Richard Strebinger seals move to Poland

After just over six and a half years, goalkeeper Richard Strebinger's time at SK Rapid has come to an end. The 29-year-old Lower Austrian came to Hütteldorf from SV Werder Bremen in the summer of 2015, the season before, he had made 14 third tier appearances in a loan spell at Jahn Regensburg. The goalkeeper is now moving to Poland, where he joins the capital club Legia Warsaw.

Managing Director of Sport Zoran Barisic commented on the transfer: "First of all, I would like to thank Richard Strebinger for his commitment and his numerous good performances over the last few years. He has always been a good representative of our club and has always fought his way back after setbacks with perseverance and ambition. I am pleased that 'Strebi' is now in demand at an internationally renowned club, and we did not want to block his path with regard to an early transfer. We didn't want to stand in the way of his desire to move, so we bid each other farewell with the greatest appreciation and I wish 'Ritschi' nothing but the best personally and on behalf of SK Rapid in his new challenge."

Richard Strebinger himself said: "I was able to spend several exciting years at SK Rapid and was always proud to wear the Rapid badge. I was able to gain a few years of experience abroad at a young age and now is a good time for me, as an experienced keeper, to take on a new challenge at a big club that is also steeped in tradition. I would like to thank all my companions and fans for the last few years at SK Rapid, I am leaving Hütteldorf with an unbelievable amount of wonderful memories and I am now looking forward to my new job in Warsaw.”

Richard Strebinger played a total of 205 competitive games for Rapid over seven seasons (158 Bundesliga, 18 ÖFB Cup and 29 European Cup) and made the squad for the Austrian national team on several occasions, where he also made a 90-minute appearance in a test match against Denmark under team boss Franco Foda in October 2018. The popular goalkeeper was also voted "Rapidler of the Year 2018" by the Green and White fans.