Marc Janko


Marc Janko is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a striker for the Austria national team.
Janko was a successful goal-scorer, particularly during his time at Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg, where he scored 75 league goals in 108 matches, including 39 goals in 35 matches in the 2009–10 season. He is the son of Eva Janko, who won a bronze medal in the women's Javelin event at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

Club career

Red Bull Salzburg

Janko began his career at Admira Wacker in Mödling, Lower Austria. After successful years, he joined Red Bull Salzburg. He was one of the most important players for the team, and in the end of the 2004–05 season, he scored 11 goals in 10 matches.

2008–09 season

Janko began the 2008–09 season scoring five goals in the first two matches. On 16 November 2008, he became the all-time club leader for goals scored in one season for Salzburg. His 25 goals in less than half a season, surpassed previous record-holder Oliver Bierhoff, who scored 23 during the 1990–91 season. Janko continued his scoring streak with a four-goal performance against league rival Altach. On 6 December 2008, he surpassed Toni Polster as the all-time half-season scoring champion by scoring 30 goals in 20 matches.
Janko scored five hat tricks in the league during the season, including a four-goal performance after coming on as a second-half substitute against SCR Altach in a 4–3 victory. In total, he scored 39 goals in 34 matches as Red Bull Salzburg won the league.
Due to his 39 goals scored in the 2008–09 season, he became the topscorer in all European leagues during the year. His success caught the attention of several English Premier League clubs and Celtic. However, he signed a new contract with Red Bull on 30 January 2009, which would have kept him in Salzburg until June 2013.

2009–10 season

Though there were rumors and speculation that Janko would sign with a different club, he stayed with the Red Bulls. In 21 matches that season, Janko scored 12 goals which currently put him in second place in the Bundesliga behind teammate Roman Wallner. His best performances were a four-goal effort against FC Kärnten on 4 October, and a pair of goals scored against Josko Ried on 13 February 2010.
Janko was also an integral part of the Salzburg team that enjoyed success in its pool play in the UEFA Europa League. He had a strong performance against Standard Liège on 19 February 2010, scoring his side's two goals in a 3–2 loss in the first tie of the round of 32.

Twente

Janko signed a four-year contract with Dutch club Twente on 21 June 2010 and was given the number 21 shirt, previously worn by fellow Austrian Marko Arnautović. Twente paid Red Bull €7 million for Janko's signature.

2010–11 season

Janko scored his first goal for his new club on 21 August 2010, his side's first in a 3–0 win over Vitesse in the third match of the Eredivisie season. In the club's next Eredivise match, Janko scored a brace and notched an assist as Twente defeated Utrecht 4–0.
Janko scored four goals for Twente in a 5–0 rout of Heracles on 19 January 2011, while also providing an assist for Luuk de Jong's goal. On 23 January, he scored both goals for Twente as they came from a goal down to defeat Groningen. On 8 May 2011, Janko scored the winning goal of the 2011 KNVB Cup final against Ajax in the 117th minute to seal a 3–2 victory.

2011–12 season

In the 2011 Johan Cruyff Shield on 30 July 2011, Janko scored from the penalty-spot as Twente defeated reigning Eredivisie champions Ajax 2–1 to lift the cup. In the first match of the 2011–12 Eredivisie season, Janko scored the match's only goal as Twente defeated NAC Breda. Janko scored twice on 28 August, scoring Twente's third and fifth goals as they defeated Heerenveen 5–1. On 29 September, he scored twice to lead Twente to a first victory in the UEFA Europa League, a comfortable 4–1 win over Wisła Kraków.
On 15 October, Janko scored a hat-trick as Twente defeated RKC Waalwijk 4–0 in an Eredivisie match. On 1 December, he scored a goal in the final minute of normal time as Twente defeated Fulham 1–0 to secure first place in Group K of the UEFA Europa League group stage.

Porto

On 30 January 2012, it was announced that Janko would sign for Porto. On 31 January, Janko was officially unveiled as a Porto player and was given the number 29 shirt, joining in a €3 million move and signing a contract until June 2015. On 5 February, he scored his first goal for Porto against Vitória de Setúbal in the Taça de Portugal, a 2–0 win.

Trabzonspor

On 28 August 2012, after just half a year at Porto, Janko signed for Turkish club Trabzonspor for a €2.4 million transfer fee. He made his debut for the club five days later, coming on for Paulo Henrique in the second half of a 0–1 loss to Gaziantepspor. Janko finally scored his first goal for Trabzonspor on 19 November, opening the scoring for the club in their 2–1 victory over Orduspor.
Janko scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season on 24 October 2013, scoring Trabzonspor's goal in a 2–0 victory over Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Europa League group stage. On 4 December, he scored against Balıkesirspor in the fourth round of the Turkish Cup, but the goal was not enough as Trabzonspor fell to a 1–3 defeat. He scored just his second league goal during his time in Turkey on 23 February 2014, scoring the match winner against Kayserispor. At the end of the season, Janko was released from his contract, allowing the forward to move to a new club on a free transfer.

