"Honest work pays off" – Marcus Mann interview | OneFootball

Welcoming talents and broadening horizons

There may be blue skies and glorious sunshine over Belek, but Marcus Mann's gaze remains firmly fixed on the pitch. While our lads battle for every inch with high intensity, our new managing director for sport scans every movement, every reaction, and every detail. It's all part of his process of getting to know our club.

We sat down with the new sporting director after a training session for an in-depth interview at our  training camp. He talks about the need for consistency, the exchange with our academy talents, and why he finds his satisfaction precisely under the greatest pressure. It's a conversation about honest work, assertiveness, and the 'Salzburg Way.'  

Marcus Mann training camp interview

Marcus, we are halfway through the training camp. You've already had some time to get a feel for things, having seen two friendly matches and several training sessions with our lads since you took over. What's your impression of the players and the team spirit in general? Marcus: "Well, first of all, I have to say that we have absolutely perfect conditions here, both in terms of the hotel and the training pitches. For me, this training camp is important so I can focus solely on football, the team, and the coaching staff. It gives me the opportunity to gain valuable insights and get to know the team more quickly.

The intensity in training is high, the lads are really putting in the effort, and the friendly against Rakow was okay. We also have to say that we simply need to convert more of our chances into goals. Defensively, we also need to be more solid, even if we only conceded one goal. We need to maintain a higher level of performance consistently over the full 90 minutes. The fluctuations within a match are too significant. That's why the preparation period is so important. Nevertheless, we don't have that much time, so we should take these steps as quickly as possible." How many changes have you made to your daily work routine after joining us? Do the routines and workflows differ significantly from club to club, or are many things similar?

Marcus:

"Of course, there are always differences, and every club operates a bit differently, approaching things differently in certain areas. I've been given a really great welcome in Salzburg, and everyone has been very helpful. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, a lot of new things crop up. The timing of my start is challenging, as there's a lot to do, and the first competitive match is coming up soon. Therefore, I've had to spend the last few days filtering things out and figuring out what's important for now and what I can perhaps do in three weeks' time. Internally, I'm trying to have many conversations to learn and understand the existing processes. But despite that, it's fun, and I'm looking forward to the coming weeks."

You mentioned at your introductory press conference that the squad is quite large and that you want to take a look at everyone. How is your initial evaluation of the team going?

Marcus: "Besides the training sessions, the most important thing for me is the games, as that's where you really get to know the players best. Almost everyone has had the chance to show what they can do. We've had a few players out over the past few days, so the fact we have 26 outfield players hasn't necessarily had a negative impact on our daily training. However, I do see one or two areas where we definitely need to improve. The next question is how quickly we can change that. We absolutely have to get to work."

An overhaul in Hannover and first impressions

Last summer, you had to manage an big upheaval at Hannover with 18 new signings and roughly the same number of departures. How intense was that period? Was your phone ringing off the hook? And what lessons did you learn from it for managing a similar transition?

Marcus: "Honestly, during the phase when all the transfers are happening, I don't really notice it that much. You just function and get things done. Looking back, it has a much bigger impact – significantly more than you realize."

Marcus: "Honestly, during the phase when all the transfers were happening, I don't really notice it that much. You just function and get things done. Looking back, it has a much bigger impact – significantly more than you realise at the time. That's part of our business, to process and manage these things. Besides, I simply enjoy doing it. To be honest, I also need a bit of stress to go to bed satisfied at night. We definitely won't have this kind of upheaval here in the winter, and yet it's our job to keep our eyes and ears open in both directions as long as the transfer window is open.”  As you yourself have already said: The initial period here with us has been characterised by a lot of interaction with many new faces. A very important face is, of course, our coach, Thomas Letsch. What has your exchanges with him been like so far? Have you had any time to sit down and talk for a while? Marcus:  “We've certainly have talked a lot and we also take advantage of the fact that we see each other often here at training camp to talk about the players. I'm interested in his perspective on the last six months. That gives me a comprehensive picture. Overall, I'm still observing a lot at the moment and would say that I've already been able to put a few things into perspective.”

