FK Austria Wien

FK Austria Wien are an Austrian football club which plays in the capital, Vienna.

Related Topics:
Austria - Football - Vienna

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Austria Wien were founded in Vienna on March 12 1911 as the Wiener Amateur Sportvereinigung by players and officials of the Vienna Cricket- and Football- Club. Club colours are violet and white. The first championship title was won in 1924. In 1926 the Amateure changed their name to Austria as the former amateurs had become professionals.

Related Topics:
March 12 - 1911 - First championship title - 1924 - 1926

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The 1930s, one of Austria?s most successful eras brought two Mitropa Cup titles, a predecessor of today?s UEFA Champions League (1933, 1936). During this time world class players like Matthias Sindelar wore the violet jersey.

Related Topics:
Mitropa Cup - UEFA Champions League - 1933 - 1936 - Matthias Sindelar

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During the time of the Nazi dictatorship (1938 ? 1945) most of Austria?s officials and some of their players, being Jewish, had to leave the country or were being murdered by the Nazi regime. Star player Sindelar died mysteriously on January 23 1939 of carbon monoxide poisoning in his apartment. Even though Austria did not have any sportive successes in this period for these reasons they managed to clinche a much more important victory in keeping their club name "Austria" despite the attempts of the nazis to rename the club.

Related Topics:
Nazi - January 23 - 1939 - Carbon monoxide - Poisoning

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Post World War II a new successful era began with Austria winning national championship titles in 1949, 1950, 1953 and 1961 ? 63 as well as 1969 and 1970.

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The 1970s saw the beginning of another glorious era of the club as the Violets won 8 national championship titles between 1976 and 1986 (1976,1978-81,1984-86) and made it to the Final of the European Cup Winners Cup in 1978 (which was lost 0:4 to R.S.C. Anderlecht) and the semi finals of the European Champions Cup in 1979. Important players included the world famous Herbert Schneckerl Prohaska, and Toni Polster.

Related Topics:
R.S.C. Anderlecht - Herbert ''Schneckerl'' Prohaska - Toni Polster

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In the beginning of the 90s, FK Austria enjoyed its so far last successful era: three championship titles (1991-93), three cup titles (1990, 1992, 1994) as well as four Super cup titles ( Austrian national champion vs. Cup winner) (1991-94) were won.

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After a period of ten years without a title Austria won the title again in 2003. To this day Austria are known for their very fancy and creative style of playing football which on the downside has frequently led to unnecessary losses and makes the team somewhat unpredictable.

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Some supporters of the club claim that, contrary to common belief, Austria Wien are the "real" Austrian record champion since 16 of the 31 titles of local rival SK Rapid Wien were won before the establishment of an all Austrian league (vs. only 3 for Austria Wien).

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