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Kügel returns: FCI star is planning a big comeback in Ingolstadt!
Julian Kügel will return to FC Ingolstadt in 2023 to play again after a 406-day break. He takes on an important role in the team.
Kügel returns: FCI star is planning a big comeback in Ingolstadt!
“Coming home” – that’s how Julian Kügel describes his return to FC Ingolstadt, a club where he once began his professional career. The 28-year-old striker played for SpVgg Unterhaching for a year, which was relegated from the 3rd division last season. On Tuesday he was able to watch from the sidelines of the friendly match against VfB Eichstätt, which was won 5-0. The anticipation of his return to action is clearly noticeable in Kügel, as he wants to play in the second test match against SpVgg Bayreuth on Saturday, after a 406-day break. Kügel explains that he feels better mentally and physically than he did two years ago when he last played for FCI. Danube Courier reports that he was initially scheduled for the second team, but was able to impress in preparation and is now firmly integrated into the professional team.
Kügel's return was particularly celebrated by managing director Dietmar Beiersdorfer, who described the attacker as a “real identification figure”. Kügel himself would like to introduce young players to the club's values, but does not see himself as having a direct responsibility. It is important for him to maintain a good relationship with the more experienced players on the team. During his time in Unterhaching, he also kept his center of life in Ingolstadt, which made it easier for him to find an apartment. This connection to the city is also reflected in the fact that he has already shown the area to new players and sees himself as a local guide.
A look at the statistics
- Kügels Leistungen in der letzten Saison:
- Pflichtspiele: 36
- Tore: 6
- Vorlagen: 4
Returning to the FCI was an important step for Kügel, which he sees as a new beginning. He is looking forward to scoring points in the new season and having a successful time with the team. Discussions with the coaching team about his exact role in the team are still ongoing, and Kügel is excited to see where he can best contribute on the field. In any case, his enthusiasm is unmistakable – “it feels like coming home” – very fitting for someone who has never really left the FCI. Kicker highlights how Kügel can enrich the team with his experience and his identification as a player.