Matt Luzunaris, former team mate of Josmer Altidore at the Schulz Academy, signed a professional contract in Europe.
After impressing at the training with Austria’s most popular club, Rapid Vienna, Matt Luzunaris caught the attention of many other clubs in Austria, too. Because of the fact, that Rapid didn’t get the Austrian citizenship for the “Austrian Soccer Player of the Year” of the last 2 years, Stefan Hofmann, who is German, in time, Matt was their 7th foreigner, and only could have played for the Amateurs of Rapid Vienna for the first 4 months.
After discussing this situation with his managers, Schulz Academy boss Dr. Josef Schulz and Dr. Skender Fani, a famous sports lawyer from Austria, they together decided to accept a very attractive offer from SC Schwanenstadt in the second division in Austria.
SC Schwanenstadt was bought this year by Austro-Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach, who moves the club to Vienna in summer, to compete in Austria’s capital with the 2 big clubs Austria Vienna and Rapid Vienna. The club also will change the name to "SV Magna", the company of new owner of the club, Frank Stronach.
In his first match with his new club Matt Luzunaris scored immediately a goal in a 2-2 draw vs. 1st division club, LASK.
“It was like in the practices with Josef in the past. A cross from the right side, and I jumped higher than the defenders, and headed the ball over the goal keeper. I saw the goal of Josmer with the head vs. Mexico on TV and it reminded me also of the thousands of repetitions of these actions in the training with Josef”, remembers Matt.
“Matt is very happy. He signed a very attractive contract with the club, and everybody likes him. I am extremely proud how he represented our Academy in Europe”, says Dr. Schulz who flew from Florida to Vienna to make sure Matt got what he wanted.
The biggest compliment Matt got from the Head Coach of Rapid Vienna, Peter Pacult, who although they were not able to sign Matt, stated: “Matt would have been a great player for the future for our club. He is fast, very good with the head, and can score. He is exactly the type of player we were looking for, but unfortunately he is now playing for another club”. (See one of the many articles in Austrian Newspapers below).
Matt is with his new club in Turkey for pre-season right now. Today he played vs. the multiple Champion from Romania, Dinamo Bukarest, and his new team with Matt starting the game, tied 1-1.
“It’s funny, it’s my second preseason camp in Turkey within 10 days. First I spent 10 days with Rapid in Turkey, and now 10 days with SC Schwanenstadt. Everything is first class, and I am feeling already very good, and can’t wait till the first game on March 14 will be played” continues Matt.
Below a picture of the hotel, where Matt is at pre-season camp in Turkey for the next 10 days
The 5 star hotel “Titanic” with the soccer fields and the beach next to it.
