Michael Gspurning

Michael Gspurning was born in Graz and began his career at age 19 after being part of the youth squads of Austria Wien by being promoted to the senior team in 2000, but did not make an official appearance for the senior team. He joined third-tier Regionalliga Mitte club DSV Leoben in 2001 and became a regular starter for Leoben and appeared in 62 league matches over 3 seasons.

Gspurning joined ASKÖ Pasching in 2004 and was a back-up behind Josef Schicklgruber, in the league with only 7 appearances over 3 seasons. He was unused in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup as Pasching lost on away goals to Zenit St. Petersburg after a 3–3 aggregate score in the second qualifying round. During the 2005–06 UEFA Cup, Pasching lost on away goals to Zenit after a 3–3 aggregate score for the second consecutive year in the second qualifying round. Gspurning was on the bench as the club qualified for the first round, but lost 3–0 to Livorno.

Gspurning left Austria and signed with Skoda Xanthi in 2007, competing with Croatian goalkeeper Ivan Turina. He made his debut in a 3–0 loss to Iraklis Thessaloniki on 25 November 2007. Gspurning played four seasons with Skoda Xanthi and appeared in 89 league matches before leaving the club in 2011.

Gspurning made his international debut for the Austrian national football team at the age of 27 in a friendly match against Turkey on 19 November 2008, playing 90 minutes in a 4–2 defeat at Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna. Gspurning played his first World Cup qualifier against Romania on 1 April 2009 in a 2–1 victory in Klagenfurt. He played his most recent game against Serbia on 6 June 2009 in a 1–0 loss in Belgrade. Gspurning has not received a call from the Austrian national team since 2009.

Gspurning joined Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC on 7 December 2011 as a free agent to become their starting goalkeeper, replacing retired American veteran Kasey Keller, having been targeted since October by General Manager Adrian Hanauer. He joined the training camp for his new club in Arizona on 30 January. Gspurning made his Seattle debut during 2–1 win over Santos Laguna in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal fixture on 8 March 2012, having been delayed by an accident causing traffic. During the return leg on 15 March the Sounders lost 6–1 and were eliminated from the Champions League on a 3–7 aggregate score. Gspurning made his MLS league debut on 17 March in a 3–1 win over Toronto, conceding a strike from Ryan Johnson that would later win MLS Goal of the Week. The Sounders won 2–0 over Houston Dynamo the following week and gave Gspurning his first MLS career shutout. Gspurning was substituted at halftime of a May 2 game against the Los Angeles Galaxy because of an injury to his right hip. He was replaced by Bryan Meredith as the Sounders went on to win 2–0.

In 2013 season, Gspurning continued to be the club's first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the season, making three consecutive clean sheets against Chivas USA, the New England Revolution and the Colorado Rapids. However, on 14 July Gspurning injured his arm in a match against the San Jose Earthquakes after Steven Lenhart caught him with a late challenge, and was substituted as Seattle lost 1-0.

On 12 September 2014, Gspurning was the last transfer for the Greek side Platanias, playing in the Super League. After the first half of the season, Gspurning left Platanias when the club decided not extend his contract.

After his contract with PAOK expired in August 2014 and he became a free agent, Gspurning returned to Austria. He almost immediately picked up work as an expert analyst and pundit for TV channels Sky Austria and Servus TV, commentating on the Austrian Bundesliga and the International Champions Cup as well as the Supercopa de España respectively.

On 1 February 2015, goalie Michael Gspurning has another new home. The 33-year-old has signed as an overage player with Schalke 04's U23 team where he's expected to be a mentor. On 1 July 2015, Michael Gspurning signed a one-year professional contract, as a result of his exceptional year with the reserves. ""Michael Gspurning has given a good account of himself over the past six months, both on the occasions he trained with the first team and with the U23s, where his performances contributed significantly to the team staying in the Regionalliga," says Manager Horst Heldt.