A conversation with Austria U21 Captain Matthias Braunöder

When Matthias Braunoder swapped his familiar surroundings of Austria Vienna for a fresh start in Como it represented a huge leap into the unknown for a 21-year-old.

He had been with the Austrian Bundesliga outfit since joining their youth set-up in 2011. So, when saying goodbye after more than 12 years, he thanked them for an “unforgettable” chapter in his life and spoke about “taking on a new adventure.”

Eight months on, Blu caught up with Matthias to find out how it was going.

“The biggest highlight is for sure the promotion and the celebration after the game with the fans,” he said. “Other very special moments are my first goal for Como and my debut in Serie A.”

Matthias played his part in the second half of that promotion-winning 2023-24 campaign, making 13 appearances and scoring one goal – against Feralpisalo.

The celebrations after reaching the top division were documented on his Instagram account where he posted about “still getting goosebumps” a week after the dust had settled.

But it wasn’t always easy following his arrival in January.

“The first weeks (were difficult), being abroad for the first time and learning the language,” Matthias, now 22, says.

“There were a lot of new things. But it was exciting and I was excited to do it. The club helped me a lot.”

Hailing from Eisenstadt, south of the Austrian capital Vienna and sitting near the Hungarian border, Matthias was braced for a challenge when moving to Italy.

He set himself a target of triggering the clause to turn his loan deal into a permanent arrangement and achieved that in the summer when he put pen to paper on a contract until June 2027.

The aim for this season? “To improve myself as fast as possible and prove that I can also be an important starting XI player in Serie A.

“Football in general seems so much more important in Italy for the people and the fans than in Austria. Although in Austria the quality is increasing.”

Matthias has been a regular for his country through the age-group levels and has worn the captain’s armband for the U21s.

A midfielder, he describes himself as “a player who always gives 100% with and without the ball between the feet. I’m very secure with the ball.”

He rates Andres Iniesta – the Spanish World Cup winner, two-time European champion and former international team-mate of Como manager Cesc Fabragas – as the best of all-time in his position. Of the current crop, Manchester City’s Rodri gets his vote as the top performer.

Off the pitch, life by the lake is going well. The Como dressing room is “always funny” and away from the Sinigaglia he is never stuck when looking for ways to relax.

“I spend quality time with my loved ones at home or in the centre of Como,” he says. “I love trying new things and exploring things for the first time, especially on vacation.

“I like spy movies and action movies and I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. I’m good at card games, because I hate to lose although sometimes I take the games too seriously.”

He also knows a lot about “financial things” and if football had not happened for him he would have gone to university.

And he likes numbers. “I‘m good at maths. I don’t know why but in school it was always the easiest class for me.”

Looking back, heading out on this Como adventure was a calculated risk that is working out just fine.

Quickfire questions

Who/what makes you laugh? My girlfriend.

Describe yourself in three words: Ambitious, humble, disciplined.

Favourite place in Como? Restaurants by the lakeside.

Favourite city? Vienna.

Maradona or Pele? Maradona.

Who will be the next global star? Lamine Yamal.

What do you drive? Mercedes A-Class.

Favourite food? Sushi.

Advice for young players? Try to have fun during training.

Any unusual requests from a fan? To sign a pair of his socks.

Tell us something about you very few people know: I’m writing a diary.

Team supported as a boy? Barcelona