The moment that changed everything
Some clubs have a single moment in their history that changes everything. For SK Sturm Graz, the 2024/25 season was that moment. Their first-ever entry into the UEFA Champions League league phase. The black-and-white shirt on Europe's biggest stage. Opponents: Borussia Dortmund. Atalanta. And yes — Liverpool.
The Champions League: what Sturm experienced
Sturm qualified after winning the 2023/24 Austrian title for the new CL league phase with 36 teams. Home matches at Wörthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt because Liebenauer doesn't meet UEFA requirements. But Sturm was there.
The result was both sobering and historic: 30th of 36, six points from eight matches. They lost away at Dortmund (81,365 in the Westfalenstadion), at Atalanta too. Liverpool was one of their opponents — UEFA maintains a dedicated head-to-head page for the tie.
What this gives the club can't be bought: reference. Experience. Self-belief at the highest level.
Back-to-back: the forgotten superlative
Amid all the Champions League excitement it's easy to overlook what Sturm did in the Bundesliga: defending the Austrian title. Back-to-back. With a squad managing eight European matches simultaneously.
Top scorer was Mika Biereth with 14 goals (11 league, 2 CL, 1 cup) — bought for four million from Arsenal and worth every cent in year one. Plus William Bøving with 11 league goals, Otar Kiteishvili with 12 league and 13 total.
Sturm weren't just champions. Sturm were good.
Otar Kiteishvili: the man behind everything
Kiteishvili has been in Graz since 2018. He's 30. He's survived every transfer window despite interest never being absent. The Premier League called — concretely, not just rumour.
And then what always happens at Sturm happened again: he stayed. Contract extended to summer 2027. Sturm has stopped being a transit club.
He's not a classic playmaker who puts himself on show. He's the player who sets the tempo — when Sturm attacks and when not to. Twelve league goals in a season where his club is also playing Champions League.
Failing before the second CL shot
After the second title, Sturm entered CL qualifying again. Play-off round: Bodø/Glimt from Norway. Aggregate: 6–2 to the Norwegians.
Europa League in 2025/26 instead. Painful but not a failure — Bodo/Glimt regularly beat clubs that look much stronger on paper.
Summer 2026 transfer window: what's happening now
Confirmed arrivals: Simon Seidl (Blau-Weiß Linz), Jürgen Heil + Ammar Helac (both TSV Hartberg), Petar Petrovic (Javor-Matis/SRB).
Returning loans: Amady Camara (Nantes), Szymon Włodarczyk (Excelsior/NED), Emran Soglo (Zulte Waregem).
Confirmed departures: Stefan Hierländer (contract end), Rory Wilson back to Aston Villa, Jeyland Mitchell confirmed to Feyenoord Rotterdam, Jusuf Gazibegović (loan end, Cologne).
On the radar: Jamie Lawrence (WSG Tirol), Mohamed Ouédraogo (Altach), Essiën Bassey (PSV Eindhoven), Matty Warhurst (Man City), Mofe Jemide (Crystal Palace), Giorgi Gvasalia (Dinamo Tbilisi — another Georgian for the growing Caucasian network).
Possible departures: Weinhandl + Bignetti (contract ends), Khudyakov (Spartak Moscow), Dimitri Lavalée (Standard Liège) — the Belgian was a key CL-season player.
When did Sturm Graz play Liverpool?
In the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 league phase — Sturm Graz's first-ever CL appearance.
How far did Sturm Graz get in the 2024/25 Champions League?
30th of 36, six points (2 wins, 6 losses). Then moved into the Europa League knockout play-offs.
Did Kiteishvili extend his contract at Sturm?
Yes. Extended to summer 2027 despite confirmed Premier League interest.
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