Introducing Rapid Wien's 'Euro Louis' Schaub

Name: Louis Schaub
Born: 29 December 1994 in Fulda, Germany
Nationality: Austrian
Position: midfielder
Clubs: Admira Wacker Mödling, Rapid Wien

• The son of Fred Schaub, scorer of Eintracht Frankfurt's winning goal in the 1980 UEFA Cup final against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Louis joined Admira Wacker at the age of 12, following in the footsteps of his father. He enrolled at Rapid in 2007. 

• His sister Chiara was an Austrian youth international, while his brother Fabian plays in one of the country's top amateur leagues.

• As a back-seat passenger, Schaub sustained a broken collarbone and bruising in a car crash that killed his father in 2003.

Taking it to Shakhtar in the UEFA Champions League©Getty Images

• Having impressed at youth level and for Rapid B – aged 16, he scored twice against top-flight Wolfsberger in an Austrian Cup tie in September 2011 – Schaub made his Bundesliga debut under coach Peter Schöttel the following August.

• Admired at Rapid for his knack of pulling the strings in midfield, the attack-minded Schaub is approaching 120 Austrian Bundesliga appearances and is considered the true heir to club legend Steffen Hofmann.

• Schaub, who wears the No10 shirt, can operate centrally as well as out wide and compensates for a lack of pace with his agility and intelligence.

• Schaub's fine displays and goals (13 in 23 outings, qualifying included) in the UEFA Europa League have earned him the nickname 'Euro Louis'. He established these credentials in August 2015, netting twice in a 3-2 second-leg victory at Ajax in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.

• The German-born playmaker received his first senior international call-up in August 2016. His debut soon followed, Schaub coming on for the climax to Austria's 2-2 European Qualifier draw with Wales on 6 October.

• Schaub's development has not gone unnoticed, with several high-profile clubs reportedly tracking the 21-year-old. However, with his contract due to expire next summer, Rapid last month persuaded him to extend his agreement until 2020.

They say ...
"Despite his age and the many matches he's played, he's very grounded. He is definitely one of our top performers. Louis can become a star player, no doubt about it."
Rapid coach Mike Büskens

In U19 EURO action for Austria in June 2013©Photokratky

"His versatility allows him to play various positions, whether that be centrally or on the wing. In modern football, you have a huge advantage if you can find a solution with a quick dribble."
Austria coach Marcel Koller

"If he stays as focused as he is, and if there are no injuries, then he will be unstoppable. I am certain he will be my successor one day."
Rapid midfielder Steffen Hofmann

He says ...
"There's room for improvement everywhere – that's a good thing. I'm relatively young and eager to learn a lot."