Cornerback Leo Gerner, who already played an impressive season for Vienna in the European League of Football in 2021, has extended his contract with the champions for another two years. With Valentin Leutgeb, a promising talent was signed on the defensive line.
„Leo is one of those pieces to our secondary that continues to make important plays for us. Every year he adds to his game and will be a big part of the success of the Defensive Back crew in the upcoming two years.“commented Vienna Vikings Head Coach Chris Calaycay the new two-year contract for Gerner.
Photo: Hannes Jirgal / Vienna Viking
A few months after Leo became European Champion with the junior national team in 2019, the native of Upper Austria joined the Vikings AFL team, before that he was active for the Kirchdorf Wildcats for years.
In his first European League of Football season Gerner convinced, after the regular season 2022 he succeeded with 10 pass break-ups (best value in the team), two interceptions and 36 tackles. Performance and statistics did not go unnoticed by the league and earned the 22-year-old athlete an All-Star Team nomination. The Vikings now secured the services of the cornerback, who also acts as a long snapper on the special teams.
Vikings sign DE Valentin Leutgeb
„Coming into his rookie year in the European League of Football, this young Austrian defender has the tools to contribute this year and to the future of the Vikings franchise.“head coach Calaycay introduces his latest commitment and makes it clear that he is excited and confident about the further development of the Upper Austrian defensive end.
The 1.91 meter tall and 110 kg heavy D-Liner signed for a year with the ELF champions from Vienna and is looking forward to the new chapter in his football life, whereby he defines high expectations of himself: “I’m never really satisfied, I always see potential for improvement. In 2023 I will come up against new limits that need to be mastered. I’m very motivated and I’m sure that this will be a huge step for me.”
The 21-year-old Leutgeb started playing American football with the Steelsharks Traun in 2015. In 2019 he changed clubs and was a player with the Gladiators Ried for two seasons before returning to Traun in 2021 and playing for the Steelsharks in the AFL.