Whenever a football fan hears the mention of "Austria", there is only one player that comes to the mind of most football fans. That player is none other than David Alaba, who is arguably the greatest player to come from the nation in this generation. While this is a huge praise for the player, it also shows the lack of overall established superstars from the country. The likes of Marcel Sabitzer, Marko Arnautović, and Christian Fuchs are prominent names as well, but none at the level of Alaba.
We will be rewinding back through several decades in this article, as we'll look at one of the biggest legends ever produced by Austrian football. Let us pay tribute to Ernst Happel, one of the greatest ever managers football has ever seen.
Playing career
Ernst Happel club football career was mostly at Rapid Wien, except for the single season he played for RC Paris during the 1955-56 campaign. Happel displayed his promising potential at a very young age, as the Austrian got into the Rapid Wien first-team by age 17.
His time at the club saw him form a tremendous defensive partnership with teammate Max Merkel.
Happel had 2 separate stints at Wien, and had play over 14 years for the clubs during these stints. Silverware success also followed the player, as he won 6 Austrian Championship titles with the club. The Austrian defender left as a club legend, as evident by his inclusion in Rapid's 1999 Team of the Century.
Ernst Happel was a frequent part of the Austrian international side as well, earning a total of 51 caps for his country. He took part in the 1948 Summer Olympics, 1954 FIFA World Cup, and 1958 World Cup with his homeland.
Legendary managerial stint
It was after his playing years that Happel truly made his mark as a legend in football. Happel's next chapter in football took him into management, and this was where he achieved legendary status.
Ernst Happel went on to win a league title in 4 countries, leading the likes of Feyenoord, Club Brugge, Hamburger SV, and Swarovski Tirol to domestic glory. The Austrian magician wasn't just done with domestic glory, as he also conquered Europe with 2 different clubs. Both Feyenoord and Hamburger SV won the Champions League under Happel. He was just a step away from achieving glory with Club Brugge as well, but they finished the 1977–78 European Cup as runners-up.
If both domestic and European glory weren't enough, Happel has done even in the international stage as well. The Austrian led the Netherlands team to second place in the 1978 World Cup. Thus proving his managerial excellence in all formats of the game.
It was at ADO Den Haag in 1962 that Happel began his managerial journey, where he won the Dutch Cup in 1968. This was followed by his time at Feyenoord, which saw him turn the club into an unstoppable European force. In addition to the European Cup, Feyenoord also won the International Cup and Dutch championship under Happel.
In addition to his stints at Club Brugge and Hamburg, Happel had also managed the likes of Sevilla, Harelbeke, Swarovski Tirol, and the Austrian national team.
Legacy
Ernst Happel's managerial career saw him win a total of 17 titles. His European Cup triumph with two different clubs put him on an elite list of legendary coaches that include the likes of Ottmar Hitzfeld, José Mourinho, Jupp Heynckes, Carlo Ancelotti, and Pep Guardiola.
Happel died of lung cancer in 1992 at age 66. In the wake of his death, the biggest football stadium in Austria, the Praterstadion in Vienna, was renamed the Ernst-Happel-Stadion. He left as one of the most important figures in Austrian football history, and an eternal legend of the game.
