Former Kyrgyzstan international Viktor Maier is leading a promotion push in Germany, with SV Vorwärts Nordhorn sitting top of the Landesliga Weser-Ems in his first season as head coach.
The 35-year-old is in charge of the club from Nordhorn, which competes in the sixth tier of German football. With seven matches left to play, Vorwärts lead the table after collecting 50 points from 23 games, with a goal difference of 67:38.
BV Garrel are also on 50 points, but Maier’s side remain ahead on goal difference. If Vorwärts win the Landesliga Weser-Ems, they will earn promotion to the Oberliga Niedersachsen, the fifth tier of German football.
Vorwärts are currently in excellent form. In their latest match, they beat BW Papenburg 3-0 — their fifth consecutive victory. The team have also extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches.
Maier has been part of the Vorwärts Nordhorn setup since 2023. He initially joined the club as a player and playing assistant coach. In the 2023/24 season, he made 27 appearances, scored five goals and provided two assists.
In the 2024/25 season, Maier was still listed as a playing assistant coach but did not appear on the pitch. This season, he has worked as head coach and has not played any matches as a footballer.
For Central Asian football, Maier’s case is rare, though not unprecedented. Peter Neustädter, who was born in Kara-Balta and later represented Kazakhstan, previously worked as a head coach in Germany with Mainz 05 II and TuS Koblenz.
Viktor Maier was born in Kant, Kyrgyzstan, and played for the Kyrgyzstan national team. He made 24 appearances and scored four goals for the national side.