Andreas Ivanschitz

Andreas Ivanschitz
Personal information
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	1. FSV Mainz 05
Number	25
Youth career
1989–1998	ASK Baumgarten
Senior career*
Years	Team
1998–2005	Rapid Wien
2006	Red Bull Salzburg
2006–2010	Panathinaikos
2009–2010	→ 1. FSV Mainz 05 (loan)
2010-	1. FSV Mainz 05
International career‡
	Austria U-21
2003–2009	Austria
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 September 2010; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 September 2008

Andreas Ivanschitz (born 15 October 1983 in Eisenstadt) is an Austrian footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Mainz.

Club career

Ivanschitz began his football career as a youth in his town's local team called ASK Baumgarten, where he spent nine years (1989–1998).

Soon, Rapid Wien scouters found out about his talent and in 1998, he signed his first professional contract with the Austrian champions. He was only 16 years old when he wore his team's shirt during an Austrian Cup match against Ranshofen (26 October 1999). His first official League match was in 2000 against Wüstenrot Salzburg. In 177 games for Rapid Wien, Ivanschitz scored 27 times, winning the Austrian Championship title in 2004–05. In 2003, he was elected "Austrian Footballer of the Year."

Ivanschitz then transferred to Red Bull Salzburg in January 2006, and then to Greek Super League club Panathinaikos in August 2006 on a two-year loan. On 20 June 2008, Ivanschitz agreed to continue his career in Panathinaikos, this time on a permanent deal.^[1]

After three years in Greece with Panathinaikos he agreed on 18 July 2009 on a two year loan with Mainz with a buyout clause for another two years of contract.

International career

Ivanschitz made his debut for Austria in a February 2003 friendly match against Greece, coming on as a substitute for Markus Weissenberger. He was also a participant at the UEFA Euro 2008. He has earned 49 caps for Austria and has scored seven goals.^[2]

He captained Austria for the first time when he was only 19 years old. Ivanschitz wears shirt number 10 in the national team and his position is in the midfield, preferably in an attacking position. Ivanschitz is considered the David Beckham of Austria, despite favouring his left foot; still the name stuck because of his exposure to the local media and popularity with the fans. In September 2009 he was disbanded from Austria's coach, Dietmar Constantini, who has said he will never call up the playmaker.^[3]

National team statistics

Template:Football player national team statistics |- |2003||4||1 |- |2004||6||1 |- |2005||7||0 |- |2006||8||1 |- |2007||9||2 |- |2008||13||2 |- |2009||1||0 |- !Total||48||7 |}

Honours

Rapid Wien

Austrian Footballer of the Year (1): 2003
Austrian Football Bundesliga (1): 2005

Personal life

Ivanschitz comes from a musical family and plays various musical instruments in his spare time.

References

^ "Τελειώνει του Ιβανσιτς" (in Greek). Contra. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
^ "Austria - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
^ "Ivanschitz nicht im Team" (in German). transfermarkt.de. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2009.

External links

Template:Persondata

[1] "Τελειώνει του Ιβανσιτς" (in Greek). Contra. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2009.

[2] "Austria - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 October 2009.

[3] "Ivanschitz nicht im Team" (in German). transfermarkt.de. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2009.

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