player profile Ivica Vastić

With the opening match closing-in, I thought it is as good as time as ever to start player profiles for Austria. The oldest player in the Euro’s is Austria’s mid-fielder / striker, Ivica Vastić who at 38 years of age has the burden of not only providing goal-scoring punch to the squad but much need experience in the face of adversity. Ivica, who was born in the historic city of Split Croatia and became a naturalized Austrian citizen in 1996, was the top scorer for LASK Linz in the Austrian Football Bundesliga this season and has consistently maintained his goal scoring prowess through his long career. Through his lengthy career he has won the Austrian Footballer of the Year award four times, in 1995, 1998 and 1999 while at SK Sturm Graz where he spent the majority of his career and in 2007 at LASK Linz. After a two plus year absence in international competition, he was called up in April and earned his 48th cap against Malta this past week.

While much of the general press are questioning whether he will get the starting nod against Croatia on Sunday, it seems impossible that Coach Hickersberger wouldn’t have him on the pit from the get go. His versatility, tactical knowledge, time-tested experience and well-proven creative abilities make him an instrumental cog in the Austrian wheel.