Kuster returns to form as Winterthur chase promotion

Goalkeeper Markus Kuster has helped FC Winterthur make an unbeaten start to the season, with the club sitting second in the second division and targeting promotion, ORF reported. The 32-year-old, who is from Pama, has conceded four goals in six matches since taking over as first-choice goalkeeper after an injury to his rival.

Winterthur were relegated last season, but have started strongly under Kuster’s return. “We are playing good football, are solid defensively and score a lot of goals,” he said. He added that the team had sold out its home stadium, with 8,000 to 9,000 spectators.

Kuster returned to Winterthur in the summer after six months in Cyprus and six months without a club. He previously played for the Swiss club from 2023 to 2025 and said he already felt at home there. His contract runs until 2028, and the club has suggested he could stay on as an employee afterwards.

A return to Austria does not appear to be on his immediate agenda, though Kuster said it would be appealing to end his career at MSV 2020, the successor club to SV Mattersburg. He is following its progress to the Regionalliga Ost but said he was not currently thinking about a return.