.

Sernow was a set player in the GDR national team and at TSC Berlin - his number: 2.

(Bild: Uli Sernow)

He went on to have a stellar career as a middle blocker - with 155 international matches, numerous World Cup and European Championship appearances and, in the last four years, as captain of the national team. With whom he took part in two tournaments in Salzburg. In 1990, Heimo Meiche and Co. set the course for the future of the qualified sports teacher, who also became a contract teacher at the university in '95.

A strong team: Stapelfeldt (left) and Sernow (1991).

(Bild: krugfoto/Krug Daniel sen.)

Permanent duel with Kleinmann
This was the next decisive step towards a unique era in Salzburg. Sernow, who, alongside his future wife Susan, also brought along the "legionnaires" Guido Stapelfeldt (who has been in charge of press relations at the Red Bull Salzburg ice hockey club since 2004) and Thorsten Vetters. And in the 1990s, with the Paris...Lodron men and other warhorses such as Marian Pascariuc, Tom Smogawetz and Oli Anderiasch, mutated into the great opponent of Peter Kleinmann's Donaukraft. The team reached the Bundesliga final ten times, won the historic championship title in 1995 - in addition to two Cup victories - and subsequently won the Champions League. In total, there were around 1200 competitive matches with Salzburg teams.

Salzburg's champion team in 1995.

(Bild: Sportarchiv)

Many highs were followed by financial lows, Sernow made a one-year guest appearance as Hypo Tirol coach (there was an offer from Dubai) and was also Austria's team manager twice. Before switching to the women's team, the now 65-year-old also took over the position of chairman at PSVBG.

Lisa and Paul are very proud
"The championship title is my greatest success, and the matches in the premier class were also a huge experience," recalls Uli, who was very structured in his work as a coach, not only in preparing for matches, and always emphasized discipline. But he also didn't want to forget the fun factor on both sides. However, many a companion waited in vain for the really big emotional outbursts.

Sernow with his wife Susan, Lisa and Paul.

(Bild: Uli Sernow)

He had a few arguments with the Austrian Football Association (ÖVV), most recently over the refereeing of the quarter-final against Linz, which was officiated by referees from Linz. "That's amateurish to the power of three," says the now ex-coach, who names Stapelfeldt and his daughter Lisa, who will almost certainly also end her career, as his favorite players with whom he particularly enjoyed working. As captain, she was dad's extended arm and makes him just as proud as his son Paul, a mainstay in the second division men's team. "Without ever having forced them to do anything, they are really good volleyball players."

He won't be seeing them as often next year, as the volleyball retiree is heading home to Thuringia for his retirement. Before that, however, he still needs to find a successor for the job of chairman, which he will hold until the fall: "And that's really difficult."