Paul Scharner
Encyclopedia
Paul Josef Herbert Scharner (born 11 March 1980) is an Austria
n footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League. He usually plays as a central defender or midfielder. He is noted for his positional flexibility having played every outfield position for Wigan except left back.
, Scharner played for Austria Wien and SV Salzburg, before joining Norwegian club SK Brann in 2004.
on 22 December 2005, and joined the squad after the holidays. Wigan agreed a fee of £2,500,000 (€3,700,000, 29,500,000 NOK), making it the biggest transfer in SK Brann's history.
In his first match for Wigan, Scharner scored the winning goal against Arsenal
in the Carling Cup. He went on to start in the final for Wigan that season.
On 22 March he became the first Wigan Athletic
player to play 100 Premier League games which he played against Hull City
.
On 30 August 2009, he scored his first goal of the season against Everton. After a 5–0 defeat to Manchester United, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez
preferred to use Scharner in an attacking midfield role. Scharner was a part of the team in November 2009 that lost against Tottenham 9–1, scoring Wigan's only goal in the fixture although when controlling the ball prior to shooting, he appeared to handball it. On 19 April 2010, he announced his decision to leave Wigan Athletic at the end of the 2009–10 season.
on a two-year deal, having been a free agent since his release by Wigan. Teammate James Morrison
has since praised his performances, saying that although Scharner is "a weirdo", has made a positive impact on the team. He made the switch to West Brom with the intent of no longer playing in central defence when manager Roberto Di Mateo told him he will be used as a midfielder.
Scharner has found his best form for Albion playing in his more favoured role of central midfield alongside Youssouf Mulumbu, scoring 4 goals, including the winner in the 3-2 away win vs Sunderland.
). He labelled the set-up a shambles and blamed the unprofessional set-up of the national FA as the reason behind his decision.
In 2008 he showed interest in returning to the Austrian squad, and also had a personal meeting with head coach Josef Hickersberger
regarding a possible return, but did not show up in the Austrian 31-player pre-selection for Euro 2008. Scharner made his comeback under the new coach Karel Brückner
in August 2008.
On 12 October 2010, Scharner was sent off for violent conduct during the second half of the 4–4 away draw against Belgium in a Euro 2012 qualifier.
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SK Brann:
Wigan Athletic
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League. He usually plays as a central defender or midfielder. He is noted for his positional flexibility having played every outfield position for Wigan except left back.
Early career in Austria
In the Austrian BundesligaAustrian Bundesliga
The Austrian Football Bundesliga is the highest-ranking national league club competition in Austrian football. It is the competition which decides the Austrian national football champions, as well the country's entrants for the various European cups run by UEFA.The Austrian Bundesliga, which began...
, Scharner played for Austria Wien and SV Salzburg, before joining Norwegian club SK Brann in 2004.
Brann
Scharner was voted player of the year by the Brann fans in 2005, and one of the best players on all the major player rankings in Norwegian newspapers and TV channels in 2005. All together, his time in Norway was very successful, and soon, clubs from bigger leagues were keen to sign him.Wigan Athletic
Scharner signed a 3.5 year deal with Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
on 22 December 2005, and joined the squad after the holidays. Wigan agreed a fee of £2,500,000 (€3,700,000, 29,500,000 NOK), making it the biggest transfer in SK Brann's history.
In his first match for Wigan, Scharner scored the winning goal against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in the Carling Cup. He went on to start in the final for Wigan that season.
On 22 March he became the first Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
player to play 100 Premier League games which he played against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
.
On 30 August 2009, he scored his first goal of the season against Everton. After a 5–0 defeat to Manchester United, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez
Roberto Martinez
Roberto Martinez is the name of:* Roberto Martínez Lacayo, President of Nicaragua* Roberto Martínez y Gutiérrez, Mexican bishop consecrated by Moisés CarmonaSports* Roberto Martínez , Honduran boxer...
preferred to use Scharner in an attacking midfield role. Scharner was a part of the team in November 2009 that lost against Tottenham 9–1, scoring Wigan's only goal in the fixture although when controlling the ball prior to shooting, he appeared to handball it. On 19 April 2010, he announced his decision to leave Wigan Athletic at the end of the 2009–10 season.
West Brom
On 30 August, Scharner joined West BromWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on a two-year deal, having been a free agent since his release by Wigan. Teammate James Morrison
James Morrison (footballer)
James Clark Morrison is a Scottish international footballer who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion. His ability to run with the ball at pace makes him an effective option through the middle, as an attacking midfielder, or more often as a right winger...
has since praised his performances, saying that although Scharner is "a weirdo", has made a positive impact on the team. He made the switch to West Brom with the intent of no longer playing in central defence when manager Roberto Di Mateo told him he will be used as a midfielder.
Scharner has found his best form for Albion playing in his more favoured role of central midfield alongside Youssouf Mulumbu, scoring 4 goals, including the winner in the 3-2 away win vs Sunderland.
International career
Scharner retired from playing international football for his country after falling out with the Austrian FA (ÖFBOFB
OFB may refer to:* Austrian Football Association * Output feedback, a mode of operation for block ciphers in cryptography* Oklahoma Farm Bureau* Open for Business...
). He labelled the set-up a shambles and blamed the unprofessional set-up of the national FA as the reason behind his decision.
In 2008 he showed interest in returning to the Austrian squad, and also had a personal meeting with head coach Josef Hickersberger
Josef Hickersberger
Josef Hickersberger is a former professional football player and former coach of the Austria national football team and Austrian club side Rapid Wien.-Club career:...
regarding a possible return, but did not show up in the Austrian 31-player pre-selection for Euro 2008. Scharner made his comeback under the new coach Karel Brückner
Karel Brückner
Karel Brückner is a Czech retired football coach.- Coaching career :Brückner began his coaching career in 1973 in the Czech League and was the coach of his home club SK Sigma Olomouc. He later went on to coach Inter Bratislava with which he won the Slovakia Cup in 1985...
in August 2008.
On 12 October 2010, Scharner was sent off for violent conduct during the second half of the 4–4 away draw against Belgium in a Euro 2012 qualifier.
Statistics
| Club | Season | League FA Premier League The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier... |
FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion F.C. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands... |
2010–11 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 |
| Wigan Athletic | 2009–10 | 38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 4 |
| 2008–09 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 1 | |
| 2007–08 | 37 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 5 | |
| 2006–07 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2005–06 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 4 | |
| Total | 173 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 185 | 21 | |
National team statistics
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Honours
Austria Wien:- Austrian Football Bundesliga (1): 2003
- Austrian CupAustrian CupThe Austrian Cup, in German: ÖFB-Cup is an annual football competition held by the Austrian Football Association, the ÖFB.It has been held since 1919, with the exception of the time of the Anschluss between 1939 and 1945 and the period between 1950 and 1958 when the competition was deemed of...
(1): 2003
SK Brann:
- Norwegian CupNorwegian football cupThe Norwegian Football Cup is the main knockout cup competition in Norwegian football. It is run by the Football Association of Norway and has been contested since 1902, making it the oldest football tournament in the country. The tournament is commonly known as Cupen or NM, an acronym formed...
(1): 2004
Wigan Athletic
- League Cup Runner up: 2006
External links
- Official site
- Player profile – Austria Archive
- Career stats – National Football Teams
- BBC Sport profile of Paul Scharner