Steffen Hofmann
Encyclopedia
Steffen Hofmann is a German footballer, playing for Rapid Vienna
of the Austrian Bundesliga
. He plays as an attacking midfielder.
in 1997. After leading the team to a championship and a runner-up finish in the German Youth Leagues, he received a chance to play in the second team of Bayern Munich in 2000. After scoring 12 goals in 36 games for the second team, he got a chance to play for Bayern Munichs first team on 27 October 2001 in their game against 1. FC Köln
, where he came in the game as a substitute for Claudio Pizarro
in the 90th minute. This was his only game for the first team.
In 2002, he joined the Austrian team SK Rapid Wien
and quickly became the teams fan favourite. He also formed the leagues best midfield duo along with Andreas Ivanschitz
and the two led the team to his 31st league championship in 2005 and to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League
in 2006. After finishing last in their group and the transfer of his team mate Ivanschitz, Steffen decided to join the German club TSV 1860 München
in January 2006, but after desperately trying to find his form there, he returned to Rapid Wien
in the summer.
After his return, he got injured in the first game of the season and therefore missed half the season. His comeback came in late October and is since then one of the key players and the captain of Rapid Wien. He is also called "soccer-god" by the fans because of his technical skills, his commitment in the game and his endurance (He did not miss a minute of the 2008 season). Hofmann is also known as a player who rather passes the ball to a better positioned player than shooting at the goal himself.
On 21 October 2010, he netted the second goal to help his side to a 2:0 away win against Bulgaria
n club CSKA Sofia in a UEFA Europa League match.
tried in 2005 to let Hofmann, who was born in Germany but is married to an Austrian, to play for the Austrian national team. Hofmann agreed, but the transfer of rights was refused by FIFA
as Hofmann had played several games for Germany in his youth. After the episode Hofmann did not attain the Austrian citizenship and was chosen to represent Germany during the team's Asian tour in late 2005. However due to illness he could not take part and has not been nominated since despite declaring interest.
SK Rapid Wien
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
of the Austrian Bundesliga
Austrian Bundesliga
The Austrian Football Bundesliga is the highest-ranking national league club competition in Austrian football. It is the competition which decides the Austrian national football champions, as well the country's entrants for the various European cups run by UEFA.The Austrian Bundesliga, which began...
. He plays as an attacking midfielder.
Career
In his early years, Steffen played for the youth team of his home town Würzburg, before joining the Bayern Munich Junior TeamBayern Munich Junior Team
Bayern Munich Junior Team is the youth academy for German football club Bayern Munich. The Junior Team was created in 1902and restructured in 1995 has educated many players who have become regulars in the Fußball-Bundesliga and the Germany national football team, such as Thomas Müller, Andreas...
in 1997. After leading the team to a championship and a runner-up finish in the German Youth Leagues, he received a chance to play in the second team of Bayern Munich in 2000. After scoring 12 goals in 36 games for the second team, he got a chance to play for Bayern Munichs first team on 27 October 2001 in their game against 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
, where he came in the game as a substitute for Claudio Pizarro
Claudio Pizarro
Claudio Miguel Pizarro Bosio is a Peruvian football forward. Pizarro plays for Werder Bremen of the German Bundesliga...
in the 90th minute. This was his only game for the first team.
In 2002, he joined the Austrian team SK Rapid Wien
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
and quickly became the teams fan favourite. He also formed the leagues best midfield duo along with Andreas Ivanschitz
Andreas Ivanschitz
Andreas Ivanschitz is an Austrian footballer of Croatian origin who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Mainz.-Club career:...
and the two led the team to his 31st league championship in 2005 and to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 2006. After finishing last in their group and the transfer of his team mate Ivanschitz, Steffen decided to join the German club TSV 1860 München
TSV 1860 München
Turn- und Sportverein München von 1860, commonly known as TSV 1860 München or 1860 Munich, is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. The club's football team plays in the Second Bundesliga, after relegation from the Bundesliga following the 2003–04 season...
in January 2006, but after desperately trying to find his form there, he returned to Rapid Wien
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
in the summer.
After his return, he got injured in the first game of the season and therefore missed half the season. His comeback came in late October and is since then one of the key players and the captain of Rapid Wien. He is also called "soccer-god" by the fans because of his technical skills, his commitment in the game and his endurance (He did not miss a minute of the 2008 season). Hofmann is also known as a player who rather passes the ball to a better positioned player than shooting at the goal himself.
On 21 October 2010, he netted the second goal to help his side to a 2:0 away win against Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n club CSKA Sofia in a UEFA Europa League match.
National Team
The Austrian Football AssociationAustrian Football Association
The Austrian Football Association is the governing body of football in Austria. It organizes the football league, Austrian Bundesliga, the Austrian Cup and the Austrian national team, as well as its female equivalent. It is based in Vienna....
tried in 2005 to let Hofmann, who was born in Germany but is married to an Austrian, to play for the Austrian national team. Hofmann agreed, but the transfer of rights was refused by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
as Hofmann had played several games for Germany in his youth. After the episode Hofmann did not attain the Austrian citizenship and was chosen to represent Germany during the team's Asian tour in late 2005. However due to illness he could not take part and has not been nominated since despite declaring interest.
Individual
- Austrian Footballer of the YearAustrian Footballer of the YearThe title Austrian Footballer of the Year has been awarded in Austria since 1984. The coaches of the Bundesliga clubs elect the player of the year. The election is organized by APA, the leading Austrian Press Agency....
: 2004, 2009 - KroneKronen ZeitungThe Kronen Zeitung, commonly known as the Krone, is Austria's largest newspaper. According to a Österreichische Media-Analyse study, the average daily readership is 2,970,000 , which corresponds to 43,7% of all newspaper readers...
Footballer of the Year (voted by fans): 2006, 2007
Club
Bayern Munich Junior TeamBayern Munich Junior Team
Bayern Munich Junior Team is the youth academy for German football club Bayern Munich. The Junior Team was created in 1902and restructured in 1995 has educated many players who have become regulars in the Fußball-Bundesliga and the Germany national football team, such as Thomas Müller, Andreas...
- German B-youth Championship: 1997
SK Rapid Wien
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
- Austrian Football Bundesliga Championship: 2005, 2008