Austria is famous for its Alpine traditions and scenery, classical music, baroque architecture, coffee culture and winter sports. They have a decent football tradition too, more so in the past but it seems to be returning as their recent positive national performances suggest.
Austria have participated in seven world cups, starting from 1934 when they finished fourth. Their best result was a third place in 1954. Their best period is considered the 1930's when they were known as the "Wunderteam".
"Das Team" have also taken part in four European Championships. Their best results were in the 2020 edition (played in 2021) when they reached the last 16 but lost to Spain on penalties and again in the recent 2024 edition when they surprisingly won their group but then lost 1-2 to Turkey, again in the last 16.
The Austrians have played in three Olympics, winning silver in 1936.
At club level the top teams are Rapid Vienna with 32 titles followed by Austria Vienna with 24, Salzburg 17 and Wacker Innsbruck 10. In recent years however, Salzburg have dominated, winning the Österreichische Bundesliga ten times in a row.
In Europe, Rapid Vienna were runners-up twice in the Cup Winners Cup (1985 and 1996), Austria Vienna reached the final of the Cup Winners Cup (1978) and the semi-finals of the European Cup (1979) while Salzburg reached the UEFA Cup final (1994). An Austrian team has never won a modern European trophy despite going close.
In the 1930's Austria Vienna won the Central European Cup twice.
The Austrian national team is currently ranked 25th in the world by FIFA.
The best players in Austrian history include; Rudolf Hiden, Karl Sesta, Joseph Blum, Ernst Ocwirk, Karl Koller, Walter Zeman, Ernst Happel, Theodore Wagner, Anton Schall, Franz Binder, Josef Bican, Walter Nausch, Matthias Sindelar, Karl Zischek, Gerard Hanappi, Ernst Stojaspal, Kurt Jara, Hans Krankl, Erich Obermayer, Bruno Pezzey, Toni Polster, Herbert Prohaska, Andreas Herzog and David Alaba.
Some of these played in Serie A. There have also been some Austrian managers and several have also worked at Lazio. Here are some of them:
Franz Sedlacek - manager - Lazio
Franz "Benjamin" Sedlacek was born in Vienna on September 4, 1892.
He played for Wiener AC, Wiener AF and Wiener AC again before becoming a manager. He won one league title as a player, with Wiener AF in 1914.
He arrived in Italy in 1922 when he coached Vicenza for a year. The "Lane" finished 7th in the E group of the Second Divisione and were relegated after a playoff with Grion Pola.
In 1923-24 he was at Padova and the Euganei finished 2nd in the A group of Prima Divisione behind eventual champions Genoa.
In 1924 he moved to Venezia and stayed two seasons. The Venetians finished 3rd and 1st in the Seconda Divisione.
In 1926-27 he spent a year back in his homeland with Austria Vienna. "Die Veilchen" (The Violets) finished 7th.
In 1927-28 he was back in Italy at Lazio. The Biancocelesti finished 10th in the Divisione Nazionale. They only stayed up because the league was expanded to more clubs. The highlight was beating Milan 3-1. There was no derby with newly formed A.S Roma as the Giallorossi were in the other group. At Lazio he won
In 1929-31 he worked in Poland with Garbania Cracovia and then spent a season with Karlsruher in Germany before returning briefly to Wiener AC where he died suddenly on July 18, 1933.
In this period Lazio had a player called Paolo Paganini who was born in Vienna but was Italian. He played 29 league games for Lazio plus 9 in the CONI Cup.
Karl Stürmer - manager - Lazio
Karl Stürmer was born in Vienna on October 8, 1882.
He played as a defender with First Vienna and Wiener AC where he won a league title in 1915. He played twice for the Austrian Empire. He retired in 1914 and then became a manager.
He coached first in Austria and then in 1920 arrived in Italy at Reggiana. He stayed two seasons in the top flight.
In 1922 he moved to Torino for two seasons, with two 2nd places. He did especially well, developing some great future players including; Aldo and Felice Borrel, Antonio Janni, Onesto Silano and Mario Bo.
He then returned to Reggiana briefly in 1926.
