Austrian Football Bundesliga

The Bundesliga (German: Bundesliga [ˈbʊndəsˌliːɡa], "Federal League"), also known as Admiral Bundesliga for sponsorship reasons, is the top level of the Austrian football league system. The competition decides the Austrian national football champions, as well the country's entrants for the various European cups run by UEFA. Since Austria stayed in sixteenth place in the UEFA association coefficient rankings at the end of the 2015–16 season,[1] the league gained its first spot for the UEFA Champions League for the 2016–17 season.

Austrian Football Bundesliga
Organising bodyÖsterreichische Fußball Bundesliga
Founded1974; 50 years ago (1974)
CountryAustria
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams12 (since 2018–19)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toAustrian 2. Liga
Domestic cup(s)Austrian Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Conference League
Current championsRed Bull Salzburg (17th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsRapid Wien (32 titles)
Top goalscorerHans Krankl (270)
TV partnersDomestic
ORF
Sky Sport Austria
International
OneFootball (Selected international markets)
Websitewww.bundesliga.at
Current: 2023–24 Austrian Bundesliga

The Austrian Bundesliga, which began in the 1974–75 season, has been a separate registered association since 1 December 1991. It has been won the most by the two Viennese giants Austria Wien, who were national champions 24 times, and Rapid Wien, who won the national title 32 times. The current champions are Red Bull Salzburg. Phillip Thonhauser is president of the Austrian Bundesliga. The Austrian Football Bundesliga is currently known as Admiral Bundesliga for sponsorship reasons.

History edit

1900–1938 edit

Football has been played in Austria since around 1890. Around the turn of the twentieth century two attempts were made to start a national championship. From 1900 onwards, a cup competition was played in Vienna, the Neues Wiener Tagblatt Pokal. This cup was actually played in league format.[2] The efforts to create a football league succeeded in 1911, with the introduction of the first Austrian football championship. The competition for this championship, the 1. Klasse (First Class), was created and organized by the Niederösterreichischer Fußball-Verband (the Lower Austrian Football Federation), and the participants played for the title of Niederösterreichische Landesmeister (Lower Austrian National Champion). From 1924, the league was considered professional and changed its name to I. Liga (First League).[3] In 1929, an all-Austrian amateur championship was first played, won by Grazer AK. Clubs from the professional league in Vienna were not part of this competition.[4] Teams from the other states of Austria were first allowed to join the highest division with the introduction of the Nationalliga (National League) in the season of 1937–38.[5]

 
In 1941 Rapid Wien won the German championship final against Schalke 04 4–3

1938–1945 edit

Austria's annexation by Germany in 1938 brought the Austrian Nationalliga to an early end. Numerous teams were disbanded and some players fled out of the country. The Austrian Nationalliga was integrated into the system of the NSRL, the Sports office of the Third Reich as the Gau XVII section under Gaufachwart Hans Janisch. Despised by Nazis as unworthy of a true German, professionalism in sports was outlawed in May 1938. "Innovations" like the Hitler salute were introduced as compulsory before and after every game. Teams, like Hakoah Wien were banned and others, like Austria Wien were first closed and then renamed. Finally, the operation of the junior teams was handed over to the local Hitlerjugend units.[6] The new highest league in what had been Austria, the Gauliga Ostmark, was an amateur league and covered the whole of the former country except Tyrol and Vorarlberg, which were added to the Bavarian league system.[7] The league champions now qualified for the German football championship, which Rapid Wien won in 1941. From 1941, the league was renamed Gauliga Donau-Alpenland to further eradicate the memory of Austria as an independent country. Following Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II and the disbandment of the NSRL, Austria's teams were excluded again from the German league.

1945–1974 edit

The league returned to a Vienna-only format in 1945, briefly named 1. Klasse once more before changing to just Liga in 1946. Only upon the introduction of the all-Austrian Staatsliga A in 1949 did teams from the whole federal territory finally play for the Austrian Championship. However, the road to organising the Staatsliga proved difficult. A conflict between the representatives of the amateur and the professional aspects of the sport led to the separation of the Viennese league from the football federation, and to the establishment of its own competition on 30 June 1949. At the statutory Presidential Election Council of the Austrian Football Association only a few days later a surprising turn took place – upon the request of Lower Austria, the introduction of the Staatsliga was finally and unanimously confirmed. The organization was in the hands of the Fußballstaatsliga Österreich, created for this purpose.[8] A Staatsliga B, the second division of national league football, was formed in 1950. This league, however, was disbanded again in 1959, whereby the Staatsliga A dropped the A from its name, the need for differentiating having been gone.[9] In 1965, however, the Austrian Football Association again took over the organization of the top division, with the (second) introduction of the Nationalliga.[10] On 21 April 1974, against the vote of the Vorarlberg association, the introduction of the Bundesliga was decided. The Nationalliga remained as the second division, for now.[11]

