Ernst Ocwirk
Encyclopedia
Ernst Ocwirk was an Austria
n football
player and coach. He is considered one of the greatest Austrian footballers of all time.
He spent the majority of his playing and coaching years between Austria and Italy, being both player and manager for the clubs FK Austria Vienna
and Serie A
s UC Sampdoria. He also went on to become a member of the Austria national team
, which he led to a third place finish at the 1954 World Cup
as its captain.
Nicknamed Clockwork by the British for his midfield consistency, he is often cited as the last of the old-fashioned attacking centre-halves; he was known for his aesthetic and technical style of playing, his heading ability and his passing range. The fans loved him for his modest and fair personality. The international media of the era saw Ocwirk as "the best centerhalf in the world".
, Ocwirk began his career as a centre-forward. He joined his first club, the local FC Stadlau, in 1938. He then played for Floridsdorfer AC, where he was spotted by former Austrian international Josef Smistik
, who moved Ocwirk to centre-half. Smistik tried to bring him to his former team, Rapid Vienna
, but it was rivals FK Austria
who won the race for his services and, in 1947, signed him.
In a decade at Austria Vienna, Ocwirk became one of the most prominent players for the club, helping them to win five Austrian League championships and three domestic cups.
Brought to Sampdoria by Alberto Ravano, he was the second Austrian footballer ever to play in Serie A after Engelbert König had done it in the 1940s. He also remained the last Austrian in Serie A until 1980, when Herbert Prohaska
played for Internazionale
. Ocwirk would play five seasons at the Genova club, of which he became the captain. In 1961, he returned to FK Austria to play the final season of his career, winning the "double" in 1961/62.
Ocwirk was chosen in Austria's Team of the Century in 2001.
in London.
By 1953 the stopper centre-back had taken over, so Ocwirk was selected as a wing-half for a Rest-of-the-World team which drew 4-4 with England to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Football Association
. His international successes earned him the honour of twice being named captain of the "FIFA World team".
At the 1954 World Cup, Ocwirk captained Austria and played in all five of his team matches, helping it achieve its best ever World Cup finish, third place. The centre-half scored two goals during the tournament: the one that gave Austria the lead after trailing 0-3 in the memorable quarter-final
against hosts Switzerland
, and the 3-1 in the third place match against reigning champions Uruguay
.
side 1. FC Köln
one year, taking them to the final of the DFB Cup.
In January 1980, at the age of 53, he died of multiple sclerosis
, in Klein-Pöchlarn
, Lower Austria. His death occurred on the same date that Matthias Sindelar
died 41 years before.
A friendly tournament was played in July 1981 in homage to Ernst Ocwirk at Wiener Stadion. The participants were FK Austria Wien
, SK Rapid Wien
, Ferencvárosi TC and Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich won the tournament.
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 football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and coach. He is considered one of the greatest Austrian footballers of all time.
He spent the majority of his playing and coaching years between Austria and Italy, being both player and manager for the clubs FK Austria Vienna
FK 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...
and 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...
s UC Sampdoria. He also went on to become a member of the Austria national team
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 ....
, which he led to a third place finish at the 1954 World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
as its captain.
Nicknamed Clockwork by the British for his midfield consistency, he is often cited as the last of the old-fashioned attacking centre-halves; he was known for his aesthetic and technical style of playing, his heading ability and his passing range. The fans loved him for his modest and fair personality. The international media of the era saw Ocwirk as "the best centerhalf in the world".
Club career
Born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Ocwirk began his career as a centre-forward. He joined his first club, the local FC Stadlau, in 1938. He then played for Floridsdorfer AC, where he was spotted by former Austrian international Josef Smistik
Josef Smistik
Josef Smistik was an Austrian football player and manager.He played for Rapid Wien, ESV Stadlau, FACJosef Smistik was an Austrian football player and manager....
, who moved Ocwirk to centre-half. Smistik tried to bring him to his former team, Rapid Vienna
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
, but it was rivals FK Austria
FK 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...
who won the race for his services and, in 1947, signed him.
In a decade at Austria Vienna, Ocwirk became one of the most prominent players for the club, helping them to win five Austrian League championships and three domestic cups.
Brought to Sampdoria by Alberto Ravano, he was the second Austrian footballer ever to play in Serie A after Engelbert König had done it in the 1940s. He also remained the last Austrian in Serie A until 1980, when Herbert Prohaska
Herbert Prohaska
Herbert Prohaska is a retired Austrian football player. He ranks among Austria's greatest football players of all time. Prohaska is currently working as a football pundit for the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation . His nickname "Schneckerl", Viennese dialect for curly hair, derives from his curly...
played for Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
. Ocwirk would play five seasons at the Genova club, of which he became the captain. In 1961, he returned to FK Austria to play the final season of his career, winning the "double" in 1961/62.
Ocwirk was chosen in Austria's Team of the Century in 2001.
National team
Ocwirk won 62 caps and scored six goals for his country. He made his debut for his country in 1947 before appearing at the 1948 Olympic Games1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London.
By 1953 the stopper centre-back had taken over, so Ocwirk was selected as a wing-half for a Rest-of-the-World team which drew 4-4 with England to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
. His international successes earned him the honour of twice being named captain of the "FIFA World team".
At the 1954 World Cup, Ocwirk captained Austria and played in all five of his team matches, helping it achieve its best ever World Cup finish, third place. The centre-half scored two goals during the tournament: the one that gave Austria the lead after trailing 0-3 in the memorable quarter-final
Austria v Switzerland (1954)
On June 26, 1954, in a quarterfinal match of the 1954 Football World Cup, Austria beat Switzerland 7–5 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The 12 goals scored in the match set a World Cup record, unequalled to date, for the highest scoring match ever...
against hosts Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
, and the 3-1 in the third place match against reigning champions Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
.
Coaching
Immediately after retiring from playing, Ocwirk became a manager, and Sampdoria was the first team he coached, from 1962 to 1965. He also managed GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
side 1. FC 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....
one year, taking them to the final of the DFB Cup.
Death and legacy
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, in Klein-Pöchlarn
Melk (district)
Bezirk Melk is a district of the state of Lower Austria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.*Artstetten-Pöbring...
, Lower Austria. His death occurred on the same date that Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar was an Austrian footballer.He played centre-forward for the celebrated Austria national team of the early 1930s known as the Wunderteam, which he captained at the 1934 World Cup....
died 41 years before.
A friendly tournament was played in July 1981 in homage to Ernst Ocwirk at Wiener Stadion. The participants were FK Austria Wien
FK 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...
, SK Rapid Wien
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
, Ferencvárosi TC and Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich won the tournament.
Honours
- Austrian Football Bundesliga (5):
- 1949, 1950, 1953, 1962, 1963
- 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...
(3):- 1948, 1949, 1962
External links
- FIFA
- Profile - FK Austria
- Player profile - Austria Archive
- UEFA
- Career stats - National Football Teams