13.07.2011
News-Archive

The Austrian Gang

Three players have joined the team who have a strong relation to Austria. Striker Erwin 'Jimmy' Hoffer plays regularly for the Austrian national team, Ümit Korkmaz who is rejoining after a loan spell at VfL Bochum has done so too. And Croatian defender Gordon Schildenfeld joins from Austrian title holder Sturm Graz where he has played the last two seasons.

Erwin Hoffer - Jimmy the Tulip

24 year old 'Jimmy' Hoffer joins on a one year loan contract from Italian Serie A club Napoli, Eintracht have an option to fully sign him at the end of the season. He played in Germany last season already (for Bundesliga club 1. FC Kaiserslautern, also on loan) scoring 5 goals in 24 appearances (11 starts). Before that he was Austrian champion with Rapid Vienna in 2007/08 (10 goals) and vice champion in the following season (27 goals) before his spell at Napoli.

His nickname is linked to a character in the film The Whole Nine Yards - Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski is a hitman played by Bruce Willis. Hopefully Hoffer will be as icecold in front of the opponent's goal next season.

Erwin Hoffer - 2010/11 stats (Bundesliga / Kaiserslautern)

Appearances - 24
Starts - 11
Goals - 5
Goals to Shots Ratio - 26%
Shooting Accuracy - 53%
Passing Accuracy - 72%
Assists - 1
Dribble Success Rate - 55%
Yellow Cards - 1
Red Cards - 0

 

Ümit Korkmaz - The Return

Ümit Korkmaz returns from a half season speall on loan to VfL Bochum. The 25 year old joined the Eagles ahead of the 2008/09 season just before the EURO 2008 where he had quite an impact for Austria who were co hosts of the tournament. He is also rejoining forces with Jimmy Hoffer, the two had won the Austrian title together back in 2008 with Rapid Vienna.

Korkmaz can play in offensive midfield, on the wing or as a striker and his fearless style of attacking with lots of dribbles made him highly rated within the fans. On the down side he struggled with various complicated injuries. During the last winter break half a year ago he followed former Eintracht manager Friedhelm Funkel to 2. Bundesliga club VfL Bochum and was denied promotion only in the play-offs against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Ümit Korkmaz - 2011 stats (2. Bundesliga / Bochum)

Appearances - 12
Starts - 10
Goals - 3
Goals to Shots Ratio - 30%
Shooting Accuracy - 60%
Passing Accuracy - 69%
Assists - 2
Key Passes - 10
Yellow Cards - 0
Red Cards - 0

Gordon Schildenfeld - The Austrian Champion

26 year old Schildenfeld joins from Sturm Graz who are the current Austrian title holders. The Croatian international defender (7 caps since 2009) comes highly rated as an organizer of the back four and apparently played a major part in the successful campaign of Graz, a year before that he won the Austrian cup with them. He is 1.92m tall and also had spells at Dinamo Zagreb, Besiktas and MSV Duisburg.

Gordon Schildenfeld - 2010/11 stats (Austrian Bundesliga / Sturm Graz)

Appearances - 36
Goals - 2
Clean Sheets - 17
Yellow Cards - 3
Red Cards - 0

Europa League app's - 4
Europa League goals - 1

Cup games - 2
Cup goals - 1

 

Sources: Wikipedia, Opta Sports, jimmyhoffer.net, weltfussball.de