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Archive for August 20, 2024

15 years ago today

… Peter Pacult taught the boys to play – and Aston Villa’s nightmare against Rapid Vienna began.

On August 20, 2009, Rapid and the Villans met in the first leg of the Europa League play-off at Rapid’s Hanappi Stadium. Rapid scored a very quick goal immediately after the kick-off through Nikica Jelavic’s header.

I remember that I celebrated much too enthusiastic by spilling my beer onto the floor of the former North Stand, second tier, our favourite stand in Rapid’s old ground where my friend Alfred and I usually were sitting. I also remember that Nigel Reo-Coker, the former West Ham skipper who now played for Aston Villa, made a bad foul which annoyed me so much that I started swearing at him.

But apart from that there was nothing to be annoyed, but very much to be amazed: The score remained 1-0 and Rapid travelled to Birmingham with a narrow lead and the chance to reach the Europa League group stage which was played this season (2009/10) for the first time.

The second leg in Birmingham was lost 1-2 by Rapid, but thanks to their away goal, scored again by Croatian striker Jelavic, the “green-whites” qualified for the group stage. Manager Peter Pacult called it his „most beautiful defeat“, and there was more beauty to come: Rapid started their Europa League group matches with an emphatic 3-0 home win over Hamburger SV and a brave 1-1 draw away against Celtic Glasgow.

The next season saw Rapid and Aston Villa paired together again and the nightmare returned for Aston Villa. This time the first leg in Vienna ended 1-1. Therefore this time a defeat at Villa’s ground would not be enough and really the unexpected happened: manager Peter Pacult’s men this time won away courtesy of goals by Atde Nuhiu (who had also scored Rapid’s goal in the first leg), Mario Sonnleitner and Rene Gartler.

Hence the hero of 2009, Nikica Jelavic, wasn’t missed. He had gone on strike to force a transfer to Glasgow Rangers which eventually took place; later he played for Everton, Hull City and West Ham.