Club boss reports
Ex-Bundesliga striker fought “for life and death”
06.05.2025 – 12:33 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
After an attack, Guido Burgstaller fought for his life at times. Now there are new details about the extent of the injuries.
Rapid Vienna’s managing director Steffen Hofmann gave an insight into the extent of the serious injury to the former Bundesliga striker Guido Burgstaller. “Burgi’s situation was really dramatic, especially the first one or two days. It was really about life and death,” said Hofmann on Tuesday at the “Football Congress” in Salzburg.
He added: “You become aware of what is really important in life.” Burgstaller had been the victim of an attack in front of a Viennese discotheque on December 14, 2024. When falling onto the ground, the 36-year-old suffered a fracture of skull base.
“In the meantime, he is fine, he is good in the juice,” said Hofmann about the 36-year-old, who played in Germany for a total of seven years for 1. FC Nürnberg, FC Schalke 04 and FC St. Pauli. Burgstaller has already been substituted four times this season. It has not yet been decided whether it will be rapid beyond the summer. Hofmann said: “He is on the right track and wants to end the season well, then we will continue to look.”
Burgstaller himself recently commented on his future, but held up covered. In a Sky interview, he said: “It is currently not about individuals.” And further: “Of course you are always in exchange, we have known each other for a while, everything is relaxed.”