Option declined following 2016 season.
PRONUNCIATION: EVEN-‐schitz
When Andreas Ivanschitz first hit the scene with Rapid Wien as a youngster, one journalist saw a resemblance in playing style with one particularly famous international and a nickname promptly stuck: “The Austrian David Beckham.” The resemblance isn’t exactly uncanny - Ivanschitz is left-footed - but the comparison isn’t exactly out of place either. Ivanschitz has a gilded foot on free kicks, and his hard-won creativity is hard to replicate. Whether playing wide left or tucking underneath the strikers, Ivanschitz is a deadly creative force who can beat you from just about anywhere.
INTERNATIONAL: Ivanschitz has a lengthy history in Austria’s national team setup. He’s made 69 appearances and scored 12 goals since debuting in 2003, including four goals across three different World Cup qualifying campaigns over eight years. He also played an integral part in Austria’s Euro 2008 squad.
OUTSIDE MLS: Ivanschitz splashed onto the scene with Rapid Wien, where he was named the Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2005 before moving to Red Bull Salzburg from 2005-2008. Ivanschitz then moved to three teams in three league over eight years: Panathinaikos (Greece), Mainz (Germany) and Levante (Spain). In nearly 15 years in Europe, Ivanschitz played 354 games and racked up 58 goals.
NOTES: Wore the captain’s armband for Austria as young as 19... The son of a music teacher, plays multiple instruments, including piano and oboe.