 
Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadion, Rapid Wien
 
UPC-Arena, Sturm Graz
 
Generali Arena, Austria Wien
 
Red Bull Arena, FC Salzburg

1974 to current edit

In the 1974–75 season the Bundesliga was introduced which, still led by the Austrian Football Association, aligned both of the highest divisions in Austria. In 1976, the Nationalliga was renamed to Bundesliga – Second Division while the Bundesliga was now called Bundesliga – First Division.[12] From 1974 to 1982 the league operated with ten clubs with each club playing the other four times during the season. From 1982 to 1985 it played with sixteen clubs with each club playing the others twice. The league's modus was changed in 1985 to a twelve team league which played a home -and away round in autumn. The top eight clubs then advanced to the championship round (Officially: Oberes Play-off) who again played each other twice. The bottom four of the autumn round played the top four of the First League to determine the four teams to play in the Bundesliga in the following season. This modus was used for the next eight seasons until 1993 when the league returned to the ten team format it originally operated in.[13] 26 years after dissolution of the independent Staatsliga on 17 November 1991, the Austrian Football Bundesliga was reconstituted as a federation and admitted on 1 December 1991 to the Austrian Football Association as its 10th member. Beginning with the 2018-19 season the league expanded from its current 10 teams to 12 teams.[14]

Tasks and legal form edit

Since 1991 the Bundesliga has carried its own responsibility as a separate association, and organises the championships of the two highest divisions in Austria. Both are named after their sponsors; since 2014 the Bundesliga is named after sports-betting company, Tipico.[15] The second division, called the "Erste Liga" or "First League," is sponsored by Sky Go. In addition the Bundesliga is responsible for the Toto Jugendliga, leagues for under 15/17/19 teams of professional clubs and academies. The Bundesliga also represents professional football in Austria, in co-operation with the football clubs themselves. The Bundesliga is legally a non-profit organisation. The twenty teams of the Tipico Bundesliga and the Sky Go Erste Liga constitute the members of the Bundesliga. The Bundesliga is represented by an acting executive committee, which supports a supervisory board. Each association of the two professional leagues is represented in presidential conferences; these have advisory function in all affairs concerning the Bundesliga.

Scopes of responsibility of the senates edit

The 'senates' are organising committees which consist of honorary and committee-members independent of the clubs. The first senate is responsible for suspensions and for the running of championship games. The second senate functions as an arbitration board for financial disagreements, the third senate is responsible for all financial concerns and the fourth senate is the panel of referees for the Bundesliga. The evaluation of a club's economic competency which is required in order to obtain a playing license for the two professional leagues takes place at the fifth senate, the Bundesliga license committee.

Bundesliga edit

Format edit

In the Bundesliga, twelve teams play a double round-robin schedule, with each team playing every other twice at home and twice away during a championship year, which is divided into an autumn and a spring season. The season typically lasts from July to June of the following year. At the end of the season, the team finishing in last place in the table is relegated to the Admiral 2. Liga, the champion of which is promoted to the Admiral Bundesliga.

Tiebreakers edit

In the event of two teams having the same number of points, tiebreakers to determine league position are as follows:

  1. Head-to-Head Match Statistics (Number of points, Goal difference, goals scored) If several teams are equal on points, an internal table of all head-to-head matches will be created.
  2. Higher Goal Difference
  3. Higher Number of Goals Scored
  4. Higher Number of Victories
  5. Higher Number of Away Victories
  6. Higher Number of Goals Scored in Away Games
    [16]

Qualification for European Competitions edit

The winner of the Austrian Cup competition qualifies for the Playoff Round of the UEFA Europa League. In the event that the Bundesliga champion is also the Austrian Cup winner, the fourth-placed team in the Bundesliga enters the UEFA Europa League in the 2nd Qualifying Round, and the 3rd Place team enters in the Playoff Round. [16]

Location of teams in the 2023–24 Austrian Football Bundesliga

Team

Location

Venue

Capacity

Austria Klagenfurt Klagenfurt Wörthersee Stadion 29,863
Austria Lustenau Lustenau Reichshofstadion 8,800
Austria Wien Vienna Generali Arena 17,656
Blau-Weiß Linz Linz Hofmann Personal Stadion 5,595
LASK Linz Raiffeisen Arena 19,080
Rapid Wien Vienna Allianz Stadion 28,000
Red Bull Salzburg Wals-Siezenheim Red Bull Arena 17,218 (30,188) [a]
Rheindorf Altach Altach Stadion Schnabelholz 8,500
Sturm Graz Graz Merkur-Arena 16,364
TSV Hartberg Hartberg Profertil Arena Hartberg 4,635
Wolfsberger AC Wolfsberg Lavanttal-Arena 7,300
WSG Tirol Innsbruck Tivoli Stadion Tirol 16,008

Season by clubs edit

This is the complete list of the clubs that have taken part in at least one Austrian Football Bundesliga season, founded in 1974, until the 2023–24 season. Teams that currently play are indicated in bold.

