Hoffenheim coach Ilzer wants to play for Bundesliga title by 2030

Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer has big ambitions with the struggling Bundesliga club as he said he wants to play for the title in five years.

"I want to bring Hoffenheim back to international football in three years. And I want to play for the German championship in five years with Hoffenheim," Ilzer told Monday's edition of Kicker sports magazine.

Ilzer said it was important "to have goals and to think in visions."

The 47-year-old arrived at Hoffenheim in November after more than four years at the helm of Sturm Graz in his native Austria. He led Graz to the 2023 Cup title and 2024 league and Cup double, ending Red Bull Salzburg's run of 10 straight league titles.

Hoffenheim are 14th in the Bundesliga, five points above the danger zone. They have been in the top flight since 2008, finishing third in 2018 to qualify for the Champions League. They last played in Europe in 2020-21.

"At Sturm Graz I was the steam engine in front of a long train. Here I am on an ocean liner. I have to see where I can turn something so that the steamer goes in the right direction," he said.

Ilzer said the ship had "only just set sail" but that "I am able to think big. But I must be ready to face the consequences. And that's where we come to unpopular decisions."