Kalla steps down

“The 16 years were a really great time”

In 2017, the Capitals won the championship title with Franz Kalla as manager.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Franz Kalla shaped the Vienna Capitals as General Manager for more than a decade and a half. Now he is stepping back into the second row at the Kagran ice hockey club, but will remain with the club as Vice President. Christian Dolezal, most recently interim coach, will become the new sporting director.

"This is not about me personally, but about the cause, about the club, so that it can continue to develop." After 16 years as General Manager of the Vienna Capitals, Franz Kalla speaks as modestly as ever about his retirement from this position and the handover to Christian Dolezal as Sporting Director. The 38-year-old "Ur-Capital" was most recently interim coach and is now busy looking for his successor.

In many areas, he himself succeeds the 57-year-old Kalla, who has shaped and formed the ice hockey club together with President Hans Schmid for more than a decade and a half.

"The 16 years were a really great time," nods Kalla when listing the successes that fell under his tenure as manager of the club. In 2016/17, the club celebrated its greatest success with the league title. There were also three runner-up titles and seven appearances in the Champions Hockey League. "When I hear and read about it myself, I have to say that a lot has happened." Many players from the Caps' youth ranks also made the leap into the professional ranks or into one of the national teams during these years.

In 2015, Kalla also took on the role of Vice President. Together with boss Hans Schmid (right), he has shaped the Capitals over the past 16 years.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

However, Kalla's time in office was not just "awesome", especially in the end. The past season was not only the worst in sporting terms, missing out on the play-offs, but also kept Kalla and his team on their toes with the problems surrounding the ice rink.

Kalla (standing), who always lent a hand, was also preoccupied with the tiresome topic of the ice rink.(Bild: Mario Urbantschitsch)

"We have set up the organization very well in recent years with the two managing directors Lukas Garhofer and Patrick Wondra and now with Christian Dolezal in this role. The handover didn't come suddenly, it was planned for a long time. I know that they are ready," he says, holding these three men in high regard. "I will always be at their side with help and advice. I'm not leaving as Vice President, I'm just stepping back from the front row." Respectful and modest. Just as you know Franz Kalla.