Wr.Viktoria celebrate a win in their first pre-season game.
Just 2 days after his arrival at his new club in Austria, Wr.Viktoria, Darryl Gordon scored 2 goals in the 3-1 win in their first pre-season game as a right outside midfielder. He opened the scoring and secured the victory with the 3rd goal of his new team. Another Schulz Academy player joined the same club. Lukas Markusich, 17 years old, also started the game as a central midfielder.
Both will work under one of the top coaches in Austria, Toni Polster, who still holds the all time scoring record in Austria’s National Team with 44 goals in 90 appearances for Austria.
“Both players have a good future, and also will help our team to have a successful season. Darryl and Lukas made a very good impression in their first training sessions, and Darryl showed already with his 2 goals in his first game for us that he can make a difference in a match. He is very fast and fits perfectly in our system of 4-2-3-1 as an outside player”, analyzes Toni Polster, coach of Wr. Viktoria.
“There are many very good young players in the US, Canada and other countries, but it is very difficult for these young players to get a chance in Europe at the perfect time. After one or two years college it is most of the times too late. In addition to the usual market of first and second division clubs in Europe we opened a new opportunity for these players, where they can get used to the European system in the third or forth division, and from there work their way up to the bigger clubs, with the big advantage that after one or two years in lower leagues they are already adopted to their new environment. We just make sure that even in the lower leagues they make enough money so they can live comfortable in order to focus completely on soccer. We also promote continuing their studies and we make sure they don’t forget to finish a college degree abroad”, says Dr. Schulz, Head Coach of the Schulz Academy.
“The people here are very nice and treat me with big respect. I will 100% focus on soccer and also try to learn the language as soon as possible. In addition I will register for some classes at the university here in Vienna to continue my education”, states Darryl Gordon.
“When I heard that Toni Polster will be the new coach of Wr. Viktoria I immediately told Josef (Schulz) that I would like to join his new club. After Josef called Mr. Polster he arranged the try-out for me there, and after the first training sessions they offered me a contract. I am happy and hope that despite my young age of 17 I will start in as many as possible games this season to showcase my talent to bigger clubs in the future”, explains Lukas Markusich
