Christoph Baumgartner Voted "Footballer of the Year" for the First Time
"I am very pleased and filled with pride. It is a recognition of my hard work and my performances," Baumgartner explained. "I know that this is not a given. We have many very good players in Austria and in the league, so I am particularly pleased that I was chosen." Baumgartner clearly prevailed with 46 points ahead of Otar Kiteishvili (Sturm Graz/21) and Marko Arnautovic (Inter Milan/8).
Baumgartner 2024 with "World Record Goal"
Baumgartner moved in June 2023 for a reported 27 million from Hoffenheim to Leipzig and is still to this day the most expensive Austrian kicker. With the Saxons, he failed in the 2023/24 season in the round of 16 of the Champions League against the later winner Real Madrid, in the Bundesliga it was enough for fourth place.
The honour of Footballer of the Year is due not only to Baumgartner's performances at Leipzig, but primarily to his appearances in the national team. The 25-year-old scored in five consecutive international matches this year, the first Austrian team player to do so since Hans Krankl in 1976. In addition, he netted after 6.3 seconds in a 2:0 test in Bratislava against Slovakia on March 23, scoring a "world record goal", namely the fastest goal ever scored in an international match.
Eight out of Twelve Coaches Voted for Baumgartner
Baumgartner was ranked first by eight coaches, including Sturm Graz's coach Jürgen Säumel. "An excellent footballer, who has particularly impressed this year due to the strong European Championship," judged the Styrian. Rapid's Robert Klauß also had Baumgartner at the top of his list. "With seven goals, numerous assists and a strong European Championship, he has had an outstanding international year for the ÖFB. In addition, he has long been a consistent figure at one of the top clubs in the German Bundesliga," said the German about the Waldviertler.
For WAC coach Dietmar Kühbauer, Baumgartner, whose brother Dominik is engaged in Wolfsberg, was also Austria's outstanding kicker this year. "I would wish for him to be able to show these performances consistently at the club," added the Burgenländer. According to LASK coach Markus Schopp, Baumgartner "has also developed into a difference-maker in the national team this year. He is incredibly dangerous in front of goal and a great player between the lines. I believe that he has made a really big step this year."
Schmid: "Absolute Leader"
Salzburg's now on leave coach Pepijn Lijnders also pointed out Baumgartner's strong ÖFB performances and described the offensive man as a "very complete player". Peter Pacult also ranked Baumgartner first. "He has firmly established himself in Leipzig at a top club in the German Bundesliga and has also shown his worth in the national team with goals and assists," explained the Viennese.
Hartberg coach Manfred Schmid, who, like Altach's Fabio Ingolitsch, chose Baumgartner, praised the ÖFB star as an "absolute leader. He has played an outstanding season and is very dangerous in front of goal."
(APA/Red)
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