Lyla Lindsey
Austrian football has had its fair share of successes and setbacks. The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) was founded in 1904, and the national team, known as the Wunderteam, became a dominant force in European football in the 1930s under coach Hugo Meisl. The country's football history includes notable achievements such as a fourth-place finish in the 1934 FIFA World Cup and a third-place finish in the 1954 World Cup. The Austrian team that reached the second round of the World Cup in 1978 and 1982, coached by Helmut Senekowitsch, is widely regarded as the best post-World War II Austrian side. The country's football championship has been contested through the Austrian Football Bundesliga since the 1974–75 season, with Rapid Wien and Austria Wien being the most successful clubs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| National Team | The Austria national football team |
| Governing Body | Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) |
| Arch-rival | Germany |
| Most successful clubs | Rapid Wien, Austria Wien |
| Most Austrian league championships | Zeman (8) |
| Austrian Footballer of the Year (most wins) | David Alaba (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020) |
| Most appearances | Robert Sara (571) |
| Greatest Austrian footballers of all time | Gerhard Hanappi, Ernst Ocwirk, Karl Koller, Bruno Pezzey, Josef Blum, Walter Nausch, Josef Smistik, Herbert Prohaska |
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What You'll Learn
The Austrian Football Association
The Austria national football team represents Austria in men's international football competitions and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association. During the 1930s, under coach Hugo Meisl, the national team, known as the "Wunderteam" ("Wonder Team"), became a dominant force in European football. Notable achievements included a fourth-place finish in the 1934 FIFA World Cup and a silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
The Anschluss in 1938, which annexed Austria into Nazi Germany, led to the dissolution of the ÖFB and the integration of Austrian players into the German national team for the 1938 World Cup. After World War II, Austria re-established its national team and achieved significant success in the 1954 World Cup, finishing third. The 1970s also saw success for the Austrian national team, reaching the second round of the World Cup in 1978 and 1982. The team, coached by Helmut Senekowitsch, is widely regarded as the best post-World War II Austrian football team of all time.
The 1990s and 2000s were challenging for Austrian football, with a group-stage exit in the 1998 World Cup being their last World Cup appearance to date. However, the country has experienced a revival in form in recent years, successfully qualifying for the Euros in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
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The 1978 World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, hosted in Argentina, was the 11th edition of the tournament. It was held between 1 and 25 June, with the final taking place at River Plate's home stadium, Estadio Monumental, in Buenos Aires. The host nation, Argentina, won the tournament, defeating the Netherlands 3-1 in the final after extra time. This win was Argentina's first World Cup title, making them the fifth team to have won the tournament while also hosting it.
The Austrian team's performance in the 1978 World Cup was a highlight during a period of fluctuating fortunes for the national side. The team had failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cups in the 1960s and missed out on the 1974 World Cup. However, the 1970s and 1980s marked a revival, with Austria reaching the second round in both the 1978 and 1982 tournaments.
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The 1982 World Cup
The Austrian team in 1982 was anchored by Herbert Prohaska and striker Hans Krankl, and backed up by Bruno Pezzey. In the final group stage, Austria played their neighbours, West Germany, in Gijón, in one of the most controversial matches in World Cup history. Nicknamed the Disgrace of Gijón, the match saw West Germany score once against Austria, before both teams deliberately underperformed, wasting time to ensure that both European teams progressed to the next round at the expense of Algeria. Outrage ensued from Algerian fans, Spanish spectators, and the media of both Germany and Austria, who condemned the underhanded tactics of both teams. Algerian football fans dubbed the match "the Anschluss", a reference to Austria being annexed by Germany under the Nazi regime.
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The 1990 World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup, held in Italy, was the 14th edition of the tournament. It was the second time Italy hosted the event, the first being in 1986. The tournament took place from 8 June to 8 July, with 22 teams qualifying for the finals, alongside host nation Italy and defending champions Argentina.
Austria qualified for the 1990 World Cup with Toni Polster, their top scorer, leading the line. However, they were eliminated in the first round, despite beating the USA 2-1. This was their last appearance in a World Cup tournament until 1998, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage.
The Austrian team's performance in the 1990 World Cup was short-lived, with losses to Italy and Czechoslovakia. Their victory over the USA was not enough to advance them to the next round. Despite their early exit, Austria's squad in 1990 included a mix of experienced players like Herbert Prohaska and new talents like Andreas Herzog, who had only three league matches under his belt before the tournament.
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The 2020s resurgence
The 2010s were a challenging decade for Austrian football, with the national team failing to qualify for the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups. However, the 2020s have brought a resurgence in fortunes for the country's footballing prospects.
In 2016, Austria qualified for the Euros, and this success continued into the new decade, with the team qualifying for the 2020 and 2024 tournaments. This revival has been attributed to the leadership of head coach Ralf Rangnick, who took over in 2022.
Austrian club football has also witnessed a positive shift in the 2020s. The country's top clubs, such as Rapid Wien and Austria Wien, have consistently performed well in European competitions. Rapid Wien, in particular, has been a dominant force in Austrian football, winning multiple league titles and cups.
Additionally, the country has seen the rise of new clubs and the resurgence of others. For example, Red Bull Salzburg, owned by energy drink maker Red Bull, has become a prominent force in Austrian and European football. On the other hand, clubs like SV Austria Salzburg, backed by their fans, have climbed their way back up through the league tiers, now playing in the Austrian Football First League.
The 2020s have also witnessed the emergence of talented Austrian players, such as David Alaba, who joined Real Madrid in 2021 and has been named Austrian Footballer of the Year multiple times. Karl Koller, another talented midfielder, has been recognised as one of the best 100 European footballers of the 20th century by the IFFHS.
Overall, the 2020s have brought a positive shift in Austrian football, with the national team and club sides achieving success and recognition on the European stage.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian national football team is the country's top football team, and it has had some notable successes. However, the Austrian Football Bundesliga has some strong clubs, with Rapid Wien and Austria Wien being the most successful, winning 32 and 24 titles, respectively, as of 2023.
The Austrian national football team has had some impressive results over the years. In the 1930s, the team, known as the "Wunderteam", became a dominant force in European football, finishing fourth in the 1934 FIFA World Cup and as runners-up in the 1936 Summer Olympics. After World War II, the team reached third place in the 1954 World Cup. They also reached the second round of the World Cup in 1978 and 1982, beating West Germany in 1978, which is known as the "Miracle of Cordoba".
Aside from Rapid Wien and Austria Wien, other strong Austrian football clubs include Wacker Innsbruck, SV Austria Salzburg (renamed FC Red Bull Salzburg in 2005), and FC Admira Wacker Mödling.
Some of the best Austrian football players include Gerhard Hanappi, Karl Koller, Josef Blum, Walter Nausch, Ernst Ocwirk, and Herbert Prohaska. More recently, David Alaba has been named Austrian Footballer of the Year seven times between 2011 and 2020.
Ralf Rangnick is the current head coach of the Austrian national football team, having led the team to successful qualification for Euro 2020 and 2024.
