Six arrivals at LASK: Kržnarić’s return and fresh ambition in Linz

In the corridors of LASK’s training base in Linz, the quiet buzz of pre-season preparation has sharpened into something louder. Six new players are stepping into the ÖFB-Frauen Bundesliga spotlight, each carrying a story that will define the club’s 2026/27 campaign.

Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub (LASK) have confirmed six additions to their squad ahead of the upcoming ÖFB-Frauen Bundesliga season. The announcement follows a seventh-place finish in 2025/26, an improvement on the club’s ninth-place result in 2024/25. Head coach Markus Eitl, appointed in January 2025, has moved swiftly to reshape the team under his leadership.

The most prominent arrival is Tea Kržnarić, who returns to LASK after spells with ŽNK Hajduk and SKN St. Pölten. The Croatian midfielder, a Champions League participant and 2024/25 Bundesliga winner with St. Pölten, brings elite experience to the Linz side. Her familiarity with the club and the league is expected to accelerate Eitl’s project.

Miriam Sterrer joins from 1. FSV Mainz 05 of Germany, adding an Austrian presence with six prior ÖFB-Frauen Bundesliga seasons at FC Blau-Weiß Linz. The 22-year-old’s arrival underscores LASK’s strategy to combine youth with domestic experience. Dayna Sunshine Tuppinger returns after recovering from a 2025 ligament tear, aiming to revive a career that showed promise in the Austrian top flight.

Antea Guvo, a dual Croatian and Irish international, arrives from Peamont United in the Irish Premier Division. The 21-year-old forward made her Croatian senior debut in 2024 following standout performances in Ireland. Her pace and physicality are set to add a new dimension to LASK’s attack.

The final two signings bring international depth to the squad. Hungary’s Blanka Bokor, a versatile midfielder from Honvéd FC, and Estonia’s Katrin Kirpu, a forward from ŽNK Agram, complete the group. Kirpu’s experience with Estonia’s national team and Bokor’s tactical flexibility across midfield add strategic value to the new-look side.

LASK’s opening fixture of the 2026/27 season will be an away trip to FC Blau-Weiß Linz, a local derby that promises early drama. The club also eyes a strong run in the ÖFB Frauen Cup after Austria Wien claimed the trophy in 2025/26. Eitl’s squad overhaul reflects the club’s ambition to climb the table after two seasons of mid-table struggles.

With Kržnarić’s return and a blend of youth and international pedigree, LASK’s reshaped squad faces a pivotal season in the ÖFB-Frauen Bundesliga. The stage is set in Linz for a campaign that could redefine the club’s trajectory.