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Vikings dominate in the Battle of Austria: Maierhofer celebrates a strong debut!
Stefan Maierhofer makes his successful debut as a kicker for the Vienna Vikings, who clearly defeat the Raiders Tirol.
Vikings dominate in the Battle of Austria: Maierhofer celebrates a strong debut!
It was an exciting debut for Stefan Maierhofer, who played as a kicker for the Vienna Vikings in the European League of Football (ELF). The team presented itself in front of 10,275 enthusiastic spectators in an exciting game that the Vikings won against the Raiders Tirol 41:7 in the Generali Arena. The Vikings celebrated their fourth win this season and also secured their seventh success in a direct duel against the Tyroleans kicker.at reported.
Maierhofer, who previously attracted attention as a professional footballer at clubs such as Rapid Vienna, Bayern Munich and Wolverhampton, showed his skills right at the start of the game. He opened the game with a kick-off over 63 yards and created a good atmosphere in the stands. Even though his further attempts didn't go entirely according to plan, he was positive about the team's performance and the atmosphere in the stadium. “There’s something there,” said the former professional footballer about the energy he felt.
A new beginning in the ELF
The Vienna Vikings' decision to strengthen the kicking unit with a former footballer caused a stir in the sports world. Maierhofer returned after his time in football and would like to gain a foothold in the ELF. The club chose him because he has both the necessary talent and the right attitude. How europeanleague.football reports, Maierhofer is already well integrated into the team and really appreciates the group dynamics. Vikings owner Robin Lumsden emphasized that the athlete's personal suitability was crucial.
For the transition to American football, the club hired Giorgio Tavecchio, a former NFL kicker, as a kicking coach. Head coach Chris Calaycay praised Maierhofer's great footwork and made it clear that there is open competition for the kicker position in training. The Vikings have set themselves high goals and even Maierhofer dreams of taking part in the 2025 ELF Championship Game in Stuttgart in front of 50,000 fans.
A look into the ELF
Since its founding on November 4, 2020, the European League of Football has developed into an important platform for American football in Europe. 16 teams are playing in the current 2025 season, including the Vienna Vikings and the Raiders Tirol. In addition to encouraging the development of homegrown players, the league also has partnerships with the NFL to further raise the level of the game, such as wikipedia.org explained.
Viewership has steadily increased since its inception and the ELF has promising expansion plans, with the aim of growing to at least 24 teams in the future. Through broadcast agreements, including with DAZN, the games will be easily accessible to fans until 2032. These developments make the league an interesting venue for new talents like Stefan Maierhofer.
It remains to be seen how the former football star will continue to develop in the ELF, but one thing is certain: the year 2025 has just begun for Maierhofer and he is determined to make the most of his new challenge.