he started playing football in the youth teams of sk sturm graz in his hometown. in the 2005/06 season he played his first match in the first team of sturm graz. the first goal he scored was on 22 april 2006 against red bull salzburg. after two seasons with sturm graz he signed with fc red bull salzburg. in his first year he played regularly, but in his second year he had problems with his knees. the following years he came back and played very often from the beginning.