History
Rapid are the most titled club of their country, just like Dynamo. They have won Austrian Bundesliga 32 times already. The team was founded in 1898.
On January 8 1899 it was named Sportklub Rapid Wien. Till 1960th Rapid were absolute leaders of Austrian football, but after that they lost this status. Last time they won their national league in 2008.
Wien side won the Mitropa Cup twice (1930, 1951). In 1995/96 season they reached the Cup Winners’ Cup final.
Head coach
43-year-old Zoran Barisic was born in Wien. He used to perform for eight different Austrian teams as midfielder and defender. In 1995 he won the Austrian Cup with Rapid. In May of 1996 the Green-Whites suffered narrow defeat (0:1) against PSG within the Cup Winners’ Cup final.
He won the Austrian Bundesliga four times. Barisic has got one cap to his name.
From September 2006 till October 2009 he worked as Rapid assistant coach.
Later he headed the youth squad of the club and Rapid-2.
On September 17 2013 Barisic became Wien side head coach. At that moment Rapid were falling 20 points behind FK Austria. Still the third place in the Austrian Bundesliga tournament bracket let the Green-Whites participate in Europa League.
Current circumstances
This season Rapid lack stability. They tumbled out of Austrian Cup after the first match against LASK Linz (0:0, 4:5 on penalties). Barisic’s men started the 2013/14 Austrian Bundesliga with a draw against Wolfsberger AC (2:2), after which they defeated SK Sturm Graz 4:2.
At the moment they are 4th in the tournament bracket, lacking seven points behind FC Red Bull Salzburg.
Usually Rapid use 1-4-5-1 tactical scheme. Goalkeeper Jan Novota has a regular starting spot. Stephan Palla (left back), Mario Sonnleitner, Christopher Dibon (both – center backs) and Christopher Trimmer (right back) are defenders. Thanos Petsos and Harald Pichler play as supporting midfielders. Wingers are Guido Burgstaller (left) and Louis Schaub (right).
Team skipper Steffen Hofmann (pictured) performs as second striker. Terrence Boyd is a finisher.
Face to face
FC Dynamo Kyiv faced SK Rapid Wien eight times throughout their history. (W-3, D-1, L-4).
Interesting hook ups
The White-Blues head coach Oleh Blokhin took the field twice against Rapid and even scored as Kyivans faced Wien side within the Cup Winners’ Cup on March 19 1986.
His assistant coach Serhiy Rebrov made a substitute appearance as Dynamo faced the Green-Whites within the UEFA Cup round of 64 in 1992.
Ex-Austria Wien defender Aleksandar Dragovic, who currently performs for Kyivans, has nine appearances against Rapid to his name within the Austrian Bundesliga.
Dynamo center back has stated: ““I’m looking forward for the game against Rapid. They are my archrival”.
Oleh Zadernovskyi
