RAIDERS TIROL TAB FATAH AS NEXT HEAD COACH
Raiders Tirol have named a new head coach following the end-of-season departure of Jim Herrmann, in a definite example of what’s old is new again.
Shuan Fatah will provide a familiar face for Tirol fans, having previously led the Austrian team between 2011-19, prior to their European League of Football involvement. During that time, he led the team to five Austrian Bowls (2011, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019), three CEFL Bowls (2017, 2018 and 2019), one Eurobowl (2011), one European Super Final (2018) and the ECTC Championship (2019).
Aside from the achievements on the field, Fatah also shaped an entire era of Raiders football, establishing Innsbruck as a leading destination for players from Austria and beyond — and coaching many of the ‘homegrown’ stars as head coach of the Austrian national side between 2015-19.
After stops at the Hildesheim Invaders, Berlin Adler, the German national team and the Hamburg Sea Devils, Fatah now returns to the place where he achieved his greatest successes. His comeback is seen as a strong statement of the Raiders’ intent to compete at the very top of European football once again, although exactly where that will be remains a question unanswered as the ELF and breakaway EFA — of which Tirol was a founding member — continue to divide the sport.
“It truly feels like coming home,” Fatah commented. “The Raiders are more than just a team to me — they’re like my second family. I’m excited to work alongside the organisation, the players and our incredible fans to strengthen the Raiders’ position at the top of European football.”
The new head coach brings not only a wealth of experience, but also a deep understanding of the Raiders’ philosophy, values and culture, and stands for player development, a clear on-field identity and discipline.
“Over the past few weeks, we’ve spoken with several candidates, but it quickly became clear that Coach Fatah is the right person to lead us into the next era of Raiders football,” GM Ulz Däuber explained. “He knows Innsbruck and the Raiders Tirol and truly embodies our philosophy and values. His wealth of experience and history of success make him the ideal coach to take our program forward.”
The 2024 Raiders remained in playoff contention until the closing weeks of the regular season, before eventually finishing with a .500 record and third place in the ELF’s South Division, behind postseason qualifiers Munich and Madrid. Team president Elisabeth Swarovski is obviously to go a step further with the new/old head coach back on the sidelines.
“With the return of Shuan Fatah, we’re opening an exciting new chapter for the Raiders Tirol,” she noted. “His leadership, fresh ideas and relentless work ethic will help us raise the standard once again and compete at the very top of European football. We’re thrilled to welcome Coach Fatah back to Innsbruck and can’t wait to continue our success story together.“
