Summer soccer camps in the Salzburg region - where the pros go

Every year, the European – often even the global – soccer elite gathers in the Salzburg region to begin their season or tournament preparations. These are just a few of the clubs who have taken advantage of this spot in the Alps:

• Ajax Amsterdam
• RB Leipzig
• Bayer 04 Leverkusen
• FC Liverpool
• AS Monaco
• OGC Nice
• the Asian Champions League winner al Hilal from Saudi Arabia
• and the South Korean, Russian and Hungarian national teams.

Hannes Empl knows the scene well and has even helped shape it. With his full service agency SLFC Soccer, based at the Kirchenwirt in Leogang, the former soccer player organises more than 100 training camps and 250 test matches every year. "We are operating at 75% of our pre Covid levels", Empl recently reported in an interview with the newspaper Salzburger Kronenzeitung.

But why do so many top clubs run their summer camps, which are essentially team building events, in the Salzburg region?  What do coaches such as Jürgen Klopp from FC Liverpool or Niko Kovac from AS Monaco value about this region?

A number of different factors come into play here, according to Hannes Empl: "The excellent hotels, good training conditions, international test match opponents and the security", the insider told the Kronenzeitung.

The mild alpine climate offers another advantage: not too hot, not too cold, just right for intensive training. Ralph Hasenhüttl, head coach of Southampton FC, has confirmed this on the SLFC website.

The infrastructure that awaits pros in the Salzburger Land is a fairly significant factor. In addition to suitable soccer fields including hotels and team building opportunities.

Countless hotels, which also specialise in business events, recognised the pro players as a target group a long time ago and have adjusted their services accordingly.

• Hotel Krallerhof in Saalfelden Leogang, which features incentive options right on its doorstep as well as 30 power sleeping rooms equipped with a special sleep system and natural materials, has already won over the South Korean national team, among others.
• Hotel Gut Brandhof in Saalfelden scores points with a football pitch in FIFA dimensions and an adjoining training area. Stars such as Saleh, Mané and Keita from FC Liverpool have recuperated from strenuous training sessions in some of its 200 rooms.

• The Wildkogel Resorts in Bramberg are the go to spots for clubs like FC Red Bull Salzburg and AFC Ajax Amsterdam.
• The Bayer 04 Leverkusen players have been pampering themselves at Hotel Tauern Spa in Kaprun with its SPA water world and 13 saunas since 2013.

• Niko Kovac and his AS Monaco players make Spothotel Alpenblick in Zell am See their temporary home. With the Alois Latini stadium, FC Zell am See's playing grounds, the hotel also comes with suitable training facilities.
• Further popular locations for football clubs include Hotel Ritzenhof in Saalfelden, Travel Charme Werfenweng and of course the 5-star luxury hotel Schloss Fuschl in its beautiful setting by Lake Fuschl.

The training camps are an important source of business for the hotels as well as the region. "The clubs alone, including their coaching and support teams, bring in nearly 30,000 overnight stays", Hannes Empl told the Kronenzeitung.

The camps also add great advertising value for the region thanks to TV and online broadcasts of test matches which take place against a breathtaking mountain backdrop and share the image of this alpine region with the world.

"We play in the premier league here. Thanks to the fact that so many top international teams run their training camps in the Salzburg region, we've hit the tourism jackpot. This helps us to live up to our reputation as a first rate, active and sports oriented region", says Leo Bauernberger, CEO of SalzburgerLand Tourismus GmbH (SLTG).

Do you want to know how you can imitate the professional clubs in terms of teambuilding and strategy (nothing else is such a season preparation)? Contact us, we will show you where in the city and province of Salzburg the most inspiring places are waiting for you!

Benefit from the know how of our local event experts and let us advise you personally for your next event in Salzburg. Contact us at any time: by phone at +43 662 88987 271 or send us a short email to team@meetsalzburg.com  We are looking forward to welcoming you in Salzburg!