Philipp Zulechner

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Philipp Zulechner

| image = SC Wiener Neustadt vs. SV Grödig 2013-11-23 (45).jpg

| caption = Zulechner with SV Grödig in 2013

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|4|12}}

| birth_place = Vienna, Austria

| height = 1.82 m

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| years1 = 2007–2010 | clubs1 = Red Bull Salzburg | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2010 | clubs2 = SV Grödig | caps2 = 11 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2010–2013 | clubs3 = SV Horn | caps3 = 75 | goals3 = 31

| years4 = 2013–2014 | clubs4 = SV Grödig | caps4 = 20 | goals4 = 15

| years5 = 2014–2016 | clubs5 = SC Freiburg | caps5 = 9 | goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2015 | clubs6 = → Austria Wien (loan) | caps6 = 23 | goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2016 | clubs7 = → Young Boys (loan) | caps7 = 8 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2016–2018 | clubs8 = Sturm Graz | caps8 = 33 | goals8 = 5

| years9 = 2019–2021 | clubs9 = Erzgebirge Aue | caps9 = 60 | goals9 = 7

| years10 = 2022 | clubs10 = Hallescher FC | caps10 = 11 | goals10 = 2

| years11 = 2022 | clubs11 = Odd 2 | caps11 = 4 | goals11 = 1

| years12 = 2022 | clubs12 = Odd | caps12 = 2 | goals12 = 0

| totalcaps = 266 | totalgoals = 63

| nationalyears1 = 2013 | nationalteam1 = Austria | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Philipp Zulechner (born 12 April 1990) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a forward.{{WorldFootball.net|philipp-zulechner}}

Club career

In January 2014, Zulechner moved to Germany and signed for Bundesliga side Freiburg.{{cite web|title=Stürmer Zulechner wechselt offenbar zum SC Freiburg|url=http://www.badische-zeitung.de/stuermer-zulechner-wechselt-offenbar-zum-sc-freiburg|publisher=Badische Zeitung|accessdate=23 January 2014|language=German}}

In January 2015, after a year with Freiburg, he returned to his native Austria and joined Austria Wien on loan for the remainder of the season. Austria Wien had the option to extend the loan for another year as well as to sign him on a permanent basis.{{cite web|url=http://www.fk-austria.at/de/n/news/2015/01/philipp-zulechner-kehrt-zur-austria-heim/|title=Philipp Zulechner kehrt zur Austria heim|trans-title=Philipp Zulechner returns home to the Austria|date=15 January 2015|accessdate=21 February 2015|language=German|publisher=FK Austria Wien}}

On 8 December 2015, it was announced that Zulechner would join Swiss Young Boys on loan effective 1 January 2016, the deal including an option for a permanent sign in July 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.bscyb.ch/news-events?nID=6610|title=Philipp Zulechner zu YB|trans-title=Philipp Zulechner joins YB|date=8 December 2015|accessdate=9 December 2015|language=German|publisher=BSC Young Boys Bern}}

On 31 August 2016, Zulechner joined Sturm Graz on a free transfer signing a two-year contract.{{cite news|title=SK Sturm Graz verpflichtet Philipp Zulechner|url=http://www.skysportaustria.at/bundesliga-at/sk-sturm-graz-verpflichtet-philipp-zulechner/|accessdate=31 August 2016|work=Sky Sport Austria|date=31 August 2016}} He suffered from a staphylococcus infection, which led to him spending two weeks in a wheelchair.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sksturm.at/de/news/kampfmannschaft/2018/philipp-zulechners-harter-weg-zurueck/|title=Philipp Zulechners harter Weg zurück|last=|first=|date=7 February 2018|website=sksturm.at|publisher=SK Sturm Graz|access-date=17 March 2020}} He left Sturm Graz at the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysportaustria.at/bundesliga-at/naechster-abgang-bei-sturm-graz/|title=Nächster Abgang bei Sturm Graz|last=|first=|date=15 June 2018|website=Sky Sport Austria|language=de-DE|access-date=17 March 2020}}

Zulechner joined 2. Bundesliga club Erzgebirge Aue on 30 January 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/zweite-chance_zulechner-heuert-in-aue-an-741294/artikel|title=Zweite Chance: Zulechner heuert in Aue an|last=|first=|date=30 January 2019|website=kicker|language=de-DE|access-date=17 March 2020}} In November 2019, he extended his contract with Aue until 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/_gutes_tempo_aue_verlaengert_mit_zulechner-763705/artikel|title="Gutes Tempo": Aue verlängert mit Zulechner|last=|first=|date=28 November 2019|website=kicker|language=de-DE|access-date=17 March 2020}} His contract with Aue was terminated in August 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/aue-und-zulechner-gehen-getrennte-wege-4000000040333/transfermeldung|title=AUE und Zulechner gehen getrennte Wege}}

On 31 January 2022, Zulechner signed for 3. Liga club Hallescher FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/halle-holt-verteidiger-boesel-und-stuermer-zulechner-888313/artikel|title = Halle holt Verteidiger Bösel und Stürmer Zulechner}} In the summer he moved on to Norwegian top-tier club Odd, but the stay became short-lived and he was released at the end of 2022.{{cite news|title=To spillere takker for seg i Odd: – Jeg er ikke fornøyd|url=https://www.eurosport.no/fotball/eliteserien/2022/to-spillere-takker-for-seg-i-odd-jeg-er-ikke-fornoyd_sto9220782/story.shtml|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=12 November 2022|language=no|date=11 November 2022}}

In June 2023, at the age of 33, Zulechner announced his retirement from playing.{{cite web |title=Philipp Zulechner beendet seine Karriere |url=https://www.kicker.de/philipp-zulechner-beendet-seine-karriere-957485/artikel |website=kicker |access-date=28 June 2023 |language=German |date=28 June 2023}}