List of champions edit

Season Champions Runner-up Top Scorer
1974–75 Wacker Innsbruck VÖEST Linz   Helmut Köglberger (LASK) (22)
1975–76 Austria Wien Wacker Innsbruck   Johann Pirkner (Austria Wien) (21)
1976–77 Wacker Innsbruck Rapid Wien   Hans Krankl (Rapid Wien) (32)
1977–78 Austria Wien Rapid Wien   Hans Krankl (Rapid Wien) (41)
1978–79 Austria Wien Wiener Sport-Club   Walter Schachner (Austria Wien) (24)
1979–80 Austria Wien VOEST Linz   Walter Schachner (Austria Wien) (34)
1980–81 Austria Wien Sturm Graz   Gernot Jurtin (Sturm Graz) (22)
1981–82 Rapid Wien Austria Wien   Božo Bakota (Sturm Graz) (24)
1982–83 Rapid Wien Austria Wien   Hans Krankl (Rapid Wien) (23)
1983–84 Austria Wien Rapid Wien   Tibor Nyilasi (Austria Wien) (26)
1984–85 Austria Wien Rapid Wien   Toni Polster (Austria Wien) (24)
1985–86 Austria Wien Rapid Wien   Toni Polster (Austria Wien) (33)
1986–87 Rapid Wien Austria Wien   Toni Polster (Austria Wien) (39)
1987–88 SK Rapid Wien Austria Wien   Zoran Stojadinović (Rapid Wien) (27)
1988–89 Swarovski Tirol Admira/Wacker Wien   Peter Pacult (Swarovski Tirol) (26)
1989–90 Swarovski Tirol Austria Wien   Gerhard Rodax (Admira/Wacker) (35)
1990–91 Austria Wien Swarovski Tirol   Václav Daněk (Swarovski Tirol) (29)
1991–92 Austria Wien Austria Salzburg   Christoph Westerthaler (Swarovski Tirol) (17)
1992–93 Austria Wien Austria Salzburg   Václav Daněk (Tirol Innsbruck) (24)
1993–94 Austria Salzburg Austria Wien   Nikola Jurčević
  Heimo Pfeifenberger (Austria Salzburg) (14)
1994–95 Austria Salzburg Sturm Graz   Souleymane Sané (Tirol Innsbruck) (20)
1995–96 Rapid Wien Sturm Graz   Ivica Vastić (Sturm Graz) (20)
1996–97 Austria Salzburg Rapid Wien   René Wagner (Rapid Wien) (28)
1997–98 Sturm Graz Rapid Wien   Geir Frigård (LASK) (23)
1998–99 Sturm Graz Rapid Wien   Edi Glieder (Austria Salzburg) (22)
1999–2000 Tirol Innsbruck Sturm Graz   Ivica Vastić (Sturm Graz) (32)
2000–01 Tirol Innsbruck Rapid Wien   Radosław Gilewicz (Tirol Innsbruck) (22)
2001–02 Tirol Innsbruck Sturm Graz   Ronald Brunmayr (Grazer AK) (27)
2002–03 Austria Wien Grazer AK   Axel Lawarée (Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz) (21)
2003–04 Grazer AK Austria Wien   Roland Kollmann (Grazer AK) (27)
2004–05 Rapid Wien Grazer AK   Christian Mayrleb (ASKÖ Pasching) (21)
2005–06 Austria Wien Red Bull Salzburg   Sanel Kuljić (SV Ried)
  Roland Linz (Austria Wien)(15)
2006–07 Red Bull Salzburg SV Ried   Alexander Zickler (Red Bull Salzburg) (22)
2007–08 Rapid Wien Red Bull Salzburg   Alexander Zickler (Red Bull Salzburg) (16)
2008–09 Red Bull Salzburg Rapid Wien   Marc Janko (Red Bull Salzburg) (39)
2009–10 Red Bull Salzburg Austria Wien   Steffen Hofmann (Rapid Wien) (20)
2010–11 Sturm Graz Red Bull Salzburg   Roland Linz (Austria Wien) (21)
2011–12 Red Bull Salzburg Rapid Wien   Jakob Jantscher
  Stefan Maierhofer (Red Bull Salzburg) (14)
2012–13 Austria Wien Red Bull Salzburg   Philipp Hosiner (Admira Wacker Mödling)/(Austria Wien) (32)
2013–14 Red Bull Salzburg Rapid Wien   Jonathan Soriano (Red Bull Salzburg) (31)
2014–15 Red Bull Salzburg Rapid Wien   Jonathan Soriano (Red Bull Salzburg) (31)
2015–16 Red Bull Salzburg Rapid Wien   Jonathan Soriano (Red Bull Salzburg) (21)
2016–17 Red Bull Salzburg Austria Wien   Olarenwaju Kayode (Austria Wien) (17)
2017–18 Red Bull Salzburg Sturm Graz   Mu'nas Dabbur (Red Bull Salzburg) (22)
2018–19 Red Bull Salzburg LASK   Mu'nas Dabbur (Red Bull Salzburg) (20)
2019–20 Red Bull Salzburg Rapid Wien   Shon Weissman (Wolfsberger AC) (30)
2020–21 Red Bull Salzburg Rapid Wien   Patson Daka (Red Bull Salzburg) (27)
2021–22 Red Bull Salzburg Sturm Graz   Karim Adeyemi (Red Bull Salzburg) (19)
2022–23 Red Bull Salzburg Sturm Graz   Guido Burgstaller (Rapid Wien) (21)
2023–24 TBD TBD TBD

