Stefan Schwab

{{short description|Austrian footballer (born 1990)|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Stefan Schwab

| image = GAE - PAOK Saloniki - 53031949736 (cropped).jpg

| upright =

| caption =

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|9|27}}

| birth_place = Saalfelden, Austria

| height = 1.83 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = PAOK

| clubnumber = 22

| youthyears1 = 2000–2004

| youthclubs1 = 1. Saalfeldner SK

| youthyears2 = 2004–2009

| youthclubs2 = Red Bull Salzburg

| years1 = 2009–2011

| clubs1 = Red Bull Salzburg

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2010–2011

| clubs2 = → Lustenau (loan)

| caps2 = 21

| goals2 = 6

| years3 = 2011

| clubs3 = → Admira Wacker (loan)

| caps3 = 12

| goals3 = 4

| years4 = 2011–2014

| clubs4 = Admira Wacker

| caps4 = 90

| goals4 = 15

| years5 = 2014–2020

| clubs5 = Rapid Wien

| caps5 = 186

| goals5 = 41

| years6 = 2020–

| clubs6 = PAOK

| caps6 = 154

| goals6 = 23

| nationalyears1 = 2009

| nationalteam1 = Austria U19

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2009

| nationalteam2 = Austria U20

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2010–2012

| nationalteam3 = Austria U21

| nationalcaps3 = 17

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2017

| nationalteam4 = Austria

| nationalcaps4 = 1

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| club-update = 10 April 2025

| nationalteam-update = 14 November 2017

}}

Stefan Schwab ({{IPA|de|ˈʃtɛfan ˈʃvaːp}}{{cite book|author1=Dudenredaktion|last2=Kleiner|first2=Stefan|last3=Knöbl|first3=Ralf|year=2015|orig-year=First published 1962|title=Das Aussprachewörterbuch|trans-title=The Pronunciation Dictionary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T6vWCgAAQBAJ|language=German|edition=7th|location=Berlin|publisher=Dudenverlag|isbn=978-3-411-04067-4|pages=771, 804}} {{small|or}} {{IPA|de|-faːn-|}};{{cite book|last1=Krech|first1=Eva-Maria|last2=Stock|first2=Eberhard|last3=Hirschfeld|first3=Ursula|last4=Anders|first4=Lutz Christian|title=Deutsches Aussprachewörterbuch|trans-title=German Pronunciation Dictionary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E-1tr_oVkW4C&q=deutsches+ausspracheworterbuch|language=German|year=2009|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|location=Berlin|isbn=978-3-11-018202-6|pages=913, 951}} born 27 September 1990) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Super League Greece club PAOK.{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/stefan-schwab/75402/ |title=S. Schwab |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |accessdate=21 August 2014}}

Club career

=Early career=

Swab was born in Saalfenten on 27 September 1990. From an early age he enjoyed sports, and, in addition to football, he was involved in biathlon, skiing, and ski jumping. His love for football prevailed, and at the age of 13 he decided to dedicate himself there entirely.

=Red Bull Salzburg and Lustenau=

Initially in the local team and from the age of 14 at the Salzburg Academies, where he stayed from 2004 to 2011, reaching in 2009 the Second Team with which he played in the second division of the Austrian Football Bundesliga, while he also participated in training sessions of the first team. In 2010 he was loaned to Lustenau and counted 24 appearances, six goals and seven assists. He returned but did not stay long, as he left with a new loan for Admira Wacker, with whom he celebrated his rise in the big category.

=Admira Wacker=

Admira Wacker activated the purchase option entered into the loan agreement and Swab moved there permanently. He stayed at the club until 2014 and took a leading role from the beginning and many responsibilities within the four lines. He played in a total of 114 games, scored 20 goals, served another 14 and naturally aroused the interest of the bigger teams.

=Rapid Wien=

==2014–15 season==

File:Stefan Schwab 2017 23 (cropped).jpg

In June 2014, Rapid Wien bought him from Admira Wacker for just 400,000 euros and finally found one of its leaders in his person for the next three years.

Stefan took his place in the Starting XI from the beginning of the season alongside Thanos Petsos making a perfect match together in the midfield for the club. Schwab at age 23 made overall 36 appearances scoring five goal and serving seven.

Rapid Wien finished 2nd at the end of the league behind Red Bull Salzburg and reached the quarter-finals of the Austrian Cup.

==2015–16 season==

Good start at the beginning for the club in the league with six matches without losing and winning over Ajax in Champions League Qualifying rounds, everything was great for Schwab and his club. Next Qualifying round with Shakhtar Donetsk and the dream is over 1–0 lose in Ernst-Happel-Stadion with massive fan support, was enough to break the spirit of the team. Next stop UEFA Europa League, very good come back for Stefan Schwab and the Hütteldorfer in a very strong group stage finishing first and reaching the stage of 32. Valencia was the next opponent with two matches disaster for Rapid two loses and early exclusion.

