Beanpole ex-Premier League striker, 42, comes out of retirement for shock sport switch to Vikings American football team
HE'S BACK Beanpole ex-Premier League striker, 42, comes out of retirement for shock sport switch to Vikings American football team
Former Premier League striker Stefan Maierhofer has swapped goals for gridirons ... by becoming an American football star.
The 6ft 7ins Austria international had a top-flight spell with Wolves, scoring once in 10 games before leaving in 2011.
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Ex-Premier League ace Stefan Maierhofer has crossed over to American football
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Maierhofer played for the likes of Wolves, Bayern Munich and Millwall
He joined Bristol City on loan in 2010, and four years later had a brief stint with their Championship rivals Millwall.
Former Bayern Munich youngster Maierhofer has also played for a host of German, Austrian and Slovak clubs.
But the 42-year-old has now switched sports by joining the Vienna Vikings American football club.
They compete in the European League of Football, and won the title in 2022.
Maierhofer said: "I'm making my sporting comeback as a kicker in American football, and I'm going to play for Vienna Vikings in 2025.
"From my first minute at the club I was clear in my mind that I wanted to join them. Everyone from the owner down to the equipment manager speaks with one voice.
"Everything is all about success and respect, and that impressed me. I trained with the former NFL kicker, Giorgio Tavecchio, and worked on perfecting my technique.
"I want to reach the 2025 final with the Vikings, and play in front of 50,000 American football fans."
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Vikings head coach Chris Calaycay said: "Stefan is a very tall man, extremely popular, and with a unique body language.
"The transition from kicking a soccer ball to kicking a football is tough, but he is going tremendously well."
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Club owner Robin Lumsden added: "A number of prominent footballers wanted to play for us, and many found the trials difficult.
"But it became clear very quickly that Stefan was the right man for us. He embodies our fighting mentality - he is highly professional and competitive."
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