Performance edit

Performance by club edit

Club Winners Runners-up Winning Seasons
Rapid Wien    
32
29
1912, 1913, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1929, 1930, 1935, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1995–96, 2004–05, 2007–08
Austria Wien   
24
19
1923–24, 1925–26, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1952–53, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2012–13
Red Bull Salzburg 
17
7
1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
Wacker Innsbruck (5) (4)  
Swarovski Tirol (2) (1)
Tirol Innsbruck (3) (–) †
10
5
1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02
SK Admira Wien (8) (5)
SC Wacker Wien (1) (7)
Admira Wacker Wien (–) (1) *
9
13
1926–27, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1938–39, 1946–47, 1965–66
First Vienna
6
6
1930–31, 1932–33, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1954–55
Wiener SC
3
7
1921–22, 1957–58, 1958–59
Sturm Graz
3
6
1997–98, 1998–99, 2010–11
Floridsdorfer AC
1
3
1917–18
Wiener AF
1
2
1913–14
LASK
1
2
1964–65
VÖEST Linz
1
2
1973–74
Grazer AK
1
2
2003–04
Wiener AC
1
1
1914–15
Hakoah Vienna
1
1
1924–25
SpC Rudolfshügel
1
Brigittenauer AC
1
FC Wien
1
SV Ried
1

Notes:

Performance by city edit

City Clubs Winners Runners-up
Rapid Wien (32) (26), Austria Wien (24) (18), First Vienna (6) (6), Wiener SK (3) (7), Floridsdorfer AC (1) (3), Wiener AF (1) (2), Wiener AC (1) (1), Hakoah Vienna (1) (1), SpC Rudolfshügel (–) (1), Brigittenauer AC (–) (1), FC Wien (–) (1)
69
67
Red Bull Salzburg (17) (7) ‡
17
7
Wacker Innsbruck (5) (4), Swarovski Tirol (2) (1), Tirol Innsbruck (3) (–) †
10
5
SK Admira Wien (8) (5), SC Wacker Wien (1) (7), Admira Wacker Wien (–) (1) *
9
13
Sturm Graz (3) (5), Grazer AK (1) (2)
4
7
VÖEST Linz (1) (2), LASK Linz (1) (2)
2
4
SV Ried (–) (1)
1

