Pascal Grünwald once switched from Wacker to Austria Salzburg: "I was accused of being greedy for money"

Pascal Grünwald, former goalkeeper for both Wacker Innsbruck and Austria Salzburg, reflects on his controversial move between the two clubs ahead of their first West derby in ten years. The match, set for Friday at the Tivoli Stadium, has sold out all 16,125 tickets and drawn international attention. Grünwald recalls being accused of greed after switching from Wacker to Austria Salzburg during a turbulent period for football in Tyrol. The West derby between Wacker Innsbruck and Austria Salzburg holds deep historical significance. For decades, the rivalry between these two traditional clubs has intensified, especially after Salzburg emerged as a dominant force in Austrian football during the 1990s. The match will mark their first encounter since the 2015/16 season and promises high tension, with police and security forces preparing for large crowds both inside and outside the stadium. Grünwald, who played for both teams, remembers watching matches as a child, including memorable games against Austria Wien and Real Madrid. He described the rivalry with Austria Salzburg as unique, noting how fans from Tirol viewed them differently compared to other rivals. His personal experience of moving from Wacker to Austria Salzburg came amid the collapse of FC Tirol in 2002, which led to a merger with Wattens to form Wacker Innsbruck. Grünwald explained that negotiations with Wacker stalled, leading him to sign with Austria Salzburg instead. He noted that had talks continued, he might have remained with Wacker, but the club eventually signed another goalkeeper, Harald Planer, closing the door on further discussions. Wacker President Hannes Rauch highlighted the massive interest in the derby, stating that they could have sold up to 25,000 tickets. The match has attracted journalists from across Europe, underscoring its importance in the second division. Tensions have already escalated before the game, with Innsbruck fans leaving a large Wacker graffiti near the motorway tunnel in Salzburg. Wacker coach Sebastian Siller urged fans to avoid violence, emphasizing the need for a clean match. Despite the calls for calm, the derby is expected to be highly charged, reflecting the long-standing animosity between the two clubs.