From 1926 to 1929 he was in charge at Prato. The "Fiordalisi" (The Bluebottles) finished 5th, 2nd and 15th (relegated to B).
In November 1929 he returned to Torino and stayed until the end of the season and Toro finished 4th.
In 1931-32 he was manager of nearby Alessandria who finished 6th in Serie A.
In 1932 he arrived at Lazio. He stayed two seasons. In the first, Lazio finished 10th. The highlights were beating Roma 2-1, Alessandria 6-0 Juventus 1-0 and Milan 1-0.
In 1933-34 Lazio finished 10th again. The Biancocelesti's best results were beating Milan 4-0 and drawing a derby after being 0-3 down.
At Lazio he built a reputation of being a disciplinarian.
In 1934 he left Rome and moved up to Massese briefly and then took over at Livorno during the season but finished 15th (relegated) and then 3rd in B but he was replaced before the season's end.
His next club was Alessandria again in 1936 but he was replaced before Christmas.
He then went into Juventus youth academy for a season and then spent another as assistant manager for Virginio Rosetta.
In 1940-41 he was with Cremonese for a season in Serie C. The "Violini" finished 8th.
In 1941-42 he was with Verona in Serie C. The Gialloblu finished 5th.
In 1942-43 he was manager of Cesena in Serie C. The Bianconeri finished 4th.
The Second World War then interrupted national football leagues.
He died tragically in 1943 murdered by a German in Faenza.
Hengelbert Koenig - forward - Lazio
His father, Engelbert, had been Milan manager from 1928 to 1931. Engelbert Koenig "Jr" arrived at Lazio in 1942 from Catania. He had previously also played for Fiorentina for a season. He stayed five seasons with Lazio.
In 1942-43 the manager was fellow Austrian Alexander Popovic and the Biancocelesti finished 9th. The best results were beating Inter 3-1, Juventus 5-3 and 4-2, Roma 3-1 and Milan 4-2. Koenig played 19 league games with 6 goals (Bologna, Bari, Genova, Roma, Torino, Liguria) and 2 in Coppa Italia with 2 goals (Napoli, Juventus).
In 1943-44 the war interrupted national sport but football continued at regional level. The manager was Dino Canestri and Lazio played in the Roman War League. The Biancocelesti won it and Koenig played 12 games with 16 goals plus 2 games in the four-team end of season tournament with 3 goals.
In 1944-45 Lazio finished 2nd in the Roman League and Koenig played 13 games with 14 goals (including a brace against Roma) plus another 9 games with 8 goals.
In 1945-46 national sport returned but was divided into two regional groups. Lazio played in the centre-south group and came 7th. The managers were Canestri, Salvador Gualtieri and then compatriot Tony Cargnelli. Koenig played 18 league games with 7 goals and another 6 post-league games with 7 goals.
The 1946-47 season was his last in Rome. Under fellow Austrian Cargnelli, Lazio finished 10th in Serie A. Koenig played 22 league games with 12 goals.
He then joined Sampdoria for a season (17 league games and 7 goals), Genoa for two seasons (39 league games and 10 goals) and finally Messina for two seasons (33 league games and 15 goals).
Engelbert was a forward and a prolific one too. In Italy he played 185 league games with 82 goals.
He did well at Lazio, playing 103 games (61 in league) with 75 goals (31 in league). He also scored four goals against Roma.
He died in San José (Costa Rica) on November 23, 1997.
Alexander Popovic - manager - Lazio
Alexander Popovic was an Austrian, born in Vienna of Yugoslav origins. His nickname was "Xandl". He had a playing career as a defender with Austria Vienna, Rapid Vienna and Wiener AC. He won two league titles (Rapid 1923 and Austria 1924) and two Austrian Cups (Austria Vienna 1921, 1924). He also won 33 caps for Austria with 1 goal.
He then became a manager. He started at Hertha Berlin in 1925-26. He then spent four years with Minerva Berlin.
In 1941 he arrived in Italy and Lazio. He stayed two seasons.
