Paris Saint-Germain's only Austrian player ever (22 matches, 7 goals scored in the 1984-1985 season), the ex-forward talks about his Red-and-Blue experience and his first club, Sturm Graz.
Richard, you had just one season in Paris, but it was unforgettable…
"Paris Saint-Germain is a great memory for me. In 1984, President Francis Borelli, a president I have never forgotten, signed me when I had been playing for Waregem in Belgium (24 goals scored, second-top scorer in the league), and it was a great chance to sign for Paris. I was 22 years old, didn't speak French, but everyone was so nice to me. I especially remember Dominique Rocheteau, Luis Fernandez and Safet Susic. But it wasn't easy to adapt to this new life. I would have liked to have stayed in Paris, to have time, but that wasn't possible."
What memories do you have of France and Paris?
"I'll never forget the first time I drove around the roundabout at the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysées. It was a real challenge, I couldn't get off the roundabout - it took about 30 minutes for me to do that. I also liked Saint-Germain-en-Laye, I saw stars like Johnny Hallyday or French actors such as Alain Delon, Romy Schneider and Jean-Paul Belmondo, who I also saw in the stands at the Parc des Princes supporting us."
You started your career at Sturm Graz. How good is the team now?
"Even though they started the league season with a defeat to Rapid Vienna (0-1), they're an excellent team, who won the league and cup double last season. I'll be in the stadium for the game, I hope it'll be a good match and I'll see a great Paris team. I've always followed what's going on at Paris Saint-Germain, I watch their games on TV and I hope to be able to chat to coach Luis Enrique, who I came across when I was still a player. He was a very good player, and now he's an excellent coach for Paris."
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