The Door to the Top Is Open: Gökce Tuna on the Amateurs

The Door to the Top Is Open: Gökce Tuna on the Amateurs

With great passion, a clear philosophy, and an uncompromising focus on developing young players, coach Gökce “Göki” Tuna is heading into the spring season with the amateurs. After a strong autumn campaign and a successful pre-season, the coach draws an entirely positive interim conclusion. In this interview, Göki speaks about his team’s development, the importance of the amateurs as a springboard to the first team, and why, for him, willingness to learn and courage matter more than short-term results.

Göki, looking back at the autumn, how would you sum up the season so far?

• The conclusion is positive. In the summer, we rejuvenated the squad once again. The fact that we performed so consistently in the Stadtliga despite this transition and stayed within touching distance of the top shows the quality of the boys. We played attractive, dominant football, even if we sometimes lacked that final clinical edge.

Where have you seen the biggest areas of development?

• Above all in game maturity. We’ve learned to control matches and not be intimidated by the physical nature of adult football. We gave many young players significant playing time, and their development across all areas has been very good.

Pre-season has been successful so far (6 matches, 6 wins). How do you assess the past few weeks?

• Pre-season showed how much this preparation period benefited us. We’re much better out of possession and more mature on the ball than last year. The young players adapted quickly thanks to the many minutes they played and grew accustomed to the level.

Was there a particularly telling moment in pre-season?

• It was more about consistency than one specific moment. The fact that we managed to win every game against established teams shows that the boys understood: you have to give 100% in every match—whether it’s a friendly or a competitive fixture.

The squad was deliberately rejuvenated in winter. How did the integration of the new players go?

• Completely smoothly. Many come from our own academy and already know the philosophy. Most of them played together at U18 level. The external signings, Samet Kurt and Lukas Zagan, also integrated very quickly and were welcomed excellently by the team.

What qualities do the young players bring, and where do they still need to improve?

• Technically and tactically, they are excellently trained. They also bring a lot of pace and fearlessness. We still need to work on physical robustness and decision-making under pressure—but that only comes through gaining experience in adult football.

How important is it for young players to take on responsibility early?

• It’s crucial to introduce them at the right time. We carefully assess whether a player is ready. Sometimes they get a taste with us, and if it’s not quite enough yet, they return to the U18s to come back stronger later. We always communicate clearly what they still need to work on.

Several former amateur players have recently made the jump to the first team. What effect does that have on the squad?

• It makes us proud as a coaching staff and is the best possible advertisement for our work. When the boys see a teammate suddenly involved with the first team, it’s hugely motivating. It proves: the door to the top is open.

How motivating is it to see that the path upward is tangible?

• It’s the fuel for every training session. Every player knows he’s being watched. At Vienna, the goal of reaching the first team isn’t a distant dream—it’s a concrete plan.

What makes the amateurs such a valuable development platform?

• We are the link. We provide top-level training and a clear philosophy in a physically demanding league. Of course, the tempo is even higher and the duels tougher with the professionals. But you can see with players like Felix Nagele, Vincent Zeidler, or Santino Pistrol that, given a bit of time, it works extremely well. As coaches, we’re delighted whenever our boys get their chance at the top, as has often been the case recently.

What were the main playing aspects you worked on in pre-season?

• The focus was on composure in possession and behavior after losing the ball. Offensively, we worked on efficiency to reward our efforts more often. We also worked on varying our patterns of play to become less predictable.

What principles should define the team?

• Courage, dominance, and aggressiveness. We want to have the ball and constantly put the opponent under pressure with an intense style of play.

How do you handle the fact that development is more important than short-term results?

• That’s my job. The younger the team, the prouder I am when we play well—regardless of the result. I feel no pressure from the club, which allows me to make bold decisions.

Slovan HAC awaits as the first real test. What do you expect?

• Away at Slovan, it’s never easy. The pitch is often slippery, and they have experienced veterans in their ranks. We’re hoping for football-friendly weather. If the boys don’t put unnecessary pressure on themselves just because it’s a competitive match, I’m convinced we’ll take the three points.

What would constitute a successful start for you, regardless of the result?

• A successful start means the boys see every match as an opportunity to develop. I don’t like it when time on the pitch is wasted due to a lack of focus. Then I tell them directly: better go to the cinema with your girlfriend or spend time with your family. The spring season still has 14 matches—if you sleep through two, are sick or injured twice, and don’t start twice, you miss almost 50% of your opportunities. We want to get the maximum out of every training session and every match—and that’s what we try to instill in our boys every single day.

What are you currently enjoying most about your work?

• The willingness to learn and the team spirit. The group absorbs everything—there’s no complaining, just full commitment. That energy is contagious. If we maintain that, it will be a great season with many positive surprises.

What are you particularly proud of at this stage?

• How we currently stick together, how we play football, and the individual development. Seeing a young lad arrive in the summer and by February perform like an established Stadtliga player—or even make his professional debut—is the greatest compliment to our daily work.