Besian Idrizaj

[MindGuerrillas]

Collapsed Liverpool hopefuls career over at 21

One of Austria’s biggest footballing talents faces the end of his career after collapsing on the pitch twice within months.

On Wednesday, Besian Idrizaj, who is currently unsigned, collapsed at a trial with his former club LASK Linz. The 21-year-old striker was taken to hospital for checks but LASK Linz team doctor Milan Toljan stressed it is not certain whether Idrizaj can continue his career.

The Baden-born player, who is of Albanian descent, also collapsed in February during a match for ex-club Wacker Innsbruck.

Idrizaj raised eyebrows when he joined Liverpool from LASK Linz in 2005 after being awarded Austria's Best Young Player of the 2004/2005 season. However, his career has been interrupted by several injuries, and Idrizaj joined Luton Town, Crystal Palace and Austrian club Wacker Innsbruck on loan.

Now further examinations will reveal whether the striker has a future in professional football or not.

http://www.austriantimes.at/index.php?id=9488

[redtone]

Jeez - thats sad.

[Shaggy]

All the best to the young kid. Hope he's able to lead a full and healthy life.

[pondus]

Hope he can continue playing football, must be hard on a young lad

[Norbs]

Better they find out now than in an autopsy. Sad for the lad

[1 True Red]

All the best to the young kid. Hope he's able to lead a full and healthy life.

[SB]

Better they find out now than in an autopsy. Sad for the lad

Very true. As much as we all love the game life itself is far more important. He'll get over the dissappiontment I'm sure, so all the best lad. YNWA

[Harv]

more important to be able to live out his life than play football.

Good luck to him.

[badpiggy]

Very true. As much as we all love the game life itself is far more important. He'll get over the dissappiontment I'm sure, so all the best lad. YNWA

also that first sammy lee quote is ****in class

[Guest]

Is he still on a contract with us?

[slimbimjim]

I hope he is ok. Still probably better than Voronin.

[SB]

also that first sammy lee quote is ****in class

It sums Sami Lee up perfectly IMO If he can instill that type of thinking into our team, No 19 is on her way home!

[Ballykissdevil]

Apparently his condition is quite serious in terms of a football playing career. He is undergoing catheter testing of his heart over the next two weeks and only that will show if he can play again or not.

Sometimes, the risks are just too high. When these players die from heart attacks it is more often than not noted that they died due to a thinning or narrowing of an artery in the heart and that is what they suspect Idrizaj has.

If that proves to be the case then he has no future. He would require surgery and even that would make it risky to carry on playing.

The one good thing to come out of it is that he did not die. This has happened twice, now. Two warnings.

It's more than Feher and Puerta got. As well as Vivienne Foe.

[-V-]

You'll be pleased to hear that he seems quite healthy and is back in England
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Swansea have completed the signing of Austrian forward Besian Idrizaj on a two-year contract.

A deal was agreed at the weekend for the former Liverpool youngster, 21, but he was awaiting international clearance from his German club.

Idrizaj, who played for FC Eilenburg in the German Regional League last season, is manager Paulo Sousa's second signing since taking charge in the summer.

"We are delighted that he has signed," said Sousa.

"He is a player I have been aware of from his time at Liverpool and with the Austrian international se-up.

"Besian has good characteristics and can play away along the front line - I believe that he will be a great asset.

"He is a young player with good talent but has not played for a long time in competitive football, and it will take him time to adjust to the intensity of our league.

"But he is now available for selection straight away and we are happy to be able to give him another chance at this level."

Idrizaj can play on the wing or up front.

He started his career at LASK Linz in 2003 where he scored three goals in 35 appearances and won Austria's young player of the year award a year later.

He joined Liverpool in 2005 but failed to make a first-team game for the Premier League side not helped by an injury-hit first season.

Idrizaj had loan spells at Luton, Crystal Palace and Austrian club Wacker Innsbruck before being released by Liverpool last summer.

He has represented his country at Under-21 level and has scored three times in 12 international matches.

Idrizaj will go straight into the Swans squad for their Carling Cup second round match against Scunthorpe on Tuesday.

[Shaggy]

He was involved in the debacle the other night when they ended up with 7 men.