45-603: FC Swarovski Tirol was an Austrian association football club from 1986 to 1992, based in Innsbruck , Tyrol, Austria . It was created by crystal manufacturer Swarovski as a split-off of FC Wacker Innsbruck , whose Bundesliga license it adopted at the end of the 1985–86 season. With manager Ernst Happel it won the Austrian football championship of 1989 and 1990 as well as the Austrian Cup in 1989. It nevertheless
90-516: A successful streak in the early 1930s , the country's national team has not been successful in tournaments. Austria played their first ever European championship as a qualifier in 2016 , but finished last in their group and failed to advance. Appeared in the European championship in 2008 (when it co-hosted the championship with Switzerland ), 2016 , 2020 and recently qualified for 2024 . Their best up to date achievement of this competition
135-610: A the FIFA Women's World Cup but reached the semi-finals of the European Championship in 2017 . Stadiums with a capacity of 30,000 or higher are included. Matthias Sindelar Matthias Sindelar ( German: [maˈtiːas ˈʃɪndəlaːɐ̯] , Czech : Matěj Šindelář ; 10 February 1903 – 23 January 1939) was an Austrian professional footballer . Regarded as one of the greatest Austrian players of all time, Sindelar notably played for Austria Vienna and
180-524: A 2000s documentary screened on the BBC, Egon Ulbrich, a lifelong friend of Sindelar, stated that a local official was bribed to record his death as an accident, which ensured that he would receive a state funeral. " According to the Nazi rules, a person who had been murdered or who has committed suicide cannot be given a grave of honour. So we had to do something to ensure that the criminal element involved in his death
225-484: A blacksmith, and his wife Marie (née Švengrová). Despite occasional claims that Sindelar was of Jewish origin, the family was Catholic. These claims most likely arise from his main club, Austria Vienna 's connection to Vienna's Jewish population. They moved to Vienna in 1905 and settled in the predominantly working-class district of Favoriten , which had a large Czech -speaking community. Young Matěj, whose name would be Germanized as Matthias, began playing football in
270-665: A draw and two defeats, scoring a whopping 102 goals, reaching the World Cup in 1934. Andreas Herzog , with 104 internationals, is the player who has worn the shirt of the national team most times. The top scorer in history is Toni Polster , with 44 goals in 95 games. The Bundesliga is the highest national league-club competition in Austria has 12 teams, the second tier is the Second League ( 2. Liga ) has 16 teams. The third tier consists of three parallel divisions which are
315-733: A finalist of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1978 and SV Austria Salzburg were finalist of the UEFA Cup in 1993–94 . The Austrian men's national team, in its different categories, is controlled by the Austrian Football Federation. The Austrian team played their first official game on October 12, 1902 in Vienna against Hungary, a match that was resolved with victory by the Austrians 5-0. This match
360-495: A vital cog in their team. Both his and the club's fortunes took a turn for the worse, however, as Sindelar suffered a serious knee injury in May 1923, making him indefinitely unavailable. Concurrently, Hertha also went through a great economic crisis and Sindelar, as well as some of his teammates, were made redundant. In his time at Hertha Vienna, Sindelar scored 4 goals in 23 matches. Now a free agent but still injured, Sindelar consulted
405-471: Is the state league ( Landesliga ), with the 2. Landesliga as the fifth tier in Lower Austria and Vienna. Most states have 7 to 10 official tiers, but in Vienna unofficial tiers exist under the normal tiers. They are not organized by the ÖFB , but theoretically the champions of these tiers can promote to the official ÖFB-tiers. Below shows how the current system works. Until 1982 the championship
450-455: The Austrian flag's colours instead of their traditional white and black strips. Austria squandered many easy goalscoring opportunities during the match in a way that looked deliberate. However, in the last 20 minutes, Sindelar and teammate Karl Sesta both scored as the game finished 2–0. Sindelar is claimed to have celebrated extravagantly in front of senior Nazi dignitaries. Refusing to leave his home country, Sindelar refused to play for
495-765: The Central European International Cup in 1932, finished in fourth place in the 1934 World Cup and won the silver medal in the Olympic Games of Berlin 1936. In 1937 the Nationalliga was introduced, the second division in which the equipment of other states of Austria could ascend and consist of the maximum competition of the country. With the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany came the prohibition of professionalism in sport in May 1938 and several teams were banned, such as Hakoah Vienna and FK Austria Wien . The Nationalliga joined
