Jürgen Macho

Jürgen Macho (born August 24, 1977 in Vienna) is an Austria football (soccer) goalkeeper who currently plays for AEK Athens FC.

Club career

Macho started his first-team career with Wiener Sportclub in 1996 and moved after one season to First Vienna FC, where he spent three seasons before leaving for England FA Premier League side Sunderland A.F.C in 2000.

At Sunderland, Macho spent three seasons as the second-choice keeper, behind Denmark national football team Thomas Sørensen, and managed a total of 22 league appearances. He then transferred to Chelsea F.C for the FA Premier League 2003–04, but was mostly fourth-choice there. He suffered a serious season-long injury and subsequently failed to make a single competitive appearance with the team.

In August 2004, having been released from the remaining year of his Chelsea contract, Macho left the club to join Austrian Football Bundesliga side SK Rapid Wien, on what was scheduled to be a year-long loan deal.However, he spent just four months there, managing eight league appearances, as well as two in the UEFA Cup.

In January 2005, Macho joined Germany Bundesliga (football) side 1. FC Kaiserslautern, where he first spent six months as the third-choice keeper behind Tim Wiese and Thomas Ernst. However, he managed to become first-choice for the Fussball-Bundesliga 2005-06, as Wiese left for Werder Bremen. He subsequently made a total of 20 league appearances that season, but missed nearly the entire second part of the season due to an injury. He continued to be Kaiserslautern's main goalkeeper during Second Fussball-Bundesliga 2006-07, with the team now in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga, to where it was relegated after finishing 16th in the top flight the previous season.

On August 31, 2007, Macho joined AEK Athens F.C in Greece. He was soon selected as the side's first-choice, ahead of Brazil Marcelo Moretto, who failed to impress.

International career

Since February 2005, Macho has 17 international caps for the Austria national football team, including two 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification in October 2005.

On November 16, 2007, in a friendly against England national football team, he swallowed his tongue after a collision with Peter Crouch. His life was saved by Austria's chief medic.

Macho played all three group stage matches in the Austrian squad at Euro 2008.

Honours

- Austrian Football Bundesliga: Austrian Football Bundesliga 2004-05