SK Rapid Wien : The dual champion from Penzing
When you mention the club from Penzing, it won’t really ring any bells to most fans from outside of Austria. Truth is, in Penzing, the 14th borough of Vienna, lives one of the biggest clubs in Austrian football, SK Rapid Wien, a club with an extensive history not only Austrian football but also in neighbouring German and the wider European continent.
SK Rapid Wien was founded in 1897 as Erster Wiener Arbeiter-Fußball-Club, having as original colours red and blue (still used nowadays in away matches), the club changed its name to SK Rapid in 1899, later in 1904 adopting the now traditional green and white colours. They won the first Austrian national championship and retained it the following season. From the beginning, their knack to win trophies was showcased to all.
You’re probably thinking, ‘what do you mean with having history in German football?’ This is of course as a result of the Anschluss, an annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. Austrian clubs therefore became a part of the Nazi German football pyramid and Rapid Wien was by far the most successful of the bunch. Achieving unbelievable success, they would have the rarest of honours of being crowned champion in two different nations throughout its history.
SK Rapid Wien was founded in 1897 as Erster Wiener Arbeiter-Fußball-Club, having as original colours red and blue (still used nowadays in away matches), the club changed its name to SK Rapid in 1899, later in 1904 adopting the now traditional green and white colours. They won the first Austrian national championship and retained it the following season. From the beginning, their knack to win trophies was showcased to all.
You’re probably thinking, ‘what do you mean with having history in German football?’ This is of course as a result of the Anschluss, an annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. Austrian clubs therefore became a part of the Nazi German football pyramid and Rapid Wien was by far the most successful of the bunch. Achieving unbelievable success, they would have the rarest of honours of being crowned champion in two different nations throughout its history.
Rapid Wien also won the German Cup, showing off even more their outstanding level, even when competing with stronger opponents. From 1938 to 1945, starting in the regional first division Gauliga Ostmark along other Austrian clubs like Admira Vienna (now Admira Wacker) or Wacker Wien (part of the merger that resulted in the formation of the previously mentioned Admira Wacker). Rapid Wien proved to be the most successful of the Austrian clubs playing in German football, winning the Tschammerpokal in 1938, predecessor of today’s DFB-Pokal, and the league title in 1941, by defeating Schalke 04, the most dominant German club of the era. A small period of their history, forced upon them due to the war, but didn’t stop Rapid Wien continuing to achieve success.
Rapid Wien has won 32 Austrian Championships, from 1912 to 2008, 14 Austrian Cups, from 1919 to 1995 and 3 Austrian Supercup, from 1986 to 1988, plus the above mentioned German Championship and Cup.
In terms of European competitions history, Rapid Wien has a rich history, being one of the clubs that competed in the inaugural European Cup in 1955/56, eliminating PSV in the first round but falling in the following round to AC Milan.
Rapid Wien has reached two European competition finals, both in the now extinct Cup Winners Cup, the first one in 1984/85, with a campaign where they faced Besiktas, Celtic, Dynamo Dresden, Dynamo Moscow, playing Everton in the final, with the English winning 3-1. Rapid Wien managed to achieve the final again, this time in 1995/96, in a route that made them play against Petrolul Ploiesti, Sporting CP, Dynamo Moscow, Feyenoord, and losing to PSG in the final, 1-0.
In other important European campaigns, we have the presence in the Semi Finals of the European Cup in 1960/61, reaching the European Cup Quarter Finals in 1955/56, 1968/69 and 1983/84.
Although their best years in terms of European football are behind them, Rapid Wien has a rich history that should be preserved and remembered by football fans.
Throughout their history their home games have been played in four different stadiums, Pfarrwiese from 1912 to 1977, Gerhard Hanappi Stadium from 1977 to 2013, the historical Ernest Happel Stadium from 2013 to 2016 and nowadays, the Allianz Stadion.
