Hearts to set up camp at top complex in Germany

Published on Wednesday 20 May 2009 09:44

HEARTS' pre-season training camp will take place at a plush football complex near Hannover frequented by the German national team and endorsed by world-renowned names such as Pele and Franz Beckenbauer.

The elegant Sporthotel Fuchsbachtal in Barsinghausen, around 30 kilometres west of Hannover, is used regularly by the German Football Association and also hosted the Polish national team during the 2006 World Cup.

Hearts will stay at the facility between July 6 and 15, although those dates could be subject to change.

The club intend to play a friendly against a German Bundesliga side during the trip and may also arrange a match in Northern Ireland as part of their pre-season preparations.

The Sporthotel Fuchsbachtal, opened in 1951, contains one grass pitch and one artificial surface, a goalkeeper training area, a swimming pool, sauna, solarium, whirlpool plus many other leisure facilities such as a tennis court and bowling alley.

Less than one kilometre away is a local football stadium and four further grass pitches owned by the hotel.

The complex was used by Pele and his club Santos during European tours in the 1950s and 60s.

The Brazilian has returned several times and spoken warmly of its facilities, as has Beckenbauer, who has stayed there as both player and manager of Germany and in his current capacity as vice-president of the country's football association.

Hearts' trip is being organised by Anatoli Korobochka, the club's sport director, who also oversaw last year's training camp near the German city of Wiesbaden. Manager Csaba Laszlo admitted he is a huge fan of the Barsinghausen facility.

"Everything you need is there," he said today. "Five or six football grounds at a modern football complex.

"It will be different from last year. In Germany, every region has its own academy in conjunction with the German football federation, and one of the academies is at Barsinghausen.

"If the German national team play in Hannover, they stay at Barsinghausen."

Germany will set up camp at the Sporthotel Fuchsbachtal this September to prepare for their World Cup qualifier with Azerbaijan.

A spokesperson for the complex said: "Our hotel is very traditional, but modern.

"We have had many great football teams stay here over the years, dating back to Manchester United and Sir Matt Busby.

"Hearts are coming to stay with us in July and I am sure they will enjoy the facilities here."