In 1941-42 Lazio finished 5th in Serie A. He had Silvio Piola in the team and the highlights were beating Bologna 5-1, Triestina 5-0 and Juventus 2-1 at home and Inter 1-0 and Milan 5-2 away.
In 1942-43 Lazio finished 9th. The best results were beating Inter 3-1, Juventus 5-3 and 4-2, Roma 3-1, Liguria 5-1 and Milan 4-2. With the war at the door the Austrian then left the capital.
After the war Popovic coached Bologna for a season in 1945-46. The Rossoblu finished 7th in the Alta Italia group and won the Alta Italia Cup (Novara 6-2 on aggregate).
In 1946-47 he spent a season with Pro Sesto in Serie B. The Biancocelesti from Sesto San Giovanni (Milan) finished 11th.
Popovic died in Vienna on September 30, 1952
Tony Cargnelli - manager - Lazio
Anton Cargnelli, known as Tony, was a forward born in Vienna, who played in Austria and then became a successful manager. He won a league title as a player with Wiener AF (1914) and also won1 cap for Austria. He also held an Italian passport as his father was Italian
His career as a manager started in Germany with VfB Mühlburg in 1925-26. He then spent a year in Romania with Timişoara before arriving in Italy.
His first club was Torino. He stayed two years with a Scudetto and a 2nd place.
In 1930-31 he was in Sicily with Palermo in Serie B and finished 3rd.
In 1932-33 he moved to Puglia and Foggia in the Prima Divisione (3rd tier) and won the league and promotion.
In 1933-34 he moved slightly south to Bari in Serie B and finished 3rd.
In 1934 he returned to Torino for two seasons finishing 14th and 3rd but winning the Coppa Italia in 1936 (Karl Stürmer's Alessandria 5-1).
In 1936 he went back to Bari for two seasons. The "Galletti" finished 11th and 13th in Serie A.
In 1938 he joined Ambrosiana-Inter for two years. The Nerazzurri finished 3rd and won the Coppa Italia (Novara 2-1) and then won the Scudetto.
In 1940 he returned to Torino for two seasons. The Granata finished 7th and 2nd (although some records claim the coach was Hungarian Andreas Kuttik).
In 1942-43 he spent a season with Liguria and finished 16th in Serie A.
In 1943-44, during the war, he was manager of Cuneo and finished 10th in the Piedmont-Liguria Divisione Nazionale.
After the war, in 1946, he arrived at Lazio. The Biancocelesti finished 10th. The star players were Uber Gradella, Francesco Antonazzi, Romolo Alzani, Enrique Flamini, Salvador Gualtieri, Aldo Puccinelli and fellow Austrian Engelbert Koenig. The best wins were Brescia 6-3, Sampdoria 4-0 and Fiorentina 3-0.
In 1947-48 Cargnelli stayed on but was then replaced after 21 matches by Orlando Tognotti. At this point Lazio had won 5 (including Inter 1-0), drawn 7 (including Juventus 2-2 away) and lost 7 (including derby 0-1) and were in 13th position, only two points above the relegation zone. Lazio eventually finished 10th and won the return derby 2-0.
Cargnelli then took charge of Lucchese, in April, until the end of the season. The "Pantere" finished 16th. In his stint the Rossoneri won 5 (including Milan 2-1 away and Lazio 2-1 at home), drew 4 (including Juventus and Roma both 2-2 at home) and lost 4.
In 1948-49 he was with Bologna. The Rossoblu finished 6th in Serie A. He then started the following season but was replaced in December by Englishman Edmund Crawford. The Felsinei ended up 15th
His last job was with Alessandria in 1950-51 in Serie C. The Grigi finished 4th.
Cargnelli had a good managerial career. He won two league titles (Torino 1928 and Inter 1940) and two domestic cups (Torino 1936 and Inter 1939). He also won the Prima Divisione with Foggia in 1933.
At Lazio he was not so successful but had a dignified 10th place before being replaced halfway through the next season.
Cargnelli died in Turin on June 27, 1974.
Other Austrian players who have passed through Italy include:
Herbert Prohaska - midfielder (Inter 1980-82, Roma 1982-83, 82 league games with 11 goals, he won a Coppa Italia with Inter and a Scudetto with Roma). He then returned to Austria Vienna. He won 83 caps for Austria with 10 goals.
