"Krone" series

Puch president: “You never get any praise”

Faithful companions: Schwaiger flanked by his Pomskys.(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

Christian Schwaiger conquered soccer late in life. His active career ended early. The current Puch President talks about his role as boss, kicker and great motivator.

Christian Schwaiger first came to the attention of Bundesliga club Grödig when the pants sponsor accompanied manager Christian Haas into the dressing room after a match. "But I was never an official there," explains the entrepreneur, who has been president of Salzburgligigigist Puch since 2022. How did he come to Grödig? He needed a venue for hobby club HCS. The club has the same name as one of his five companies, which is based at the very back of Grödig's industrial estate. "It's nice here, far away from the hustle and bustle," says the 52-year-old, leaning back in his office chair.

Schwaiger led the city club SAK to the top of the regional league undefeated.(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

He previously worked as a sponsor at former Bundesliga club Grödig with Haas.(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

The entrepreneur has been at the helm of Salzburgligigist Puch since 2022.(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

The premises all play their part, although some of the automotive supply companies, which export to the USA and East Asia, are little more than a family business. "Wife, daughter, son-in-law and father all help out here," reveals Schwaiger.

"I like to motivate people"
Originally, the Salzburg native, who had long been plagued by a fear of flying ("it's more like a fear of crashing"), started kicking after an unsportsmanlike childhood with his stepdad in Taxham. Three dislocated kneecaps later ("I always had a cast from my ankle to my hip"), he took it easy. It soon became a hobby team that still meets once a week today. He came to Grödig with them before the sponsorship began. Since then, he has almost led SAK to the second division and has been involved in Puch near his adopted home of Elsbethen for two years.

Why does he do this to compensate? "Who doesn't like to get confirmation? I like to motivate people!" Of course, he adds: "You never get praise as a boss. It would never have worked without my wife and family, so you also go through difficult times." Keyword: For economic reasons, he recently had to severely limit his involvement in Puch. But: "Maybe the world will look different again in May."