Karl Koller
Karl Koller (9 February 1929 – 24 January 2009) was an Austrian football player. He is considered one of the best Austrian midfielders. He played during his professional carrer only for First Vienna FC. The national player completed 86 games for the team with 5 goals and took part in two World Cups. He is regarded, behind Ernst Ocwirk and Gerhard Hanappi, as one of the best Austrian midfielders of all time and was rated as one of the best 100 European footballers of the 20th century by the IFFHS. Normally a center midfielder, Koller was capable in both in defense and attack and was well known for technique, strength and powerful shot from distance.
.jpg) Karl Koller in 1964 representing Austria | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Karl Koller | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 9 February 1929 | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hölles, Austria | |||||||||||||
| Date of death | 24 January 2009 (aged 79) | |||||||||||||
| Place of death | Baden , Austria | |||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| 1943–1945 | ASK Blumau | |||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 1945–1949 | ASK Blumau | 422 | (62) | |||||||||||
| 1949–1966 | First Vienna FC | 414 | (39) | |||||||||||
| Total | 836 | (101) | ||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||
| 1952–1965 | Austria | 86 | (5) | |||||||||||
| Teams managed | ||||||||||||||
| 1967 | 1. SC Wiener Neustadt | |||||||||||||
| 1968 | First Vienna FC | |||||||||||||
Honours
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| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | ||||||||||||||
Career
changeKarl Koller began his football career with ASK Blumau. 1949 he went to First Vienna FC where he made his championship debut in 1949. Througout his professional career he played for this club. He played 414 league matches for Vienna and scored 39 goals. Overall he played 836 matches and scored 101 goals. In 1955 he became Austrian Champion and 1961 they played in the Cup final which they lost 3-1 versus SK Rapid .
International career
changeHe debuted on 23 March 1953 against Belgium (2-0). [1]He went to the World Cup as one of the regulars for the midfield. Together with the Austrian Ernst Ocwirk he formed the Austrian midfield. Karl Koller played in all matches.
In the 1958 FIFA World Cup the team failed in the group stage. In the 2-2 draw versus England shot one of his five goals for the team Karl Koller's career in the team ended when they failed to qualify for the 1966 World Cup. His last international match was on 5 September 1965 versus Hungary.[2]
Death
changeKoller died on 24 January 2009 as a result of his Alzheimer's disease.[3]