Luis Bach and his Stuttgart Surge can certainly look back on a successful season. The team reached the semi-finals and Bach collected 51 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a sack.

It was the 30-year-old linebacker's second season in the European League of Football. A season full of great moments, also for Bach: "Of course, there are always many moments. I can break it down into a personal moment and one with the team. My personal moment was scoring my first touchdown for Surge." The linebacker scored an interception return touchdown against the Helvetic Mercenaries. "Before that, I'd scored points at every level I'd ever played at. It was nice to be able to achieve that in the ELF as well."

A moment he remembers gladly and in great detail: "My focus was completely on the ball. It wasn't an easy catch. Immediately afterwards, your football instinct kicks in. You immediately analyse 'who's next to you, who's in front of you and what's the best way'. Your head switches off, I think you just react." There is time for joy when the job is done, says Bach.

He joins a number of Surge players who have made an interception this season. With a total of 29 interceptions, the team leads the ELF by a large margin. In addition to Bach, Lasse Engel and Raheem Simiran-Wilson also managed to carry the ball into the end zone.

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Teamwork makes captains happy

"My best moment of the season with the team wasn't at a game, but when we were preparing for the semi-final against Rhein Fire. We had a small training camp. It was a Saturday training session, the sun was shining, and you could feel the energy in the whole team." Everyone was all-in for the game, explains Bach. "For me, as team captain, it was just nice to see all the players pulling together. Whether young or old. Also, to see how far we've come and how we've grown together as a team."

A process that takes different lengths of time for each team. "Usually about four to five weeks into the season,” estimates Bach. "Only then can you see how people react to bad games or good moments."

Bach and Surge with a clear goal

Surge can certainly be satisfied with the season. The team was only beaten once during the regular season and in the semi-final by Rhein Fire, the later champions. But as we all know after the season is before the season. And the next one will be special for Surge. After all, the final will take place in Stuttgart in 2025.

But that's not the only reason Bach is looking forward to the next season: “Under the current coaching staff, we've proven that last season's success wasn't luck. Now the whole league can see that there is something special here. I think that attracts good players from all over Germany and Europe. I think it will make our squad even better. I'm just looking forward to getting the opportunity to get to the final again. That is the ultimate goal.”

Bach knows what it's like to win titles. He has already lifted the trophy in the German Football League with the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns. “This feeling is simply completely different. It goes beyond personal goals. It stays with you forever,” he reveals.

According to Bach, all Surge players have the same goal, and that is to take their team as far as possible.

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