31. 08. 10. - 12:00

Rapid snare Vennegoor of Hesselink

Celtic Glasgow legend Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has joined Rapid Vienna, it has emerged.

Officials at the Austrian team who won the league 32 times announced today (Tues) that the 31-year-old Dutchman had signed a two-year contract.

The striker, who joined Celtic from PSV Eindhoven in 2006, played for Hull City last season. Rapid did not have to pay a transfer fee to his ex-club since they decided not to extend his contract.

The former national team ace revealed he had ditched other requests to join the Green-Whites.

"I had several interesting offers from all over Europe, but my family and me immediately had a good feeling about Rapid. The city and this club with its tradition and the great fans ensured this decision was an easy one to make," he said.

Rapid’s executive manager Alfred Hörtnagl described the deal as an "international transfer coup".

Hörtnagl came under pressure recently by selling Croat striker Nikica Jelavic to Glasgow Rangers. The 24-year-old enforced his transfer by telling club bosses he did not want to play for Rapid anymore just hours before they faced Aston Villa in the Europa League qualification.

Hörtnagl previously stressed he would have to put his role into question if "such an important player leaves ahead of such a crucial match".

Rapid raked in around three million Euros for Jelavic, while his agent and former club Zulte Waregem made one million Euros each in the deal.

The Austrian Bundesliga club – who lost against LASK Linz 0-1 on Sunday – earned more than eight million Euros by selling some of their best players since Peter Pacult became manager in 2006.

Ümit Korkmaz joined German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt after the Euro2008, Erwin Hoffer left Rapid to join SSC Napoli and Stefan Maierhofer was transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers last year.

Rapid nevertheless won the 2007/2008 league title and reached last season’s Europa League group stage.

Hesselink’s first match will most likely be the Vienna derby against Austria Vienna on 12 September.

Rapid face Portuguese giants FC Porto, Turkey’s Besiktas and Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia in the group stage of this season’s Europa League after kicking out Villa in the final stage of qualification.

The Austrian Bundesliga table after six rounds:

SV Ried, 15 points
Wacker Innsbruck, 13
Sturm Graz, 10
Rapid Vienna, 9
Kapfenberg, 8
Austria Vienna, 8
Magna Wiener Neustadt, 7
Red Bull Salzburg, 4
LASK Linz, 3
SV Mattersburg, 3