Same season for Rapid Wien finishing second again with no trophies but better performance for Stefan, making excellent appearances in Austria and Europe. Total 50 matches nine goals and six assist.

==2016–17 season==

After three years Zoran Barisic was no more for The Green-Whites and Mike Büskens was hired. On 7 November 2016, after a 0–1 defeat at home against Wolfsberger AC both manager Mike Büskens and Director of Football Andreas Müller were sacked.{{cite web|title=Rapid feuert Trainer Büskens und Sportdirektor Müller|url=https://kurier.at/sport/bundesliga/fussball-bundesliga-rapid-feuert-trainer-bueskens-und-sportdirektor-mueller/229.385.309|website=kurier.at|date=7 November 2016 |accessdate=11 November 2016|ref=büskensmüllersack|language=German}} Four days later Damir Canadi was presented as the new manager, joining Rapid from league rival SCR Altach.{{cite web|title=Fünf Fakten zum neuen Rapid-Trainer Canadi|url=https://kurier.at/sport/bundesliga/das-ist-damir-fuenf-fakten-zu-rapid-coach-canadi/229.998.566|website=kurier.at|date=11 November 2016|accessdate=11 November 2016|ref=canadimanager|language=German}} On 11 December, Fredy Bickel was presented as the new Director of Football.{{cite web|title=Offiziell: Bickel wird Rapid-Sportdirektor|url=https://kurier.at/sport/bundesliga/offiziell-bickel-wird-rapid-sportdirektor/235.168.329|website=kurier.at|date=10 December 2016 |accessdate=11 December 2016|language=German}}

On 9 April 2017, after a 0–3 defeat in Ried manager Damir Canadi was sacked and replaced by his former assistant coaches Goran Djuricin and Martin Bernhard until end of season.{{cite web|title=Offiziell: Rapid beurlaubt Trainer Damir Canadi|url=https://kurier.at/sport/bundesliga/offiziell-rapid-beurlaubt-trainer-damir-canadi/257.291.682|website=kurier.at|date=9 April 2017 |accessdate=9 April 2017|ref=canadisack|language=German}} Djuricin was later appointed as manager for the following season. It was a tough season for Rapid overall finishing 5th in the league and 3rd in the Europa League group stage. Schwab was for one more time stable and unreplaceable for his team with 39 appearances winning coaches trust and becoming captain of the club.

==2017–18 season==

New start new beginning for Rapid, Goran Djuricin making a good season finishing 3th in the league and Stefan winning the top goalscorer award with 12 goals and 13 overall. In November 2017 Schwab was called to represent Austria on a friendly match against Uruguay playing only for a minute entering the game as a sabtitute by German coach Franco Foda.

==2018–19 season==

Record season for Stefan Schwab with 50 appearances and 4291 minutes of playing time in all competisions. Great comeback in Eureapean competition entering and promoting the group stage of Europa League but losing by Inter in both Knockout games. A poor season for Goran Djuricin's club in the league, sacked after losing a game against St. Pölten by 2–0 in Allianz Stadion and replaced by Dietmar Kühbauer signing a contract for the next upcoming years.

==2019–20 season==

Stefan decided not to renew his contract with Rapid to search for a new challenge in his life.

For one more season Schwab was one of the main protagonists beside Taxiarchis Fountas.

Schwab in Rapid excelled in domestic and European competitions. He wore the captain's armband, played in 241 games, scored 51 goals and provided as many assists and even reached the National team of his country.{{cite web|url=http://www.skrapid.at/9609+M508f87714c4.html|title=Neuzugänge beim SK Rapid|trans-title=New signings at SK Rapid|date=4 June 2014|access-date=22 February 2015|language=German|publisher=SK Rapid Wien|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807040754/http://www.skrapid.at/9609+M508f87714c4.html|archive-date=7 August 2014}}

=PAOK=

==2020–21 season==

On 1 August 2020, PAOK officially announced the signing of the Austrian midfielder on two-year contract, with an option for a third year.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/paok-sta-aspromayra-epishma-o-svamp.5737698.html |title=ΠΑΟΚ: Στα ασπρόμαυρα επίσημα ο Σβαμπ |publisher=www.sport24.gr |date=1 August 2020}} On 5 November 2020, he scored in a 4–1 home win 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage game against PSV Eindhoven helping PAOK to increase the possibility of qualifying for the next phase of the UEFA Europa League.{{cite web | url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/paok-aintchofen-4-1-epikos-dikefalos-dielyse-toys-ollandoys.9041680.html | title=ΠΑΟΚ - Αϊντχόφεν 4-1: Μαγεία με Γκαρσία | language=Greek | publisher=www.sport24.gr | date=5 November 2020 | access-date=5 November 2020}}

Throughout the season he was the key player in the center of the team. He played in a total of 48 games, offering 9 goals and 9 assists. In the final of the season, he celebrated the Greek Cup. PAOK faced OSFP and prevailed with a score of 2–1. Schwap played throughout the match, while he was the one who won the penalty with which PAOK opened the score.

