I nearly moved to Rapid after playing game of head tennis with World Cup legend Lothar

Goody came close to joining club he'll now face as a boss

- SCOTT BURNS

JIM GOODWIN came close to joining Rapid Vienna as a player under Lothar Matthaus.

Now he returns to the Allianz Stadium as Dundee United manager looking to cause a Europa Conference League shock The Irishman had impressed for his country's Under-21s in Austria and that brought about interest from Rapid and Salzburg.

Goody was invited to Vienna where he met and played head tennis with their legendary boss Matthaus, a former World Cup winner.

He said: "Yes, I've been to Vienna before in 2001, now 24 years ago. I was over here when Lothar Matthaus was the manager.

"I played a game against Austria for Ireland Under21s. I was leaving Celtic at the time and I managed to play particularly well against Austria. I had an invite from Rapid Vienna and Salzburg to come and have a look around at their stadium and training facility.