Wiener Austria reacted to the departure of Haris Tabakovic to German second division club Hertha BSC and signed a striker on Wednesday: Alexander Schmidt comes from FC Vizela from Portugal to favorites. The 25-year-old from Vienna signed a one-year contract with Austria with an option for another season. “He’s a similar striker (like Tabakovic, note), we missed the profile,” said coach Michael Wimmer on ORF.
09.08.2023 12.15
Online since today, 12.15 p.m
Schmidt, trained in Salzburg and the key scorer in the 2017 Youth League final, played a total of 69 Bundesliga games for WAC, SKN St. Pölten and LASK and scored 15 goals, mainly for St. Pölten 2020/21 (13). In Portugal he only made 12 appearances this season and remained goalless. The new signing will be part of the squad for the qualifier in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday (7 p.m., live on ORF1) at Legia Warsaw.
“Austria’s call came as a surprise, but of course I was happy. I’m happy about the trust. I’m Viennese, I grew up here and couldn’t refuse, especially since Austria plays really good football,” explained the 1.93 meter tall attacker, who the “Violets” signed from Portugal on a free transfer.
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The 25-year-old Viennese played recently @FCVizelaOficial and signs a contract with the violets until the summer of 2024 plus an option for another season.#faklive #ServusAlex
???? @MrShaked pic.twitter.com/HpA3i0UBQu— FK Austria Wien (@FKAustriaWien) 9. August 2023
The footsteps of Tabakovic, for which the Viennese should receive a fee of 500,000 euros due to an exit clause, are of course big, the Swiss scored no fewer than 21 goals in 42 games for the “Violets”, six in the four derbies of the season alone (record).
Possible debut in Poland
Schmidt will initially sit on the bench in Poland. “But of course there is a chance that he will come in. We are glad that it worked out and that he can join the journey,” added Wimmer. Austria will play the runners-up in Poland in the first leg of the third round of qualifying on Thursday. Should the hurdle be cleared, the play-off will be against the winner of the duel Omonia Nicosia from Cyprus and Midtjylland from Denmark.
