Rapid rush to keep Payer
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Article summary
SK Rapid Wien goalkeeper Helge Payer has agreed to sign a new one-year deal with the Bundesliga club.
Article body
Fine reputation
According to the club's official website, the 23-year-old, regarded as one of the finest custodians in Austria, will remain at the Gerhard Hanappi stadium until 2004.
International recognition
Having turned in several superb performances for his country at Under-21 level, Payer was recently included in Hans Krankl's senior squad and was on the substitutes' bench for the 4-0 UEFA EURO 2004™ Group 3 qualifying defeat by the Czech Republic on 2 April.
No1 shirt
Payer joined Rapid in 1999, but spent a year on loan at lower-league ASK Kottingbrunn before returning in 2001. He replaced Ladislav Meier as Rapid's No1 the following year and has since made 44 appearances for the club.
Trio released
Rapid coach Josef Hickersberger also announced that veteran Austrian international Andreas Herzog, René Wagner and Danish defender Jacob Laursen are to be released in the summer as he looks to build his new team around youngsters such as Payer and striker Roman Wallner.
