Ex-Rapidler Kara:

“You never know what will happen in Turkey”

Ercan Kara still dreams of the EURO.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The hit against Turkey would have been something special for Ercan Kara, but at least the Viennese is back in the ÖFB team on call-up. The seven-time team striker is still dreaming of the EURO. To do so, he must continue to recommend himself to Samsunspor. But the season has been turbulent. Although he has a contract until 2026, it remains to be seen where he will end up in the summer: "You never know what will happen in Turkey." But the 28-year-old is open about one goal: "I want to play for Rapid again."

"Of course we talked about the game, had a chat. It would have been cool to be there." But while Turkish substitute goalkeeper Okan Kocuk is in action at the Prater in Vienna, club colleague Ercan Kara will only be a spectator in front of the TV. "At home" in Samsun. But at least the team striker was back on the ÖFB call-up list. "When the squad comes out, you always hope," says Kara. The Viennese has already made seven appearances for Austria. Always under Franco Foda. But the ex-Rapidler is at least an option again for Ralf Rangnick. The EURO dream is not yet over. "I must and will step on the gas. If I am needed, I would be very, very happy," the ex-Rapidler will keep the summer free. "Because I've always scored my goals in recent years. But... "

The current season is turbulent, not yet exhilarating. "I expect more from myself," says Kara, referring to his tally of four goals and one assist for Samsunspor so far.

However, when the 1.92-metre striker moved to Turkey from Orlando City very late in the summer - the transfer window had already closed in many countries - Samsunspor had already made a glaringly bad start. "I've already experienced four coaches," smiles Kara. "After two weeks, the first coach was gone, then the sports director replaced the interim coach. It was Markus Gisdol who put us on the right track." Under the German's leadership, Samsunspor have found their feet and are now firmly established in mid-table in the SüperLig (currently 13th). The trend is pointing upwards. "But we have four strikers and rotate a lot," says Kara, who still often has to settle for the wild card role. "I would like to play more." Also to stay on the radar in the ÖFB. "It always makes me incredibly proud when I get to play for Austria." There is still a small chance of reaching the EURO - and then?

Kara has a contract until 2026. "You never know what will happen in Turkey." Samsunspor was also banned from transferring. "An incident before my time here," Kara knew nothing about it when he came back to Europe from the USA. But there's almost nothing that upsets him anymore: "I've already experienced a lot. The fire of the Ultras at Rapid, then the calm at Orlando, now the hot-blooded Turks." In Samsun, as in Istanbul, people live for soccer. "In terms of spectators, we're in the top five in the league," says Kara.

"I want to play for Rapid again"
Who cherishes and maintains contact with his home country and was also in Vienna last week. And still has one big goal in his career - apart from the EURO, of course: "I want to play for Rapid again, experience the West." At 28, he is now in his prime as a footballer.