Steffen Hofmann Explained

Steffen Hofmann
Upright:0.8
Birth Date:9 September 1980
Birth Place:Würzburg, West Germany
Height:1.73 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:SK Rapid Wien (sports coordinator)
Youthyears1:1985–1993
Youthclubs1:1. FC Kirchheim
Youthyears2:1993–1996
Youthclubs2:Würzburger FV
Youthyears3:1996–2000
Youthclubs3:Bayern Munich
Years1:2000–2002
Caps1:57
Goals1:21
Years2:2001–2002
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2002–2005
Clubs3:Rapid Wien
Caps3:109
Goals3:26
Years4:2005–2006
Caps4:16
Goals4:2
Years5:2006–2018
Clubs5:Rapid Wien
Caps5:325
Goals5:72
Totalcaps:508
Totalgoals:121
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalcaps2:12
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2004
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Manageryears1:2018–
Managerclubs1:Rapid Wien (coach/scout)
Manageryears2:2020–2021
Managerclubs2:Rapid Wien II (caretaker)
Manageryears3:2021
Managerclubs3:Rapid Wien (caretaker)

Steffen Hofmann (born 9 September 1980) is a German football coach and a former player,[1] who played most of his career for SK Rapid Wien of the Austrian Bundesliga. He played as an attacking midfielder. He works as a sports coordinator for Rapid Wien.

Club career

In his early years, Hofmann played for the youth team of his home town Würzburg before joining the Bayern Munich Junior Team in 1997. After leading the team to a championship and a runner-up finish in the German Youth Leagues, he was promoted to the second team of Bayern Munich in 2000. After scoring 12 goals in 36 games for the second team, he got a chance to play for Bayern Munich's first team on 27 October 2001 in their game against 1. FC Köln, coming on as a substitute for Claudio Pizarro in the 90th minute. This was his only game for the first team.

In 2002, Hofmann joined the Austrian team SK Rapid Wien and quickly became a fan favourite. He also formed the league's best midfield duo along with Andreas Ivanschitz and the two led the team to its 31st league championship in 2005 and to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2006. After finishing last in their group and the transfer of his teammate Ivanschitz, Hofmann decided to join the German club TSV 1860 Munich in January 2006, but after desperately trying to find his form there, he returned to Rapid Wien in the summer.

Following his return Hofmann got injured in the first game of the season and therefore missed half the season. His comeback came in late October and he has since then been one of the key players and the captain of Rapid Wien. He is also called "football god" by the fans because of his technical skills, his commitment and his endurance (he did not miss a minute of the 2008 season). Hofmann is also known as a player who rather passes the ball to a better positioned player than having a shoot at goal.

On 21 October 2010, he netted the second goal to help his side to a 2–0 away win against Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia in a UEFA Europa League match.

Hoffman retired during 2018, and a testimonial match was played in his honour between SK Rapid and a "Steffen Hofmann & Friends" XI.[2]

International career

The Austrian Football Association tried in 2005 to let Hofmann, who was born in Germany but is married to an Austrian, to play for the Austria national football team. Hofmann agreed, but the transfer of rights was refused by FIFA as Hofmann had played several games for Germany in his youth. After the episode, Hofmann did not attain Austrian citizenship and was chosen to represent Germany during the team's Asian tour in late 2005. However, due to illness he could not take part and has not been nominated since despite declaring interest.

Trivia

Hofmann was never sent off in his entire professional career.[3]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
LeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bayern Munich II2000–01Regionalliga Süd267267[4]
2001–0231143114[5]
Total572100005721
Bayern Munich2001–02Bundesliga10000010
Rapid Wien2002–03Austrian Bundesliga30510315[6]
2003–042710202910
2004–0532832423912
2005–062030092295
Total109266213412832
1860 Munich2005–062. Bundesliga16210172[7]
Rapid Wien2006–07Austrian Bundesliga19100191
2007–083610884418
2008–09341231203913
2009–103620301255125
2010–112554083378
2011–1232620346
2012–132022161284
2013–143250090415
2014–153644020424
2015–1629420114428
2016–171524130223
2017–1811120130
Total32572263612141296
Career total5081213257425615151

Honours

Bayern Munich

Rapid Wien

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hofmann, Steffen . German . kicker.de . 28 December 2011.
  2. Web site: Servus und Danke: Steffen Hofmanns Abschiedsspiel. SK Rapid. 17 May 2018. 15 September 2018.
  3. Web site: Steffen Hofmann . de . oefb.at . 9 April 2023.
  4. Web site: Steffen Hofmann. Fussballdaten.de. 11 October 2014. German.
  5. Web site: Steffen Hofmann. Fussballdaten.de. 11 October 2014. German.
  6. Web site: Steffen Hofmann » Club matches. Worldfootball.net. 11 October 2014.
  7. Web site: Hofmann, Steffen. kicker.de. kicker. 11 October 2014. German.