Helge Payer (born 9 August 1979) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played for the Austria national team.

Helge Payer
Payer with Rapid Vienna
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-08-09) 9 August 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth Wels, Austria
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1985–1991 Eintracht Wels
1991–2001 Rapid Vienna
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 → Kottingbrunn (loan) 26 (0)
2001–2012 Rapid Vienna 242 (0)
2012–2013 Kalloni 3 (0)
Total 271 (0)
International career
Austria U16 11 (0)
Austria U17 6 (0)
Austria U18 10 (0)
Austria U21 13 (0)
2003–2009 Austria 20 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Payer came through the youth ranks at Rapid Wien to make his professional debut in the 2001–02 season, taking over the first-choice spot from Czech veteran Ladislav Maier. In 2006, he was also named team captain. With Rapid, he won two league titles, also appearing five times in the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League group stage.

On 27 August 2009, he saved an Ashley Young penalty at Villa Park in the UEFA Europa League as Rapid Wien lost to Aston Villa 2–1. Rapid did, however, proceed to the next round via the away goals rule.

International career

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Payer made his debut for Austria in a Euro 2004 qualifier in June 2003, against Belarus, coming on as a late substitute for Thomas Mandl.

After becoming a regular starter for the Nationalmannschaft, Payer was included in the 23-man squad for in Euro 2008, but was forced to pull out due to an intestinal thrombosis.[1]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[2]
National team Year Apps Goals
Austria 2003 2 0
2004 1 0
2005 4 0
2006 4 0
2007 3 0
2008 1 0
2009 5 0
Total 20 0

Honours

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Rapid Wien

References

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  1. ^ "Austria's Payer signed off for six months". Archived from the original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  2. ^ Helge Payer at National-Football-Teams.com
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