FC Ingolstadt 04 have announced that their Austrian goalkeeper, Ramazan Özcan, has today extended his current contract at the Audi Sportpark. The international will now stay in Bavaria until at-least 2019.
The former 1899 Hoffenheim man told the club website, "Over the last four and a half years, I have been able to experience the great development that die Schanzer have been on. Now we have arrived in the Bundesliga I want to help us to establish ourselves step by step." The 31-year-old added, "There have been difficult times, but the fact we remained together allowed us to master them."
Özcan has easily made the step up to the top flight and has received many of the plaudits for die Schanzer's superb defensive record. Indeed, the newly promoted side guided by Ralph Hasenhüttl have the second best in the division, behind only FC Bayern Munich. Marvin Matip has also stood out for the Audi Sportpark side.
On the die Schanzer rollercoaster
Özcan rolled up at the Audi Sportpark in 2011, signing from the Sinsheim club. die Schanzer were at the time struggling to establish themselves in the 2. Bundesliga but over the course of four and a half seasons the Austrian has helped the Upper Bavarian club to not only become regulars in the Zweite Liga, but has also saw the side formed in 2004 rise to the Bundesliga for the first time in their history - all with Özcan established as the undisputable number one.
The 'keeper who started with Austria Lustenau has made 138 games in the red and black of Ingolstadt, whilst recording a half century of clean sheets. Only Matip and Moritz Hartmann have been in service at the Audi Sportpark longer than the Austrian - Hartmann even seeing the days at the old ESV-Stadion.
In recent years Özcan has been joined by compatriots, Lukas Hinterseer and Markus Suttner, as well as manager Ralph Hasenhüttl who has been key in the goalkeeper establishing himself ahead of the likes of Andre Weis and Sascha Kirschstein. He has also saw international recognition, appearing for his country on five occasions.
Praise from above
Die Schanzer Sporting Director, Thomas Linke was clear in his praise for the 'keeper aptly nicknamed 'Rambo'. "Rambo [Özcan] is a real key player and has contributed in recent years to the success of FC Ingolstadt 04," Linke said. He finished with, "After promotion he has proved his class in the Bundesliga - Therefore we are very happy to be able to add his experience and quality for the coming years."