After six weeks of intensive pre-season preparations – including eight friendly games (five wins, three draws), the training camp in Grassau and the ‘Tag des Brustrings’ – things now get serious for VfB head coach Tayfun Korkut’s men. With a public session, watched by some 500 spectators on the VfB club grounds on Tuesday afternoon, the professional squad began their preparations for the first competitive match of the campaign. Beforehand, as is the case in every pre-season programme, the players went through the obligatory schooling on the rules of the game.
The oldest serving Bundesliga captain celebrates his birthday
On his 33rd birthday, VfB captain Christian Gentner was also amongst his team mates on the training-grounds. For some five years now, the Nürtingen born midfielder has been leading the Cannstatt Boys into action, making him the currently oldest serving captain in the Bundesliga. The veteran has now made a total of almost 500 competitive appearances in the jersey with the infamous hoop (professionals, amateurs, U19 and U17) and has played more games for the club than any other current member of the VfB squad. "Even the DFB came up with something special today and gifted me the referee-regulation training," joked the birthday-boy.
Although VfB came through their pre-season friendlies without defeat and coach Tayfun Korkut drew a positive overall conclusion following the 1-0 win over his ex-club Real Sociedad, the coach and the players all know: The DFB Cup first round clash with third division Hansa Rostock will be a genuine test.