Maierhofer hits new heights at Rapid

It cannot be easy for a striker who stands over two metres tall to slip under the radar, but when your main rival in the race to be top scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga has scored 29 times in 17 games it is no surprise if the spotlight shines elsewhere.

Considerable stride
Marc Janko's phenomenal strike-rate for SV Salzburg has propelled Adi Hütter's side to the top of the Bundesliga, though with Stefan Maierhofer also hitting his considerable stride champions SK Rapid Wien remain very much in the hunt. Maierhofer took his tally for the season to 19 with his second hat-trick in three games in an 8-1 rout of SCR Altach on Saturday, and with strike partner Jimmy Hoffer scoring three more Rapid are firing on all cylinders ahead of next Sunday's derby with FK Austria Wien. "We showed the rest of the league what we're capable of," Maierhofer said. "Everything worked really well. To beat Altach 8-1 was no accident."

Great form
Modest words from the giant frontman, who at 2.02m has proven a real handful for Bundesliga defences since joining Rapid on loan from German second division side SpVgg Greuther Fürth last season. Seven goals in six appearances, five as a substitute, proved crucial in Rapid's title run-in and after making the move permanent in the summer the 26-year-old picked up where he left off this campaign. Since the end of September Maierhofer has scored 12 times in ten games to keep the capital club within striking distance of leaders Salzburg.

'Very important'
Maierhofer was signed by FC Bayern München from Austrian lower-league side SV Langenrohr in 2005. He played two seasons with Bayern's reserves, but found chances hard to come by with the first team and after just two substitute appearances moved on to TuS Koblenz and then Greuther Fürth before returning to Austria. "Stefan has become a very important player for us," Rapid coach Peter Pacult said. "At the beginning he had to find his way into the team, but now he's in a really good condition and his goals could take us to the top."

Aeriel threat
Naturally given his exceptional height, Maierhofer is a threat in the air. He has also impressed with his strength and pace and his never-say-die attitude. He was on the fringe of Austria's UEFA EURO 2008™ squad before missing out on the final cut and has since gone on to win a starting place under new coach Karel Brückner, earning the first of his three caps against Italy on 22 August. At 26, Maierhofer is considered something of a late bloomer and he trained as a chef in case his playing career did not take off. Now that is has it is the sweet taste of success that is whetting both his and Rapid's appetites.