This is how the 100-year-old Murg was reborn this year and is making a difference in PAOK

Thomas Murg scored for the fifth time this season in PAOK’s game against Helsinki, in what is undoubtedly a renaissance season for the Austrian midfielder. Overall, Murg has scored 14 goals in his 100 appearances in doubleheader games.

Murg, now 29, was acquired in October 2020 when PAOK were looking for Dimitris Pelkas’ successor and the truth is that he never managed to follow in the Greek midfielder’s footsteps. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a good football player.

Murg, who was selected by then PAOK sporting director Olaf Rebbe, signed a three-year contract that expires at the end of this year’s season. The fact that there are considerations about his renewal is a personal achievement for a footballer who completely disappeared from the scene last year.

The responsibility for what happened in the summer of 2022, when he didn’t even follow his team’s preparation in the Netherlands, lies with him. The truth is that the Austrian was annoyed for various reasons, closed himself off and distanced himself from his teammates, even from his compatriot Stefan Schwab.

Something that plif not applicable. His relationships with the group have been restored and Murg feels comfortable within them. His contribution is typical with the picture of his celebrations in the game against Helsinki together with Meite, Baba and Ekong. “Have fun with my… bodyguards”he wrote about his great teammates.

No plans for a full season

He certainly didn’t enjoy last season. Suffice it to remember that Murg had his first minutes of play in PAOK’s friendly match in Cyprus, where Big Head was preparing for the World Cup during his break. And he toyed with trying to attract prospects since he was out of options at that point.

He ultimately ended the year having only played 50 minutes in one cup game with Kalamata and four league games.

The conversations with Lucescu and the activation

Everything has changed since last summer. Razvan Lucescu spoke to him, told him that he appreciated him as a football player and started giving him games. Murg has rekindled his relationship with PAOK, he has now become an important choice for his coach. With 5 goals and one assist, 19 appearances in 26 games, he is also one of the group of footballers that the Romanian coach counts on.

“I have always appreciated Thomas. In his first season he had 40 to 45 games and it was not an easy season for him. In the second season he was mismanaged in many ways and there was the injury that set him back.”

In the third season we talked a lot, I told him that I really appreciated him as a player and that he could do much better. He told me that he was 100% committed to the team and had done great preparation. This is normal, his image doesn’t surprise me because he is a very smart player and knows what to do in every situation.

And when he has the ball and when he doesn’t. It’s the work he puts in every training session, the focus and motivation he shows every day to help the team.” he said after the game against Panserraikos, in which the Austrian gave everything.