Making the connection to the academy come alive

You already hinted at your introductory press conference that this topic plays an important role for you as a former head of the youth academy in Hoffenheim. How excited are you now to be here at a club whose philosophy is so focused on young players, especially considering the recent success of many of our players at the U17 World Cup? Marcus: “Before leaving for training camp, I visited the academy, which of course offers outstanding facilities, the likes of which are rarely found anywhere in the world. I've already been in frequent contact with Manfred Pamminger and Bernhard Seonbuchner, and I also addressed the Liefering team, trying to convey that if their performance is right, the door to our first team is always open. These aren't just empty words; this is what our club is all about.

We all saw at the U17 World Cup that there's some excellent young talent there. I've already had direct contact to some of them. The boys should know that their performance at the academy and at FC Liefering is being closely monitored, and that good performances will be rewarded.” Are there any particular players you've been keeping an eye on who we might see playing for us soon? Marcus: "Well, let me put it this way - the player most people are talking about right now is Johannes Moser [note: who's currently sidelined with an injury]. I was already aware in Hanover that he had a very good World Cup. I don't really want to single out any one player, but it's a fact that these guys are also supposed to be gradually integrated into our first team – provided their performances continue to be good. They won't be given anything for free, but good performances should be rewarded."

You yourself said: The goal should really be for as many players as possible from our own academy to make the jump to the first team. What role do you play as managing director for sport in ensuring that this pipeline works successfully?

Marcus: “It’s naturally everyone’s responsibility, first and foremost our staff at the academy, our scouting department, and the players themselves, but also mine, to provide the best possible support and training for these youngsters and guide them along the ‘Salzburg Way.’ Close communication and collaboration with those in charge at the academy are essential to ensure this connection comes alive."

His personal side and reflections from his playing career

Let’s talk about things off the pitch for a bit. You mentioned that you still need to find an apartment; you’re currently staying in a hotel. Have you had a chance to explore the city yet, or has your life in Salzburg so far really been confined to our Taxham training centre and the hotel?

Marcus: "I haven't had any city tours yet, but I've already seen a few buts of Salzburg. Right now, the focus is on finding an apartment. Once we're back, I'll start looking at apartments more closely so I can have my own place as soon as possible. But everything I've seen of Salzburg so far – the training grounds, the academy, the stadium, and the city itself – has made a very, very positive impression on me, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that it's a place where you can definitely feel very comfortable." What was your family's initial reaction when you approached them about the move to Salzburg?

Marcus: "I have a lot of support from my wife and my whole family, which isn't always a given. They also reacted very positively, partly because it's about 150 kilometers closer to home than Hanover, which makes visits a bit easier."

When you do need some time to clear your head, what do you do?

Marcus: "I try to do at least an hour of exercise every day. Otherwise, to be honest, I don't have that many hobbies to list because football takes up so much time, and I try to spend my free time with my family as much as possible." You used to be a player yourself. What was your greatest strength on the pitch? Marcus: "Oh, I all about dedication and willpower. I wasn't exactly a technically gifted player, I have to admit that. I distinguished myself more through my hard work, and that approach always served me well. I was able to carry that over into my later professional life because I'm convinced that diligence and honest work pay off in the end."

Were there any moments during your playing career that shaped your current path? Marcus: "Yes, there were some. When I first joined the first team at Karslruhe as a young player, I was probably a bit too polite, too subservient, and that's one of the reasons I didn't manage to establish myself. Then I moved to Darmstadt, where we were immediately embroiled in a relegation battle, which gave me a completely different perspective on football. External pressure, sporting pressure, a divided team, everyone only looking out for themselves. During that period, I learned that you sometimes have to be assertive when necessary. That definitely shaped me in that I'm actually an easy-going person, and you don't usually have problems with me. When it comes down to it, you have to be clear and direct about which direction things need to go. From a sporting perspective, it wasn't a successful year in Darmstadt with the relegation, but for me personally, it was a crucial step in my development."

Regarding the direction things need to take, one last question: What are your feelings going into the coming days and the future, and what are you looking forward to?

Marcus: "We have two interesting Europa League matches coming up right away against Basel and Aston Villa. Then there's the cup and league. We need to develop a greater awareness of the decisive moments in a game, defend more consciously, and not be so careless with our scoring opportunities. These moments decide games, and we still have enormous potential there. The lads are pulling their weight, the will is there – those are the basic prerequisites. Now we have to take this next step in our development, and then I'm optimistic about the future." 

Thank you for the interview, Marcus!