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#1732776223670540-438: The Central European International Cup : 1931–32 , Sindelar scoring 4 goals to help Austria win its first and so far only international Trophy. This time around The Wunderteam finished as Runners-up. Sindelar scoring 3 goals to make him Austria's all-time top goalscorer at the Central European International Cup . Sindelar and Austria made the whole their stage at the 1934 World Cup , where they truly earned their nickname of
585-740: The Second World War . This was and is seen by many as a great tragedy for Austrian football as they feel that Austria were one of the favourites to lift that year's World Cup trophy. The match dubbed the "Anschlussspiel" in German (lit. Anschluss game), was planned as a celebration by the Nazi regime of the Anschluss and Austria's "coming home to the Reich ". At Sindelar's behest, the Austrian team played in red-white-red strips which mimicked
630-596: The Wunderteam – already disciplined, organized, hardworking and professional – acquired their playmaker and inspiration, that vital spark of unpredictability. while Austria had not quite earned the moniker of Wunderteam yet, a young Sindelar helped them to their first major international tournament performance, being a part of the squad that made Runners-up in the Central European International Cup. The Wunderteam started by winning
675-476: The national side . He played as a centre-forward for the celebrated Austrian national side of the early 1930s that became known as the Wunderteam , which he captained at the 1934 World Cup . Known as "The Mozart of football" or Der Papierene ("The Paper Man") for his slight build, he was renowned as one of the finest pre-war footballers, known for his fantastic dribbling ability and creativity. He
720-593: The regional leagues ( Regionalliga ). These cover the different regions of Austria as follows: the East ( Regionalliga Ost ), which comprises teams from Vienna , Lower Austria , and Burgenland ; the Central ( Regionalliga Mitte ), featuring teams from Styria , Carinthia , Upper Austria , and East Tyrol ; and the West ( Regionalliga West ), competed for by teams from Salzburg , Tyrol , and Vorarlberg . The fourth tier
765-455: The "Wunderteam". The high point came with their win over Hungary in the quarterfinals, when Sindelar was matched up against centre-half György Sárosi , who would go on to claim a runners-up medal at the following World Cup in France. In a bruising encounter, one Hungarian was sent off, and Johann Horvath , the Austrian midfielder, was injured and missed the semi-final against Italy . Austria
810-404: The 1930s, the Austrian team known as "Wunderteam" had players like Matthias Sindelar , nicknamed the "Mozart of football", 8 the scorer Josef Bican and Johann Horvath . This team was 14 undefeated games, 9 from April 12, 1931 to December 7, 1932, in that same period they won the Central European International Cup . Between the years of 1931 to 1934, they had the impressive run of 28 victories,
855-663: The Austrian system", leading to its earning the nickname of "the Viennese whirlpool". Although the Wunderteam regularly lacked efficiency, Sindelar's individual technical skill and vision often compensated for these issues. Of Czech descent, Sindelar was born Matěj Šindelář ( Czech: [ˈmacɛj ˈʃɪndɛlaːr̝̊] ) in Kozlov , Moravia , then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire , the son of Jan Šindelář,
900-718: The Bundesliga - the first and highest league competition of the country- and the Austrian Cup, and manages the national men's and women's national team. The oldest team in Austria is First Vienna FC , champion of the German Cup in 1943 and six Austrian leagues. SK Rapid Wien is the most successful team in the country, with 32 league titles, one German championship and two runners-up in the European Cup Winners Cup. FK Austria Wien also managed to be
945-563: The Wonderteam . From 1926 to 1937, Sindelar was capped 43 times for his country, scoring 26 goals. He scored four goals in his first three international matches, including one in his debut match, a 2–1 victory over Czechoslovakia on 28 September 1926. Sindelar became an essential part of the Austrian Wunderteam that was coached by Hugo Meisl , until the two later had a falling out. Writer David Goldblatt described
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#1732776223670990-537: The club doctor of SV Amateure who suggested that he should undergo meniscus surgery. At the time, such an operation was operation considered quite risky as it could mark the end of his career. Feeling that such a risk was necessary to take Sindelar had the surgery and, once successfully healed, signed for SV Amateure in 1924, who were at the time Austrian league and cup champions. In 1926, SV Amateure would become professional and take on its current name of FK Austria Vienna . His time at Austria Vienna coincided with one of
