FOR A PLAYER who received his football education in the academy at Red Bull Salzburg, a substitute appearance in an FAI Cup second round game in front of 1,200 people at the Brandywell seems an unlikely setting for a career milestone.
Nevertheless, that 1-1 draw with Drogheda United in May 2016 will always represent a significant landmark in the life of Lukas Schubert.
Two and a half years had passed since he started for Grödig against SV Ried in the Austrian Bundesliga. Little did he know afterwards that he’d be 2,000 miles away and in the colours of Derry City for his next game of competitive football.
“I had a virus so the doctor told me to take a break for three or four days,” Schubert says, reflecting on the autumn of 2013. “I did that but when I came back and tried to run I couldn’t hold the tempo. Something felt wrong. It was actually my mother who told me to go to the hospital to get checked.”
At the age of 24, Schubert learned that he had developed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. A similar condition caused the death in 2004 of Hungarian striker Miklos Feher, who passed away shortly after collapsing during a game for Benfica.
“I couldn’t play for two years in the end,” Schubert explains. “I was in intensive care and had three long stays in hospital. There were days when I couldn’t walk up to the first floor so I had to use the elevator. It was very hard sometimes, but my fiancée, my family and my friends were always there for me.
“Something like that puts everything in perspective. Before I had the heart condition I would worry about stupid things. The result of a football game is not really important when you take your whole life into consideration. If my condition had not been diagnosed, I would have had the same situation as Miklos Feher.
“Every game is a gift and I try to enjoy it and give my best, but whether we win or lose — and I try 100% to win — it’s not the end of the world. I just enjoy every minute I get to be on the pitch.”
He adds: “When everything healed up and I finally got the clearance, it was very, very hard to get back to the fitness that you need nowadays. But I wanted it so much that I got there eventually. I really gave it everything. We finally came through it. I was very fortunate.”
During his enforced sabbatical, Schubert was able to complete his studies for a degree in sports journalism before eventually assisting with underage coaching at Grödig. The club had extended his contract to cover his period of medical treatment.
But by the time he was in a position to return to the pitch, he had to go in search of a new challenge, departing a club he joined in 2008 after being unable to break into the first team at Red Bull Salzburg, who were managed at the time by Giovanni Trapattoni.
After three seasons in Austria’s top flight, Grödig were relegated and ultimately dropped down to the third tier in 2016 due to financial difficulties. Having featured regularly during the early stages of their debut season in the Bundesliga in 2013-14, Schubert was involved in victories over the likes of Sturm Graz, Rapid Vienna and defending champions Austria Vienna.
Grödig finished third and qualified for the Europa League, but Schubert was on the outside looking in. When he left the club two years later, a trial with New York Red Bulls yielded a contract offer to play with the MLS club’s second team. However, the terms wouldn’t have allowed him to cover the cost of living in the Big Apple.
A contact in Austria then led Schubert to a friend of Derry City manager Kenny Shiels, who opened the door for him to return to football. He made an instant impression on Foyleside, hitting the woodwork after coming off the bench against Drogheda, then winning a penalty which Aaron McEneff converted for the equaliser.
“It was a really special feeling to be back on the pitch that night. I’ll never forget it,” Schubert says. “After you go through something like I did, you’re relying on someone to give you a chance, so I’m very thankful to Kenny for giving me that chance to play at a professional level again. Many clubs, if they feel something is wrong like that, they won’t sign you even if they think you’re a good player.”
He adds: “I’ve ended up finding a second home here in Derry. The people are so nice and welcoming. I’m really enjoying my life here. It will always be a special place for me.
“And of course I finally got to play in Europe too. I was really, really disappointed to miss that opportunity with Grödig. The result didn’t go our way when we played in the Europa League this season — we just came up against a better team [FC Midtjylland] — but it was still a great experience.
“I really like it here in Derry and I want to leave a mark. The club hasn’t started any talks for new contracts yet but I can definitely see myself staying here for another year and playing in the new Brandywell. But that’s up to the club.”
While there are still eight league games and an FAI Cup campaign remaining, the 2017 season has been another positive one for Derry City on the field of play. Last weekend’s impressive 2-0 win over Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght has left them eight points clear of the Hoops and in pole position to claim the Europa League spot that’s guaranteed by finishing third in the Premier Division.
But maintaining a challenge this year has been far from straightforward for Kenny Shiels and his players. After making an unbeaten start to the season, they had to come to terms with the untimely death of 27-year-old captain Ryan McBride back in March. McBride’s passing reminded Schubert of how fortunate he was to survive his health scare.
“Ryan passed away in his sleep. For the first few days after his death I was actually afraid to fall asleep. I wasn’t the only one who felt like this,” says the versatile Austrian winger.
“It was really terrible for the whole city and the club. It’s still hard to believe that Ryan’s not here anymore. It definitely told me how lucky I was and how grateful I am to be here.”
