Vienna offer last chance for Effenberg

Austria Vienna are ready to offer the former Bayern Munich captain Stefan Effenberg the chance to end his career on a high by leading their Austrian League title campaign.

Today is the deadline that the 34-year-old midfielder set himself last week to find a new club or quit, and he has been in talks with the Vienna general manager Peter Svetits about a proposed transfer. A performance-related contract is on the table for the former German international, and he seems keen on the idea.

"The meeting was very good," said Effenberg, who left Bayern at the end of last season. A definite decision about the move is expected tomorrow, but Svetits is confident of getting his man.

"He made a very sympathetic impression and he assured that he is in good physical condition," Svetits said after the two-and-a-half-hour meeting in Düsseldorf yesterday. "Stefan agreed a contract depending on success. Now I just have to talk to coach Walter Schachner and president Frank Stronach."

The capture of Effenberg would be a major coup for Vienna, who are desperate to lift the title this season for the first time since 1993.

The capital club have already brought in the Belgian midfielder Didier Dheedene from 1860 Munich, defender Eric Akoto (Grazer AK), striker Radoslav Gilewicz, midfielder Jürgen Panis (both FC Tirol), midfielder Manfred Rothbauer (SV Ried), midfielder Thomas Flögel (Hearts), goalkeeper Robert Almer (Sturm Graz), Raymond Kvisvik and Thorstein Helstad (both from Brann Bergen), as well as new coach Schachner, who arrived from FC Kärnten.

The aims of the big-spending president Frank Stronach are clear. "FK Austria Vienna has to win its 22nd national title, the first one since 1993," he said.

"More than this we also want to play a very good role in Europe, in the Champions' League."

Vienna may present a final chance for Effenberg to secure a club as he has already failed to agree terms with the likes of Fulham, Manchester City and Besiktas.

Effenberg spent a total of six years at Bayern, with his finest moment coming last year when he captained the club to victory in the Champions' League final over Valencia. He also had seven seasons over two spells at Borussia Mönchengladbach and two years at the Serie A side Fiorentina in Italy. He won 35 caps for Germany, but was ignominiously sent home from the build-up to the 1994 World Cup after being involved in an ugly spat with German fans.