1035-505: The club's most successful spells pre-War. He helped the team win the Austrian Cup five times across an eleven-year spell - in 1925, 1926, 1933, 1935 and 1936. He also won an 1. League title in 1926, and the Mitropa Cup twice, in 1933 and 1936 respectively. Much like his time at Hertha Vienna, Sindelar was a center forward and utilised his technical ability, talent on the ball, and eye for goal to overcome his physical disadvantages. He
1080-462: The creation of Staatsliga A in 1949, all Austrian teams came together to form a league. However, the road to organizing the league was difficult. A conflict between the representatives of amateur and professional football led to the separation of the Vienna league from the football federation, and a new competition was established on June 30, 1949. A year later the Staatsliga B, the second division,
1125-516: The development of his high-level technique, allowing him "to dodge and dribble at will his opponents, and to squeeze with disconcerting ease (through gaps in [ sic ]) the opposing defences”. It is these characteristics which make him obtain the nickname of “der Papierene” ("the Paper man"). Sindelar quickly earnt his keep at Hertha Vienna, scoring his first goals in the national championship, in particular, thanks to his quick feet, and becoming
1170-470: The events: He made his international debut in 1926 and played well before falling out of favour with the disciplinarian Meisl. Four years in the international wilderness followed until Meisl was cornered by a gathering of the city's leading football commentators as he sat in the Ring Café in 1931. Everyone was arguing for Sindelar's recall and Meisl changed his mind. Sindelar played. Scotland were beaten and
1215-595: The first time in 47 years, thus eliminating the West German team from the tournament. Football was born in Austria around 1890, and from 1900 a cup was played in Vienna called Neues Wiener Tagblatt Pokal. The first football league of the country was born in 1911, called 1. Klasse, organized by the Football Federation of Lower Austria, and became a professional league in 1924, the year in which it changed its name to I. Liga. In 1929 an amateur championship
1260-578: The individual Federation of Land, from 3rd to 5th level. Until 2004, the winner contested the Austrian Supercup against the winners of the Austrian Cup. In the 2010-2011 season, 334 teams are registered The Austrian women's national team debuted on July 9, 1970 before the selection of Mexico in a match won by the Mexicans by 9-0 in Italy. The Austrian women's team has not yet participated in
1305-497: The new Germany national team citing old age (by this point he was 35 years old) and injury as the cause. On 23 January 1939, both Sindelar and his girlfriend Camilla Castagnola were found dead at the apartment they shared in Vienna ; the official verdict cited carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause. Different theories speculated that his death was an accident, suicide or murder. Austrian writer Friedrich Torberg later dedicated
1350-515: The people of Vienna. Sindelar began his footballing career with Hertha Vienna, whom he joined in 1918. This opportunity arose when, at the age of fifteen, he was spotted by a scout, who signed him up for Hertha's youth teams. Already considered to be "an excellent dribbler and finisher" as a teenager, Sindelar had quickly progressed into the first team by the early 1920s. Playing in the blue and white jersey of Hertha, Sindelar quickly learned to compensate for his rather frail, infantile physique through
1395-488: The poem "Auf den Tod eines Fußballspielers" ("On the death of a footballer") to Sindelar. The poem suggested that he had committed suicide as a result of the German Anschluss of Austria in 1938. On the other hand, it has been thought and reported that his death was accidental, caused by a defective chimney. A neighbour had reported a defective chimney in the block a few days before Sindelar's death. However, in
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1440-435: The second rounds ( 1978 , 1982 ). In 1978 Austria won its group ahead of Brazil. In the group of the second round, any chance of progressing was gone after losses in the two first matches. But in the last match, against West Germany, which had chances of progressing even to the final, the Austrians produced what would become known as The Miracle of Córdoba , winning against any German national team (West, East or unified) for
1485-402: The streets with the other children of the neighbourhood, many of whom were immigrants from Bohemia and Moravia. Notably, he grew up alongside his future Austrian teammate Josef Bican . According to many sources, upon the death of his father, Sindelar took up a job as either an apprentice mechanic or a locksmith; during this time, he also had many other odd jobs, such as selling sporting goods to
1530-759: The system of the Nationalsozialistischer Reichsbund für Leibesübungen (National Socialist League of the Reich). The Gauliga Ostmark , an amateur league, covered most of the country except the Tyrol and Vorarlberg, which were included in the Bavarian league system. The league champion qualified for the German championship, and after the Second World War returned the 1. Klasse - later called only Liga -, only for Viennese teams. After