Dieter Mirnegg - defender (Como 1981-82, 11 league games). He then returned to Austria. He played 15 times for Austria.
Walter Schachner - forward (Cesena 1981-83, Torino 1983-86, Avellino 1986-88, 191 league games with 48 goals). He then returned to Austria. He won 64 caps with 23 goals for the national team.
Michael Hatz - defender (Reggiana 1996-97, Lecce 1997, 28 league games). He then returned to Rapid Vienna. He won 9 caps for Austria.
Toni Polster - forward (Torino 1987-88, 27 league games with 9 goals). He left for Seville and his later teams include Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach. He played 95 times for Austria with 44 goals.
Michael Konsel - goalkeeper (Roma 1997-99, Venezia 199-2000, 55 league games). He had previously played 395 league games for Rapid Vienna and retired after Italy. He won 43 caps for Austria.
Peter Artner - midfielder (Foggia 1997, 10 league games). He then returned to Austria. He won 55 caps with 1 goal for Austria.
Robert Ibertsberger - defender (Venezia 1999-2000, 4 league games). He left for Sturm Graz. He won 8 caps for Austria.
Alexander Manninger - goalkeeper (Fiorentina 2001-02, Torino 2003, Bologna 2003-04, Brescia 2004, Siena 2004-05 and 2006-08, Juventus 2008-12, 143 league games and won a Scudetto with Juventus in 2012). In his career he also played for Salzburg and Arsenal (winning league in 1998). He left Italy for Augusta in Germany. He won 33 caps for Austria.
Markus Shopp - midfielder (Brescia 2001-05, 80 league games with 3 goals). He left for Salzburg. He won 56 caps for Austria with 6 goals.
György Garics - defender (Napoli 2006-08, Atalanta 2008-2010, Bologna 2010-15, Imolese 2017-18, 217 league games with 4 goals). He played 41 times for Austria with 2 goals.
Marcel Büchel - midfielder (Siena 2010, Juventus 2010-11, Gubbio 2011-12, Cremonese 2012-13, Juventus 2013, Virtus Lanciano 2013-14, Bologna 2014-15, Empoli 2018-19, Juve Stabia 2019-20, Ascoli 2020-23, SPAL 2024, 273 league games with 10 goals). He played for Austria U19's but from 2015 he also has Liechtenstein citizenship and has won 22 caps.
Moritz Leitner - midfielder - Lazio
Moritz Leitner arrived at Lazio in 2016 from Borussia Dortmund. He had previously also played for Monaco 1860, Augusta and Stuttgart. He only stayed at Lazio one season.
The manager was Simone Inzaghi and Lazio finished 5th (Europa League). The highlights were beating Roma 3-1 plus 6-2 wins against Pescara and Palermo and 7-3 against Sampdoria. Leitner however only played 2 league games all season.
He then left for Augusta for a season, Norwich City for three and Zurich for one before retiring.
He played for Austria U17's but then obtained German citizenship (his father is German) and represented Germany at U19, U20 and U21 levels.
Leitner was a midfielder. He had good pace and dribbling skills which made him effective on the break. He could play both centrally and on the centre-left, but also behind the strikers. He played 97 games in the Bundesliga.
At Lazio he passed pretty much unnoticed. He made his debut on October 1 2016 in Udine, playing the last five minutes in a 3-0 win but then only played one more game. He was not given much of a chance but he had strong competition in midfield from Marco Parolo, Felipe Anderson, Luis Alberto, Senad Lulić, Lucas Biglia, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Alessandro Murgia.
Flavius Daniliuc - defender (Salernitana 2022-24, 41 league games, currently on loan to Salzburg). He has won 2 caps for Austria.
2023-24 in A: Stefan Posch (Bologna), Marko Arnautovic (Inter), Valentino Lazaro (Torino), Franz Stolz (Genoa)
In Serie B: Matthias Braunöder (Como, now A), Michael Svoboda (Venezia), Maximilian Ullmann (Venezia)
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