Herzog returns to Rapid

Austrian international Andreas Herzog has finally returned to SK Rapid Wien after almost ten years away from the Bundesliga club.

Protracted talks
The 33-year-old midfield player had been in protracted talks with the club in recent weeks, but only on Friday Rapid's general manager Werner Kuhn stated that they had failed to reach an agreement with the player. Kuhn claimed the Austrian captain would stay with SV Werder Bremen until the end of his current contract in June.

'Perfect combination'
But the club revealed on Sunday that Herzog had in fact signed an 18-month contract. "The long negotiations were worthwhile," Kuhn said. "I believed that we would be successful. When Andi returned to Bremen last week with nothing sorted out he did so on a return ticket to Vienna. We are the most popular club in Austria and 'the duke' is very popular among Austrian players. It will be a perfect combination."

'Concentrate on football'
Herzog, who has been frustrated at spending a large amount of time as a substitute with Werder, was delighted at the prospect of regular football again. "I am happy that it has happened and that I can now concentrate on football again," said Herzog.

Career in Germany
Herzog played for Rapid between 1986 and 1992, and scored 33 goals in 133 appearances. In 1992 he moved to Werder Bremen and, apart from a short spell with FC Bayern München in the 1995/96 season where he linked up with the current Rapid coach Lothar Matthaüs, he remained loyal to the north German club.

'Deserving player'
Werder's director of sport, Klaus Allofs, wished Herzog the very best at his new club. "Andreas is an extremely deserving player," said Allofs. "Even if we have had our differences, we wish him every success with Rapid, and will be pleased if he eventually becomes Austria's most capped international."