Demir Krankl
On Friday it became official: Yusuf Demir is moving from Rapid Vienna to FC Barcelona and is only the second Austrian player there.
The 18-year-old jewel is thus following in particularly large footsteps. Because so far only Hans Krankl has worn the “Blaugrana” jersey, but it was very successful.
Anyone who has ever been to Barcelona knows how much Austria's striker is still revered. With the Catalans, Krankl became “Goleador”, a nickname that has remained with him to this day.
In 1978 the striker moved from Rapid to the Spanish top club. The transfer fee was then 13 million schillings, today just under two million euros.
Krankl hit the Spaniards immediately, was the Spanish top scorer in his first season with 29 goals and was awarded the bronze shoe as the third top scorer in Europe. In the 4: 3 success in the final of the Cup of Cup winners over Fortuna Düsseldorf, the “Goleador” contributed the goal to the meanwhile 4: 2.
After a dispute with coach Joaquim Rifé, Krankl switched to Vienna on loan for half a year in January 1980, then played the autumn season for the Catalans before returning to Hütteldorfer in January 1981. Helenio Herrera, who had meanwhile taken over the position of coach, changed the game system. Krankl suffered, got less and less time and returned to Rapid.
But to this day, the Austrian “Goleador” is known to Barca fans. Demir has yet to make a name for himself at superstar Lionel Messi's club, even if the 18-year-old moves to Camp Nou with great praise in advance …