Sydney FC

On 31 July 2014, Janko was announced as Sydney FC's new marquee signing for the 2014–15 A-League season, on a one-year deal, meaning his wages were permitted to be paid outside the league's salary cap. On 30 August, he scored his first goal for Sydney during the final of the inaugural Townsville Football Cup in a 2–0 win against Brisbane Roar. On 24 October, he scored his first A-League goal, against Brisbane Roar in a 2–0 victory. His 35-yard shot bounced into the top left corner to give Sydney a 1–0 lead. Janko scored his next two goals in the form of a brace against Melbourne City, after having turned down the opportunity to play for the Austria national team against Brazil. He scored another two goals in Sydney's 5–1 rout of Central Coast Mariners on 24 January 2015.
Janko was awarded the Professional Footballers Australia Player of the Month for February following a run of six goals in four matches during the month. Janko scored his first hat-trick for Sydney in their 5–4 win against Brisbane Roar on matchday 21 at Allianz Stadium in rather inclement conditions. His hat-trick also saw him become Sydney's highest season goalscorer with 16 goals. In addition, Janko became the first ever player to score in seven consecutive matches, the previous record being held by ex-Brisbane Roar player Besart Berisha with six.
On 26 May 2015 it was announced that Janko would be leaving Sydney due to difficulties with attending league matches and international duty.

Basel

On 25 June 2015, Janko joined Swiss side Basel on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal. He played his debut for Basel on 25 July 2015 in the away match at the Letzigrund against Grasshopper; he also scored his first goal for Basel in the match, which ended 3–2 for his side. Under trainer Urs Fischer, Janko won the Swiss Super League championship at the end of the 2015–16 and 2016–17 Super League season. It was Basel's eighth-straight title and 20th overall.

Sparta Prague

On 6 June 2017, Janko signed a two-year contract with Czech club Sparta Prague.

Lugano

On 6 February 2018, Janko signed a contract with Swiss club FC Lugano.

International career

Janko made his debut for Austria in a May 2006 friendly match against Croatia and earned his second cap in October that year against Liechtenstein. In 2009, he scored one of Austria's two goals against Lithuania on 10 October 2009. Four days later, he scored Austria's lone goal against France.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.20 August 2008Stade du Ray, Nice, France
2–0
2–2
Friendly
2.6 September 2008Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
1–0
3–1
2010 World Cup qualification
3.15 October 2008Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
1–3
1–3
2010 World Cup qualification
4.5 September 2009UPC-Arena, Graz, Austria
2–0
3–1
2010 World Cup qualification
5.5 September 2009UPC-Arena, Graz, Austria
3–0
3–1
2010 World Cup qualification
6.10 October 2009Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria
1–0
2–1
2010 World Cup qualification
7.14 October 2009Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
1–2
1–3
2010 World Cup qualification
8.7 October 2011Dalga Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan
2–0
4–1
Euro 2012 qualifying
9.7 October 2011Dalga Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan
3–0
4–1
Euro 2012 qualifying
10.15 November 2011Arena Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
1–1
1–2
Friendly
11.6 February 2012Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales
1–2
1–2
Friendly
12.29 February 2012Hypo-Arena, Klagenfurt, Austria
1–0
3–1
Friendly
13.16 October 2012Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
1–0
4–0
2014 World Cup qualification
14.16 October 2012Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
2–0
4–0
2014 World Cup qualification
15.7 June 2013Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
2–0
2–1
2014 World Cup qualification
16.19 November 2013Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
1–0
1–0
Friendly
17.5 March 2014Wörtherseestadion, Klagenfurt, Austria
1–0
1–1
Friendly
18.9 October 2014Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova
2–1
2–1
Euro 2016 qualifying
19.27 March 2015Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein
2–0
5–0
Euro 2016 qualifying
20.31 March 2015Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
1–0
1–1
Friendly
21.14 June 2015Otkrytie Arena, Moscow, Russia
1–0
1–0
Euro 2016 qualifying
22.8 September 2015Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden
3–0
4–1
Euro 2016 qualifying
23.9 October 2015Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro
1–1
3–2
Euro 2016 qualifying
24.12 October 2015Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
2–0
3–0
Euro 2016 qualifying
25.12 October 2015Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
3–0
3–0
Euro 2016 qualifying
26.26 March 2016Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
1–0
2–1
Friendly
27.5 September 2016Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia
2–0
2–1
2018 World Cup qualification
28.9 October 2016Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia
2–2
2–3
2018 World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

Red Bull Salzburg
Twente
Porto
Basel