Anton Polster
Encyclopedia
Anton "Toni" Polster is a retired Austria
n footballer. He is the all-time leading goalscorer for Austria
and the singer of the Austrian band Achtung Liebe.
youth system to make his professional league debut in August 1982, at 18 years of age. He scored his first Bundesliga goal three weeks later and went on to win three league titles and a domestic cup before moving abroad to play a season for Serie A
mid-table side Torino. He then spent the five following years at Spanish teams Sevilla
, Logroñés
and Rayo Vallecano
, ending up with these teams in mid-table as well. In 1990, he finished runner-up in the Spanish goalscoring chart. In 1993, he moved to Germany to spend 5 years at Köln
, again ending up in mid-table every season except for the last one in which he experienced relegation. That made him join Borussia Mönchengladbach
next year but they got also relegated at the end of the season and Polster returned to Austria to play a final season at Austria Salzburg.
He was known to fans as "Doppelpack" Polster - "Twinpack" Polster, because of his reputation for scoring two goals in many matches.
Polster was chosen in Austria's Team of the Century in 2001 and as Austrian Sportsman of the year
1997.
He had already made his senior debut for Austria
in November 1982 against Turkey
, immediately scoring his first goal, and was a participant at the 1990 World Cup
and 1998 World Cup
. He earned 95 caps, scoring a record 44 goals. He overtook the previous goalscoring record, set by Hans Krankl
, in 1996, scoring his 35th goal against Latvia
.
His final (and record-breaking 94th) international was thought to be a June 1998 FIFA World Cup
match against Italy
, but he was given an official farewell match in September 2000 against Iran
in which he was substituted in the 21st minute by Christian Mayrleb
. His appearances record was surpassed by Andreas Herzog
in May 2002.
Individual
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n footballer. He is the all-time leading goalscorer for Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
and the singer of the Austrian band Achtung Liebe.
Club career
Polster came through the Austria WienFK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...
youth system to make his professional league debut in August 1982, at 18 years of age. He scored his first Bundesliga goal three weeks later and went on to win three league titles and a domestic cup before moving abroad to play a season for Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
mid-table side Torino. He then spent the five following years at Spanish teams Sevilla
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
, Logroñés
CD Logroñés
Club Deportivo Logroñés, S.A.D. was a Spanish football team based in Logroño, in the autonomous community of La Rioja. Founded in 1940, it last played in Regional Preferente de La Rioja....
and Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
, ending up with these teams in mid-table as well. In 1990, he finished runner-up in the Spanish goalscoring chart. In 1993, he moved to Germany to spend 5 years at Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
, again ending up in mid-table every season except for the last one in which he experienced relegation. That made him join Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
next year but they got also relegated at the end of the season and Polster returned to Austria to play a final season at Austria Salzburg.
He was known to fans as "Doppelpack" Polster - "Twinpack" Polster, because of his reputation for scoring two goals in many matches.
Polster was chosen in Austria's Team of the Century in 2001 and as Austrian Sportsman of the year
Austrian Sportspersonality of the year
The Austrian Sports Personality of the Year is chosen annually since 1949. Recordholders are Annemarie Moser-Pröll and Hermann Maier . In 1978 and 1979 the Austrian national football team was named Austrian Sports Team of the Year...
1997.
International career
In 1983, Polster was selected for the Austria U20's to play at the 1983 FIFA World Youth ChampionshipHe had already made his senior debut for Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
in November 1982 against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
, immediately scoring his first goal, and was a participant at the 1990 World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
and 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
. He earned 95 caps, scoring a record 44 goals. He overtook the previous goalscoring record, set by Hans Krankl
Hans Krankl
Johann "Hans" Krankl is a retired Austrian footballer. He was last manager of LASK Linz.-Club career:A prolific striker, Krankl is regarded by many as the greatest ever Austrian player. He started his professional career at Rapid Wien and stayed there for 8 years, apart from a year at Wiener AC...
, in 1996, scoring his 35th goal against Latvia
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
.
His final (and record-breaking 94th) international was thought to be a June 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
match against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, but he was given an official farewell match in September 2000 against Iran
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
in which he was substituted in the 21st minute by Christian Mayrleb
Christian Mayrleb
Christian Mayrleb is an Austrian footballer who currently plays for Austrian team FC Pasching.-Club career:Born in Upper Austria, Mayrleb started his professional career at Second Division side Stahl Linz and SV Ried before joining First level outfit Admira/Wacker at the start of the 1994/1995...
. His appearances record was surpassed by Andreas Herzog
Andreas Herzog
Andreas Herzog, also Andy Herzog, is a former Austrian football player.-Club career:Born in Vienna, Herzog started his career at local giants Rapid Vienna, but was sent out on loan to city rivals First Vienna FC during 1987–88. That move proved to be successful and he was soon recalled to Rapid to...
in May 2002.
Honours
Austria WienFK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...
- Austrian Football Bundesliga: 3
-
- 1984, 1985, 1986
- Austrian CupAustrian CupThe Austrian Cup, in German: ÖFB-Cup is an annual football competition held by the Austrian Football Association, the ÖFB.It has been held since 1919, with the exception of the time of the Anschluss between 1939 and 1945 and the period between 1950 and 1958 when the competition was deemed of...
: 1
- Austrian Cup
- 1986
- 1984, 1985, 1986
Individual
- Austrian Football Bundesliga Top Goalscorer: 3
-
- 1985, 1986, 1987
- European Golden Shoe: 1
- 1987
- Austrian Player of the Year: 2
- 1986, 1997
- 1985, 1986, 1987
External links
- Profile - Austria Archive
- Career stats - National Football Teams