Hans Krankl

Austrian footballer

Johann "Hans" Krankl (born 14 February 1953) is an Austrian football player who played for SK Rapid Wien and the Austrian national team. He is regarded as one of the best Austrian footballers in history.

Hans Krankl
Personal information
Full name Johann Krankl
Date of birth (1953-02-14) 14 February 1953 (age 71)
Place of birth Vienna, Austria
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Position(s) forward (retiered)
Youth career
-1970 KSV Straßenbahn Wien
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1978 Rapid Wien 205 (160)
1971–1972Wiener AC (loan) 26 (27)
1978–1981 Barcelona 46 (34)
1979–1980First Vienna (loan) 17 (13)
1981–1986 Rapid Wien 145 (107)
1986–1988 Wiener Sport-Club 60 (40)
1988 Kremser SC 5 (1)
1989 Austria Salzburg 14 (10)
Total 518 (392)
National team
1973–1985 Austria 69 (34)
Teams managed
1987 Wiener Sport-Club (caretaker)
1987–1988 Wiener Sport-Club
1989–1992 Rapid Wien
1992–1994 Mödling
1994–1995 Tirol Innsbruck
1996 Mödling
1997 SV Gerasdorf
1998–1999 Austria Salzburg
2000 Fortuna Köln
2000–2001 Admira Wacker Mödling
2002–2005 Austria
2009 LASK Linz
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career change

He started his professional career with SK Rapid Wien at the age of 17. But he played not very often so he went to Wiener AC where he shot 27 goals in 26 matches. So he was transferred back to SK Rapid. In the next years he shot in 201 matches for the club 160 goals. In the 1977/78 season he shot 41 goals and got the European Golden Shoe as Europs best scorer. This is still the record in the Austrian League.

In 1978 he was transferred to FC Barcelona where he shot in his first season 29 goals and won the Pichichi, the trophy for the best Spain scorer. With FC Barcelona he won also the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1979.

1981 he went back to Rapid where he shot another 107 goals for the club. The last years of his career he played with Wiener Sportklub, Kremser SC and SV Austria Salzburg.In his career he played 478 matches and scored 355 goals.

International change

Krankl played 69 matches for the national team and scored 34 goals. He was member of the team for the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cup. In 1978 he became a legend in Austria for scoring two goals against Germany - the first victory after 47 years. The radio commentary ("Tor Tor Tor Tor Tor Tor, I werd' narrisch" – "Goal goal goal goal goal goal, I'm going crazy") is known by almost all Austrian football supporters.

Manager career change

Although he coached different teams he was not as successful as a player. With his teams he never reached a European competition. As manager of the national team failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Honours change

Rapid Wien
Barcelona
Individual honours
  • Runner up European footballer of the year 1978
  • Austrian Footballer of the year 1973, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1988
  • Part of the 20th century Austrian team
  • Part of Rapids team of the century
  • Pichichi Trophy: 1979
  • European Golden Shoe: 1978
  • Austrian coach of the Year: 1999

Musical career change

After his football career he began to sing and had some hits in Austria.

Discography change

Singles
  • "Ohne Ball'n und ohne Netz" (1974)
  • "Vor, vor noch ein Tor …" (1974)
Under the name Johann K.
  • "Rostige Flügel" (1984, mit Kottans Kapelle)
  • "Lonely Boy" (1985)
  • "Ka Platz im Herz" (1986)
  • "Aspirin" (1986)
  • "Der Bätmän bin i" (1989)
  • "Rudi" (2002)
  • "Jingle Bells" (2003)
Albums
Under the name Johann K.
  • Des war schon alles? (1985)
  • A scheena Bua (2003)
  • Best of – Wo san nur die Zeiten hin (2008)