Günther Neukirchner

Günther Neukirchner ( born December 2, 1971 in Gram Bach ) is a retired Austrian football player at the position of a defender. The greatest period of his active career, he spent the Styrian club SK Sturm Graz, with whom he enjoyed great success.

Career

The all-rounder was a key player of SK Sturm Graz. The Styrian has been playing since 1980 in Graz. " Freight " as he is called by his teammates, first played in the youth team, with the amateurs and later in the first team. He was an all-rounder because he was not used as a young Storm kicker on his position as a striker and therefore dodged again and again to other positions. He has played in the Bundesliga already at each position, with the exception of the goalie.

Neukirchner made ​​his debut in the Austrian national team on August 19 1998 against France in a 2-2 in Vienna. He brought it to a total of 14 matches. His international career took a somewhat inglorious end, when he refused, together with eight team-mates to fly to Israel to take part in the last qualifying match for the 2002 World Cup.

He was with Sturm Graz Austrian champion twice and three times Austrian Cup winner. He also played three times in the Champions League.

On 30 August 2006, posted on the club's website that Neukirchner ended his active career. On August 31, the Graz veteran signed a contract with FC Gratkorn in the second-class First Division. In summer 2007 he finished there after 16 inserts and a gate his active career as a football player.

2009/10 changed the Graz back to his original club, this time to occupy the post of assistant coach of the amateur team.

With 426 games Günther Neukirchner played the second most games for SK Sturm Graz.

Achievements

• 2x Austrian Champion ( 1997/1998 and 1998/ 1999)
• 4x Austrian Vice Champion (1994 /1995 1995/1996, 1999/2000, 2001/2002)
• 3x OFB Cup winner (1996, 1997, 1999 )
• 2x OFB Cup finalist (1998 and 2002)
• 3x Austrian Supercup Winner (1996, 1998, 1999 )
• 2x Austrian Supercup Finalist (1997, 2002)

Others

• After a 0-4 defeat against Grazer AK on 27 February 2005 Neukirchner delivered a legendary interview in which he criticized the " nerdish " questions of the sports journalists of the channel Premiere.