Austrian football is not exactly rich when it comes to its history. We rarely hear tales of famous footballers playing there, but SK Rapid Wien has fielded some very recognizable names. The Austrians Robert Dienst, Hans Krankl (European Golden Boot in 1978), Franz Binder, Richard Kuthan, Franz Weselik, Johann Riegler, Alfred Korner, Rudi Flogel, Matthias Kaburek, Edi Bauer, Ferdinand Wesely, club legend Gerhard Hanappi who held the record for Austria’s national team appearances for 36 years, Robert Korner, Ernst Happel (widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time), Andreas Ivanschitz, the great goalkeepers Michael Konsel and Walter Zeman, the Croatians Zlatko Kranjcar and Nikica Jelavic, the German Steffen Hoffman, from Czech Republic Rene Wagner and Radek Bejbl, the legendary Antonin Panenka, Norway’s legend Jan Age Fjortoft, the Brazilian Joelinton (now playing in the Premier League), amongst others.
Austrian football has struggled to achieve success in Europe in the last 25 years, but for a long period of time, SK Rapid Wien was a team that had to be considered. They truly left a mark in football, and having the honour of saying they won championships and cups in different countries, is something very few clubs can say about their history.
This piece was kindly written for @TFHBs by Jonee Joao. You can follow him on Twitter/X here - @Jonee13
©The Football History Boys, 2023
Rapid Wien has won 32 Austrian Championships, from 1912 to 2008, 14 Austrian Cups, from 1919 to 1995 and 3 Austrian Supercup, from 1986 to 1988, plus the above mentioned German Championship and Cup.
In terms of European competitions history, Rapid Wien has a rich history, being one of the clubs that competed in the inaugural European Cup in 1955/56, eliminating PSV in the first round but falling in the following round to AC Milan.
Rapid Wien has reached two European competition finals, both in the now extinct Cup Winners Cup, the first one in 1984/85, with a campaign where they faced Besiktas, Celtic, Dynamo Dresden, Dynamo Moscow, playing Everton in the final, with the English winning 3-1. Rapid Wien managed to achieve the final again, this time in 1995/96, in a route that made them play against Petrolul Ploiesti, Sporting CP, Dynamo Moscow, Feyenoord, and losing to PSG in the final, 1-0.
In other important European campaigns, we have the presence in the Semi Finals of the European Cup in 1960/61, reaching the European Cup Quarter Finals in 1955/56, 1968/69 and 1983/84.
Although their best years in terms of European football are behind them, Rapid Wien has a rich history that should be preserved and remembered by football fans.
Throughout their history their home games have been played in four different stadiums, Pfarrwiese from 1912 to 1977, Gerhard Hanappi Stadium from 1977 to 2013, the historical Ernest Happel Stadium from 2013 to 2016 and nowadays, the Allianz Stadion.
Austrian football is not exactly rich when it comes to its history. We rarely hear tales of famous footballers playing there, but SK Rapid Wien has fielded some very recognizable names. The Austrians Robert Dienst, Hans Krankl (European Golden Boot in 1978), Franz Binder, Richard Kuthan, Franz Weselik, Johann Riegler, Alfred Korner, Rudi Flogel, Matthias Kaburek, Edi Bauer, Ferdinand Wesely, club legend Gerhard Hanappi who held the record for Austria’s national team appearances for 36 years, Robert Korner, Ernst Happel (widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time), Andreas Ivanschitz, the great goalkeepers Michael Konsel and Walter Zeman, the Croatians Zlatko Kranjcar and Nikica Jelavic, the German Steffen Hoffman, from Czech Republic Rene Wagner and Radek Bejbl, the legendary Antonin Panenka, Norway’s legend Jan Age Fjortoft, the Brazilian Joelinton (now playing in the Premier League), amongst others.
Austrian football has struggled to achieve success in Europe in the last 25 years, but for a long period of time, SK Rapid Wien was a team that had to be considered. They truly left a mark in football, and having the honour of saying they won championships and cups in different countries, is something very few clubs can say about their history.
This piece was kindly written for @TFHBs by Jonee Joao. You can follow him on Twitter/X here - @Jonee13
©The Football History Boys, 2023
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