Matt Luzunaris in Austria

Other than getting more money, he should've stayed in MLS. This is my second year in Vienna and the Austrian league sucks. MLS is definately on par, and if the games were played in the states MLS teams would almost every time. I watched Red Bull Salzburg play last year and New York would've handled them pretty easily. The problem with the Austrian league is there is a lack of small skillful players and quick forwards. Maybe this dude will add some pace to Rapid's attack. If he's fast and a decent finisher he could score 5-10 a year in the A-Bundesliga.

 

He couldn't be in MLS right now because he's not a Gen Adidas player I believe. Also, the pay in Austria, as we have seen with Jaqua, appears to be alright.

 

Plus, being in Austria he has a better chance of being noticed by better leagues. The Bundesliga poaches from Austria all the time.

 

I posted earlier walking out the door, but now looking at the situation, it appears to be a promising one. I especially like the quote about the team being willing to help him progress to a level where he could move on, they wouldn't say that if they didn't think he has a lot of potential. What was his situation in the ODP and Youth Nats program? Does anyone know anything else about him? Also, trialing with Newcastle may imply a Euro passport.

 

How odd.

Maybe U.C.F. just wanted too much for a transfer fee.

 

*Is bet-at-home.com really part of the team's name?

*Are they in the top tier of Austrian soccer or a lower division?

*Do we have confirmation he actually signed or could this be him playing a game as a trialist?

 

Wikipedia has him on their roster, although take it with a grain of salt. And yes, bet-at-home.com is really part of their name. I had the same disbelief as you. And they are in the second division, mid-table.

 

The earlier article about the failed deal with Rapid indicated that the Schulz Academy in Florida suddenly demanded a sky-high transfer fee after personal terms had been agreed with Luzunaris. Rapid said no thanks. So it really did fall through because of the transfer fee.

The article mentions that Luzunaris was subsequently transfered to Schwanenstadt, a.k.a. SCS bet-at-home.com. The team's website doesn't list him as one of their incoming players (top set of names), and he's not listed on their roster, either on the Bundesliga.at site or on the team's website. But given that he scored in the practice match against the Bundesliga team LASK Linz, perhaps he's training or trialling with the squad. Unclear to say the least.

 

His youth team requested a fee??? That's strange.

 

As of a couple hours before the transfer deadline, Rapid hadn't come to an agreement with management of the Schulz Academy. Everything was settled with Luzunaris, but then his price was driven up. I suspect it was at least indirectly due to an offer from Schwanenstadt, because it seems Luzunaris ended up there before the deadline. Though the player would have gladly signed for Rapid, the team decided to pass, the article reports.

 

I am still wondering how a youth team can request a transfer fee...

wouldn't that be a violation of some NCAA rule???

 

FC Soprano.

PS. Me thinks something got lost in translation.

 

Apparently the Schulz Soccer Academy is headed by former Austrian pro Josef Schulz. They also competed in the Megacard Sommercup in Austria. No doubt that's how Luzunaris came to the attention of Austrian clubs.

Don't know how usual it is for a development academy to request a transfer fee, but somehow Luzunaris ended up in Schwanenstadt even though he was ready to sign for Rapid. And I'm not sure it would violate NCAA regulations. I know it's not the same situation, but Lapira was still eligible for Notre Dame after appearing for the Irish national team.

 

I would speculate then that Schultz demanded the FIFA development minimum to be paid to him.

That may have amounted to a few hundred grand and Rapid may have balked.

 

So, from that, we can deduce that the Austrian B-liga has a 6 foreigner rule?

And that the Germans still count as foreigners? (they don't forgive the Anschluß easily)

Very odd for a EU member.

 

Well, one look at the Red Bull Salzburg squad tells you there's no six-foreigner rule. They've only got a hand full of Austrians.

So I suspect that part of the story, which isn't included in the Austrian press report posted on Schulz's site, isn't quite accurate. More likely, Rapid told Luzunaris that they were planning to play him with the amateurs for a while. He wasn't too happy about that, and the Schwanenstadt folks got wind of it and made him an offer. That's pretty much the version the Austrian press article relates. Incidentally, the article also notes that Frank Stronach's team offered Luzunaris a three-year deal.

 

well 6 foreigner rule only applies if you want money from either the tv station or the oefb(austrian soccer association)

Salzburg doesnt need this money cause the have a budget of about 60 million euros

 

Ach, so.

Vielen dank.

 

Schwanenstadt is on a three-game win streak following the winter break, moving up from 7th to 3rd in the process. After beating the Austria Vienna Amateurs 1-0, they won two home games 4-1 and 3-1. Matt got about ten minutes in the first, started but was subbed at the half in the second, and got a couple garbage minutes in the third. No goals so far.

 

Apparently a newly formed club named FC Magna will be acquiring the playing license of Schwanenstadt for 2008/09. I'm not quite sure what the impetus for this club is or what exactly is going on, but it's probably not good news for Luzunaris.

Link: http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/May/05/austrias-kuljic-drops-down-to-magna-