Robert Ljubicic confirms his future contract with Rapid

Following our move for Marco Grüll, we now have another signing for the coming summer! In Robert Ljubičić we’re bringing a familiar name, and a current Austria U-21 player, home to Hütteldorf!

The 21 year old midfielder (born 14.07.1999) agreed a three year deal with SK Rapid which runs until the end of the 23/24 season. The Vienna-born player will therefore return to his home city once his contract at SKN St. Pölten runs out. For Robert Ljubičić it’s also a return to a former club, as he already wore Green and White during his youth career, from November 2006 to January 2009. After a spell at Wiener Sportclub, the younger brother of our current captain Dejan Ljubičić then switched to the St. Pölten Academy in January 2014, and made his first team debut four years later. Since then he has made 85 competitive appearances for “The Wolves”, scoring 7 goals and recording 14 assists. In 2019 Robert played twice for the Croatia U-20 side.

Thoughts on the upcoming transfer

Zoran Barišić, Managing Director for Sport, spoke about Rapid’s future signing: “I’m very happy that in these challenging economic times we’ve managed to secure a second Austria U-21 international for next season. Robert Ljubičić is a very versatile player, who can become a very important part of our midfield. He’s got a very strong left foot, outstanding reading of the game, and he’s an option in the central midfield either offensively or defensively, and I do see him in a slightly more advanced role than his brother Dejan. Character-wise, Robert is the kind of guy that will fit in well with us, I’ve known him and his family for many years. I’m looking forward to working together with him, and I wish him all the best for his remaining games at St. Pölten. I know he’ll keep giving 100% and more for his current team.”

The future Rapid player himself spoke about his three-year deal at Rapid, subject to a medical test: “I’m really happy, and looking forward to the task ahead. I’ve known a lot of my future teammates for many years, and I’ll feel at home again here very quickly. It’s really the realisation of a dream for me in many ways, I was able to play here as a youth player, and I always imagined how great it must be to play here as a senior player in front of the amazing Rapid fans. I really hope they’ll be allowed back in by the time I make my debut! Until summer, my full focus will stay with SKN St. Pölten, I have a lot to be grateful to them for, and I want to repay them with more good performances.”