ÖFB dismisses sports director Peter Schöttel

The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) has dismissed Peter Schöttel from his position as sports director. The decision was announced following a supervisory board meeting at the association's campus in Vienna. The ÖFB cited “different views regarding the future strategic direction and design of the position” as the reason for the separation.

Schöttel has held the role since October 2017, succeeding Willi Ruttensteiner. His tenure was marked by significant milestones, including Austria's first World Cup appearance since 1998 and reaching the European Championship round of 16 in both 2021 and 2024. He was also credited with restructuring talent development, producing key players such as David Alaba and Marcel Sabitzer.

Despite these successes, discussions regarding the future of the national team have shifted. Since the appointment of head coach Ralf Rangnick in 2022, major sporting decisions have increasingly moved outside of Schöttel's direct control. During the recent supervisory board meeting, Rangnick provided his own analysis of the World Cup, while Schöttel was not permitted to present his scheduled report on the tournament.