A player that has been labeled the David Beckham of his country is coming to Sounders FC.
Given that nickname because of his ability to score on free kicks, as well as his popularity among fans, Andreas Ivanschitz is a longtime member of the Austrian National Team. The left-footed midfielder has earned 69 caps for his nation and played in some prestigious European leagues, including his latest stint with La Liga club Levante. Ivanschitz signed with Sounders FC on Tuesday.
“Andreas is a player who is creative in the attack and dangerous on set pieces, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can contribute to the group,” Head Coach Sigi Schmid said. “As we head into the final months of our season and begin CONCACAF Champions League play, we welcome Andreas’ experience and poise at this critical time of year.”
Fans started calling Ivanschitz “the Austrian David Beckham” very early on in his career. The attacking midfielder first signed a professional contract at age 15, when he began playing for Austrian champions Rapid Vienna. He captained the Austrian National Team before turning 20.
Ivanschitz, 31, has scored 12 career goals on the international stage. He is one of 14 players on Seattle’s roster that have represented their country at the senior National Team level.
The 2003 Austrian Footballer of the Year, Ivanschitz played in the German Bundesliga with 1. FSV Mainz 05 for four seasons before joining Levante in 2013. He also spent three years at Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos, one of two clubs that he represented in UEFA Champions League action.
“Andreas is a skilled and dynamic player that has proven his abilities in some of Europe’s top domestic leagues and at the international level,” said General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “We’re excited to bring him to Seattle and help him integrate into our attack as we head toward the stretch run of our season.”
Although Ivanschitz joins the Sounders with less than three months remaining in the regular season, the club will need as much depth as possible for those remaining months. Seattle plays eight times in August, including a trio of Scotiabank 2015-2016 CONCACAF Champions League matches. And with another international window coming in the fall, the Rave Green could be without some of their star players for certain matches.
Seattle’s next game is on Wednesday, a SCCL group stage match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Ivanschitz is not yet in Seattle, but could be available to play as soon as Sunday's regular-season game versus the LA Galaxy.
