Know your Champions League team: FK Austria Wien

The stadium

The Franz Horr stadium, located in Favoriten in southern Vienna, is FKA’s home stadium. The stadium, which was built in 1925, was named after the late president of the Vienna Football Association in 1973. For sponsorship reasons, it is known as Generali Arena. Originally able to seat 10,850 fans, the reconstruction of the East Stand in 2008 has increased capacity to 13,400.

FK Austria Wien will be hoping to make a statement in Champions League

The Wien Derby

The Wien Derby, is played between Austria Wien and Rapid Wien, who are Austria’s most successful sides. Historically there has been a class divide between these two clubs, as Rapid represented Vienna’s working class while Austria catered to the middle and upper class.

This divide is not so evident today, but the rivalry still exists with the divide seen more on a geographical basis. After the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic broke up due to Rangers’ demotion, the Wien Derby is now Europe’s most-played derby. This is mainly due to the round-robin system of the Austria Bundesliga, where teams play each other four times every season.

Although Rapid has had a slight edge in the derby’s history, FKA can claim to have had their fair share of good memories from the game too, especially in recent times. Rapid have not been able to defeat FKA in the last ten fixtures.

The historical icon

Without a shred of a doubt, FK Austria Wien’s all-time icon and legend has to be Matthias Sindelar. Voted in 1998 as Austria’s greatest ever footballer, Sindelar starred for FKA in the 1930s, a period in which the side won the Mitropa Cup twice. Sindelar was adored as the Mozart of football and Der Papierene or the Paperman for his slight build and ability to slip and squeeze through defences.

Sindelar was part of Hugo Miesl’s legendary Wunderteam (Austrian national team) and captained the team at the 1934 FIFA World Cup in Italy. Although Austria finished fourth, Sindelar was adjudged the second-best player at the World Cup. Legend has it that “some Viennese football fans went to Sindelar’s games not only to see him play but to get a better understanding of how football should be played.” Sindelar, who died in 1939 in mysterious circumstances, also had a stint as manager of his beloved club.

The current icon

24-year-old Austrian striker Philipp Hosiner scored 32 goals in the league last year, in what was his debut season for FKA. Everton and Celtic have reportedly been eyeing him. Fans will look to Hosiner to provide the firepower as FKA hope to make a mark at Europe’s premier club event.

Road to the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League group stage

Won the 2012-13 Austrian Bundesliga to qualify for the third qualifying round of 2013-14 Champions League.

Third Qualifying Round: Defeated FH of Iceland 1-0 on aggregate.

Play-off Round: Defeated Dinamo Zagreb 4-3 on aggregate.