Top scorers in Bundesliga edit

Season Player Goals Club
1974–75   Helmut Köglberger
22
1975–76   Johann Pirkner
21
1976–77   Hans Krankl
32
1977–78   Hans Krankl
41
1978–79   Walter Schachner
24
1979–80   Walter Schachner
34
1980–81   Gernot Jurtin
20
1981–82   Božo Bakota
24
1982–83   Hans Krankl
23
1983–84   Tibor Nyilasi
26
1984–85   Toni Polster
24
1985–86   Toni Polster
33
1986–87   Toni Polster
39
1987–88   Zoran Stojadinović
27
1988–89   Peter Pacult
26
1989–90   Gerhard Rodax
35
1990–91   Václav Daněk
29
1991–92   Christoph Westerthaler
17
1992–93   Václav Daněk
24
1993–94   Nikola Jurčević
  Heimo Pfeifenberger
14
1994–95   Souleyman Sané
20
1995–96   Ivica Vastić
22
1996–97   René Wagner
21
1997–98   Geir Frigård
23
1998–99   Eduard Glieder
22
Season Player Goals Club
1999–2000   Ivica Vastić
32
2000–01   Radosław Gilewicz
22
2001–02   Ronald Brunmayr
27
2002–03   Axel Lawarée
21
2003–04   Roland Kollmann
27
2004–05   Christian Mayrleb
21
2005–06   Sanel Kuljić
  Roland Linz
15
2006–07   Alexander Zickler
22
2007–08   Alexander Zickler
16
2008–09   Marc Janko
39
2009–10   Steffen Hofmann
20
2010–11   Roland Linz
  Roman Kienast
21
2011–12   Jakob Jantscher
  Stefan Maierhofer
14
2012–13   Philipp Hosiner
32
2013–14   Jonathan Soriano
31
2014–15   Jonathan Soriano
31
2015–16   Jonathan Soriano
21
2016–17   Olarenwaju Kayode
17
2017–18   Mu'nas Dabbur
22
2018–19   Mu'nas Dabbur
20
2019–20   Shon Weissman
30
2020–21   Patson Daka
27
2021–22   Karim Adeyemi
  Giacomo Vrioni
17
2022–23   Guido Burgstaller
21

All-time top scorers edit

As of 31 July 2023[17]
Rank Name Goals Apps Ratio Years Club(s)
1   Hans Krankl 270 361 0.75 1970–1989 Rapid Wien, Wiener SK, First Vienna
2   Ivica Vastić 187 441 0.42 1991–2009 Sturm Graz, Austria Wien, Admira Wacker, LASK, VSE St. Pölten, First Vienna
3   Peter Pacult 186 396 0.47 1980–1996 Rapid Wien, Wacker Innsbruck, Austria Wien, Wiener SK, Blau-Weiß Linz
  Christian Mayrleb 186 494 0.38 1992–2006 Wacker Innsbruck, Austria Wien, Admira Wacker, LASK, Austria Salzburg, SV Pasching
5   Alfred Drabits 155 365 0.42 1978–1991 Austria Wien, Wiener SK, First Vienna
6   Mario Haas 145 451 0.32 1992–2012 Sturm Graz
7   Christoph Westerthaler 131 378 0.35 1983–1997 Wacker Innsbruck, LASK, Vorwärts Steyr
8   Christian Keglevits 129 405 0.32 1979–1993 Rapid Wien, LASK, Austria Salzburg, Wiener SK
9   Walter Knaller 127 333 0.38 1980–1992 Admira Wacker, Blau-Weiß Linz
10   Toni Polster 122 158 0.77 1982–2000 Austria Wien, FC Salzburg

Statistics edit

UEFA coefficients edit

The following data indicates Austrian coefficient rankings between European football leagues.[18]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ upper stand remains closed during league matches

References edit

  1. ^ "UEFA Country Ranking 2016". Bert Kassies. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  2. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 2, accessed: 16 April 2009
  3. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 21, accessed: 16 April 2009
  4. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 25, accessed: 16 April 2009
  5. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 33, accessed: 16 April 2009
  6. ^ Kastler 1972, S. 56f
  7. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 34, accessed: 16 April 2009
  8. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 45, accessed: 16 April 2009
  9. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 55, accessed: 16 April 2009
  10. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 62, accessed: 16 April 2009
  11. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 70, accessed: 16 April 2009
  12. ^ Liga-Fussball in Österreich 1900–1995 (in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1996, page: 73, accessed: 16 April 2009
  13. ^ Austrian Football Bundesliga tables & results (in German) Weltfussball.de, accessed: 9 October 2015
  14. ^ "SportsBusiness Daily". M.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  15. ^ Announcement of renewal of Tipico Sponsorship, "With Tipico to the new Austrian Bundesliga era," tipico-group.com, March 29, 2018 (accessed: April 8, 2018).
  16. ^ a b "Bundesliga.at - Tabelle" [Bundesliga.at - Table] (in German). Austrian Football Bundesliga. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  17. ^ "All time record goalscorer in Austria Bundesliga". Worldfootball.net. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  18. ^ "UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database". Bert Kassies. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  19. ^ "UEFA Country Ranking 2019 – kassiesA – Xs4all". Kassiesa.home.xs411.nl. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Club coefficients". uefa.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.

External links edit