1575-460: Was also seen as a great leader in the pitch. Gifted with 'ankle-breaking' agility his ability to beat the defender one-on-one was often described as 'exceptional'. In this sense, he is often compared in terms of modern-day footballers to counterparts such as Ferenc Puskás . Overall, in 703 matches for Austria Vienna, he scored 600 goals and In 2001 was named in their Team of the Century. Sindelar
1620-416: Was arguably one of Europe's best and, in scope, most influential footballers of his generation, recognized for his ball control, passing and dribbling, and especially his creativity. There are anecdotal claims that some fans went attended Sindelar's games not only to see him play but to get a better understanding of how football 'should' be played. In 1938 he appeared as himself in the Austrian film Roxy and
1665-495: Was born. which remained until 1959. On April 21, 1974 the current Bundesliga was introduced, and the Nationalliga was established as the second division of the country (now known as the First League of Austrian Football First League ). The Austrian Football Federation (ÖFB) is the highest professional football organization in Austria and was founded in 1904, although it joined FIFA in 1905 and UEFA in 1954. The ÖFB organizes
1710-549: Was dissolved in 1992 and the license fell back to FC Wacker, only to change over again to the newly established FC Tirol Innsbruck one year later. Football in Austria Football is the most popular sport in Austria . The Austrian Football Association , the ÖFB ( Österreichischer Fußball-Bund ), was founded in 1904 and has been a member of FIFA since then. Despite the sport's popularity, except for
1755-532: Was organized by Wiener Fußball-Verband. After that date he went to the organization of the National Federation. The championship has a national character for the first two divisions, ÖFB-Frauenliga and 2. Frauenliga , which in turn is divided into three groups: Mitte / West (composed of 10 teams), Ost (11) and Süd (7). The first of each group runs the promotions for the promotion, retires the last ranked. Regional tournaments are organized, organized by
1800-422: Was organized that Grazer AK won, in which the clubs of the professional league of Vienna were excluded from participating. The national team became a European power in the 1930s under the command of coach Hugo Meisl and the leadership of Matthias Sindelar , which earned him the nickname " Wunderteam ". On May 16, 1931 the Austrian national team was the first European to defeat Scotland, and subsequently won
1845-401: Was removed ," he stated. It has also been suggested that Sindelar was killed for his opposition for the Anschluss. The Gestapo notably had a file on him and had kept his café under surveillance. The following is a list of Sindelar's international appearances and goals with the Austria national football team . Sindelar was ranked as Austria's best footballer of the twentieth century by
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1890-549: Was the Round of 16 in the 2020 edition. In the World Cup , Austria has a slightly better record, achieving fourth and third place in 1934 and 1954 , respectively. Other than that, Austria either did not enter ( 1930 ), did not qualify ( 1966 , 1970 , 1974 , 1986 , 1994 , 2002 , 2006 , 2010 , 2014 , 2018 , 2022 ), withdrew ( 1938 , 1950 , 1962 ), or was either eliminated at the group stages ( 1958 , 1990 , 1998 ), or
1935-519: Was the first played between two non-British European teams. Austria has managed to qualify for seven FIFA World Cups and four European Championship, the first which was organized together with Switzerland in 2008. The Austrian combined team's third-best achievement was the third place in the 1954 World Cup, the fourth in the Cup. World Cup of 1934 and the silver medal won at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. In
1980-612: Was then defeated by the host nation, with Sindelar affected by the harsh marking of Luis Monti . On 3 April 1938, the Austrian team played Germany in the Prater Stadium in Vienna. This match was significant as, just a few weeks earlier Nazi Germany had annexed Austria (known as the Anschluss ), and had absorbed the national team into that of Nazi Germany, ignoring their qualification for that summer's World Cup . Thus, this would be Austria's last international match until after
2025-516: Was voted the best Austrian footballer of the 20th Century in a 1999 poll by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) and was named Austria's sportsman of the century a year before. With the Wunderteam, Sindelar was one of the key elements of their developing formation and style of play as it evolved into a 2-3-5. According to specialists like Paul Dietschy, this formation provided "such fluidity to
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