==2021–22 season==

On 12 August 2021, he scored in a crucial 2–0 home win game against Bohemian F.C., helping PAOK to qualify for the next UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/paok-mpoemians-2-0-o-mpisesvar-me-gkol-kai-asist-ton-odigise-sta-playoffs-toy-conference-league.9322627.html|title=ΠΑΟΚ - Μποέμιανς 2-0: Ο Μπίσεσβαρ με γκολ και ασίστ τον οδήγησε στα playoffs του Conference League|date=12 August 2021}} On 9 December, he scored in a 2–0 UEFA Europa Conference League home win game against Lincoln Red Imps, sealing the qualification of the club in the phase of knockout round play-offs, for the first time in the last five years.{{cite web|url=https://www.novasports.gr/sport/podosfairo/event/uefa-europa-conference-league/article/12221165/paok-linkoln-2-0-kai-ton-flevari-tha-paizei-eyropi-o-dikefalos-vids/|title=ΠΑΟΚ-Λίνκολν 2-0: Και τον Φλεβάρη θα παίζει Ευρώπη ο "Δικέφαλος"! |publisher=www.novasports.gr|date=9 December 2021|language=el}}

International career

Schwab got his first call up to the senior Austria squad for a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier Liechtenstein in October 2015.{{cite news|title=Austria vs Liechtenstein|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/austria-vs-liechtenstein/teams/309153|accessdate=19 November 2015|publisher=skysports.com|date=12 October 2015}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes Austrian Cup, Greek Cup}} !colspan="2"\|Continental ! colspan="2" \|Other ! colspan="2" \|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals !Apps !Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3"\|Red Bull Juniors \|2008-09 \|rowspan="2"\|Austrian First League \|9	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|— \| \|	9	2
2009-10 \|20	2	2	2	colspan="2"\|— \| \|	22	4
colspan="2"\|Total !29	4	2	2	colspan="2"\|— ! !	31	6
Lustenau (loan) \|2010-11 \|Austrian First League \|21	6	3	0	colspan="2"\|— \| \|	24	6
rowspan="5"\|Admira \|2010-11 \|Austrian First League \|12	4	0	0	colspan="2"\|— \| \|	12	4
2011-12 \|rowspan="3"\|Austrian Bundesliga \|27	4	2	0	colspan="2"\|— \| \|	29	4
2012-13 \|33	7	2	0	4{{efn\|name=UEL}}	1 \| \|	39	8
2013-14 \|30	4	4	0	colspan="2"\|— \| \|	34	4
colspan="2"\|Total !102	19	8	0	4	1 ! !	114	20
rowspan="7"\|Rapid Wien \|2014-15 \|rowspan="6"\|Austrian Bundesliga \|30	4	4	1	2{{efn\|name=UEL\|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}	0 \| \|	36	5
2015-16 \|36	8	4	0	10	1 \| \|	50	9
2016-17 \|27	5	5	2	7{{efn\|name=UEL}}	2 \| \|	39	9
2017-18 \|31	12	3	1	colspan=2\|— \| \|	34	13
2018-19 \|32	4	6	0	12{{efn\|name=UEL}}	2 \| \|	50	6
2019-20 \|30	8	2	1	colspan="2"\|— \| \|	32	9
colspan="2"\|Total !186	41	24	5	31	5 ! !	241	51
rowspan="6" \|PAOK \|2020-21 \| rowspan="5" \|Super League Greece \|24	4	6	1	9{{efn\|Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League}}	1 \|9{{Efn\|Appearances in Super League Greece play-offs\|name=SLG}} \|3	48	9
2021-22 \|24	2	5	0	14{{efn\|name=UECL\|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}	2 \|9{{Efn\|Appearances in Super League Greece play-offs\|name=SLG}} \|1	52	5
2022-23 \|21	1	7	1	2{{efn\|name=UECL}}	0 \|10{{Efn\|Appearances in Super League Greece play-offs\|name=SLG}} \|2	40	4
2023-24 \|23	1	6	2	15	3 \|10{{Efn\|Appearances in Super League Greece play-offs\|name=SLG}} \|4	54	10
2024-25 \|22 \|5 \|4 \|0 \|15 \|1 \|2{{Efn\|Appearances in Super League Greece play-offs\|name=SLG}} \|0 \|43 \|6
colspan="2" \|Total !114	13	28	4	55	7 !40 !10	237	34
colspan="3" \|Career total !452	83	65	11	90	13 !40 !10	647	117

Honours

Admira Wacker

Austrian Football First League: 2010–11

PAOK

Super League Greece: 2023–24{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.gr/football/superleague/2335593/paok-4h4-kai-12-4-os-aoytsainter-apo-75-68-ekane-78-80|title=ΠΑΟΚ 4Χ4 και... 1,2, 4 ως αουτσάιντερ: από 75-68 το έκανε 78-80!|website=Gazzetta|accessdate=19 May 2024|language=Greek|date=19 May 2024}}
Greek Cup: 2020–21