Guido Burgstaller: Comeback in Carinthia's lower league possible!

Guido Burgstaller: Comeback in Carinthia's lower league possible!

Guido Burgstaller ended his professional football career at the age of 36. The former SK Rapid Wien player announced this in a personal video message. Burgstaller, who comes from Carinthia, is not only seen as an identifying figure in Austrian football, but has also experienced numerous ups and downs in his career. His entry into his professional career began 19 years ago in his home state, where he played for FC Kärnten.

His career took him through several positions, including SC Wiener Neustadt, Cardiff City, 1. FC Nürnberg, FC Schalke 04 and FC St. Pauli, before returning to his roots at SK Rapid. At Rapid he was team captain in the 2023/24 season, which he handed over to Matthias Seidl at his own request. In two and a half years of his second era, he played 210 competitive games and scored 70 goals.

Career stages and successes

Guido Burgstaller has made almost 600 appearances in national and international competitions and scored an impressive 183 goals. He played 26 times for the Austrian national team and made his debut in 2012 under team boss Marcel Koller. He scored his last goal in the 2-1 away win in the 346th Vienna derby after suffering a serious head injury. Burgstaller was voted “Rapidler of the Year” three times in a row, which underlines his importance for the club. Performance data during his time at Rapid includes 154 Bundesliga games with 55 goals.

There is currently speculation that Burgstaller could possibly move to SK Maria Saal in the Carinthian lower league. In response to a request from “Sport-Fan”, the club made a vague statement about a possible commitment. Interestingly, Burgstaller is now player-coach of SK Maria Saal, which shows him in a new role in football.

A look at Austrian football history

Austria has a rich football history, which has been shaped by many important players. In addition to Burgstaller, legends such as Hans Krankl, David Alaba and Toni Polster are among the most successful players in the country. Krankl, who celebrated famous successes for his performances at FC Barcelona and SK Rapid, is considered one of the best strikers in the history of Austrian football. David Alaba is currently the most important Austrian player, whose career took him from FK Austria Vienna to Bayern Munich and later to Real Madrid.

The development of football in Austria is also heavily influenced by players like Andreas Herzog and Ernst Happel, who was both a player and a coach. The successes of these athletes help embody and develop the football culture in the country.

In summary, it can be said that Guido Burgstaller is not only ending his own history in football, but also continues to shape the legacy of Austrian football. Reflections on his commitment to SK Maria Saal could be the start of a new chapter for one of the remarkable players of the last two decades.

For more information about Burgstaller's career and achievements, visit the articles by Laola1 and SK Rapid. You can find an overview of the most successful Austrian footballers at ÖPB.