Rapid move to secure Schick signing
Transfer news: The 29-year old Thorsten Schick has joined SK Rapid from Swiss champions Young Boys Berne, signing a contract until summer 2022. The utility man, usually deployed on the right of midfield, has already completed a medical and will join up with his new team mates when the players return from the summer break on 20 June.
A native of Styria, Schick began his career as a youth player with Sturm Graz, before joining then second division outfit FC Gratkorn on loan as he took his first steps into professional football. In 2011 he moved to SCR Altach, who were then also in the second tier of Austrian football, before a year later moving to Admira Mödling and top-flight football. Schick was handed his debut in the South City side by then Head Coach Didi Kühbauer. In 63-appearances he netted an impressive 13 goals and added a further 11 assists.
In summer 2014 he returned to home town club Sturm Graz, supplying 22 assists and 9 goals in 66 appearances. From Graz he was recruited for famous Swiss side Young Boys by now Eintracht Frankfurt Manager Adi Hütter and ex-Rapid Sporting Director Fredy Bickel. Schick's impressive statistics continued as he provided 32 assists and scored 9 goals in 106 competitive appearances, helping the club to last season end a 32-year wait for a championship.
On the capture of the productive all-rounder, Sporting Director Zoran Barisic said: "The negotiations with Thorsten Schick were already well advanced before I returned to the club, and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to seal the transfer. During my time as Rapid Trainer, Thorsten was high on my list of transfer targets but we never got it over the line for a variety of reasons. His versatility is a huge plus. He is a dynamic player who will certainly strengthen us", said the 49-year old Viennese.
On his move new recruit Thorsten Schick added: "I'm delighted to have signed a deal with a big club like Rapid. I actively decided that this was a step I wanted to take, despite being aware that the season past was both turbulent and difficult. I want to play my part in getting this club back on the road to successful football over the coming seasons. The talks with the SK Rapid representatives were positive and proved to me that the club really wanted to bring me in. As player who played against Rapid, the games were always hard but played in an incredible atmosphere - particularly whilst I was playing for Sturm. I didn't often win many points and I hope that it’ll be a similar story for our opponents in the future."
Thorsten Schick will don the number 13 on the back of his shirt!
(gw)