Willy Meisl
Encyclopedia
Willy Meisl was an Austria
n-jewish sports journalist in the 20th century; the brother of the Austrian national football manager, Hugo Meisl
.
Willy Meisl's writings did much to transform the way football was perceived and played throughout continental Europe. In 1955 he coined the phrase 'The Whirl' to describe the play of his brother's Austrian 'Wunderteam' of the 1930s. He wrote: ‘We must free our soccer youth from the shackles of playing to order, along rails as it were. We must give them ideas and encourage them to develop their own.’
Meisl's early career showed an inclination toward sports and participation. He played amateur football asa goalkeeper in Vienna
, was even selected for the national side by his brother; he played tennis, boxing, was a swimmer, played water polo and, later, coached the Swedish side Hammarby IF
for two seasons from 1923. He completed legal studies in the early 1920s but his career was in print, working for a Berlin newspaper (Vossische Zeitung
) between 1924–1933 before establishing himself as an astute author and editor.
He emigrated to the United Kingdom
in January, 1934 following the Nazi's seizure of power in Germany
and continued as a journalist. He assisted the British Olympic Committee in working in their press department in preparation for the 1936 Summer Olympics
held in Berlin
, joined the British Army, and was a staff member of the Foreign Office.
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-jewish sports journalist in the 20th century; the brother of the Austrian national football manager, Hugo Meisl
Hugo Meisl
Hugo Meisl , brother of the journalist Willy Meisl, was the multi-lingual football coach of the famous Austrian 'Wunderteam' of the early 1930s, as well as a referee.-Background:...
.
Willy Meisl's writings did much to transform the way football was perceived and played throughout continental Europe. In 1955 he coined the phrase 'The Whirl' to describe the play of his brother's Austrian 'Wunderteam' of the 1930s. He wrote: ‘We must free our soccer youth from the shackles of playing to order, along rails as it were. We must give them ideas and encourage them to develop their own.’
Meisl's early career showed an inclination toward sports and participation. He played amateur football asa goalkeeper in Vienna
Vienna
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...
, was even selected for the national side by his brother; he played tennis, boxing, was a swimmer, played water polo and, later, coached the Swedish side Hammarby IF
Hammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
for two seasons from 1923. He completed legal studies in the early 1920s but his career was in print, working for a Berlin newspaper (Vossische Zeitung
Vossische Zeitung
The Vossische Zeitung was the well known liberal German newspaper that was published in Berlin . Its predecessor was founded in 1704...
) between 1924–1933 before establishing himself as an astute author and editor.
He emigrated to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in January, 1934 following the Nazi's seizure of power in Germany
Germany
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...
and continued as a journalist. He assisted the British Olympic Committee in working in their press department in preparation for the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
held in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, joined the British Army, and was a staff member of the Foreign Office.