Football is the most popular sport in Austria. The Austrian Football Association, OFB was founded in 1904 and has been a member of FIFA ever since. Despite the game’s popularity, the country’s national team has not been able to win tournaments, except for a successful series in the early 1930s. Austria Football History.

Austria played their first European Championship qualifier in 2016, but finished last in their group and failed to advance. His only appearance at the European Championships was in 2008 (when he co-hosted the championship with Switzerland.

In the World Cup, Austria has a slightly better record, finishing fourth and third in 1934 and 1954, respectively.

Early History

Football originated in Austria around 1890, and since 1900 a cup has been played in Vienna under the name Neues Wiener Tagblatt Pokal. The country’s first football league was born in 1911, called 1. Klasse, organized by the Football Federation of Lower Austria, became a professional league in 1924, the year it changed its name. Liga. An amateur championship was held in 1929, which was won by Geezer AK, in which Vienna Professional League clubs were excluded.

The national team became a European power in the 1930s under the command of coach Hugo Messel and under the leadership of Matthias Schindler, earning him the nickname “Wonder Team”. On 16 May 1931, the Austrian national team became the first European to beat Scotland and then won the Central European International Cup in 1932, finished fourth in the 1934 World Cup, and won a silver medal at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

National League

The National League was introduce in 1937, the second division in which other Austrian states could climb, and the country’s maximum competition. Following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, professionalism in sports was banne in May 1938 and many teams were banne, such as Hako Vienna and FK Austria Van.

The National League joined the system of the National Socialist League of the Reichsbank (National Socialist League of the Reich). Gauliga Ostmark, an amateur league, covered most of the country except Tyrol and Vorarlberg, which were part of the Bavarian league system. The league champion qualified for the German championship, and after World War II. Classes – later called the Liga only for Venetian teams.

After the creation of Staatsliga A in 1949, all the Austrian teams came together to form a league. However, the path to the league was difficult. A dispute between amateur and professional football representatives led to the separation of the Vienna League from the Football Federation, and on June 30, 1949, a new competition was establishe. A year later, Staatsliga B, Second Division was born. Which lasted until 1959.

Austrian Football Federation

The current Bundesliga was introduce on 21 April 1974, and the National League was establishe as the country’s second division (now called the first league of the Austrian Football First League). The Austrian Football Federation is Austria’s highest professional football organization and was found in 1904. Although it joined FIFA in 1905 and UEFA in 1954. The OFB hosts the Bundesliga – the country’s first and highest league competition and hosts the Austrian Cup. And the men’s and women’s national teams. Austria Football History.

Austria’s oldest team is First Vienna FC, champions of the 1943 German Cup and six Austrian leagues. SK Rapid Wien is the most successful team in the country with 32 league titles. A German Championship, and two runners-up in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. FK Austria Wien also qualified for the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1978. And FC Red Bull Salzburg were UEFA Cup finalists in 1993-94.

National Football team

The Austrian men’s national team, in its various categories, is control by the Austrian Football Federation.

The Austrian team played its first official game against Hungary in Vienna on 12 October 1902. A match that the Austrian team won 5-0. The match was the first between two non-British European teams.

FIFA World Cup

Austria has qualified for seven FIFA World Cups and one European Championship, co-hosted with Switzerland in 2008. The third best achievement of the Austrian joint team was the third in the 1954 World Cup and the fourth in the cup. Won silver medals at the 1934 World Cup and the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

In the 1930s, the Austrian team, known as the “Wonder Team”, had players such as Matthias Schindler. Known as the “Mozart of football”, the eight-goal scorer Joseph Bacon and John Horwath. The team played 14 unbeaten games, from 12 April 1931 to 7 December 1932, winning the Central European International Cup. Between 1931 and 1934, he made it to the 1934 World Cup with a stunning run of 28 victories. One draw, and two defeats, scoring a total of 102 goals. Austria Football History.

Andreas Herzog, with 104 international matches, is the player who has worn the national team shirt the most. The highest scorer in history is Tony Polster, who has scored 44 goals in 95 games. For more details click here