Spotlight on - Rapid Vienna

SK Rapid Wien, or Rapid Vienna as they are more commonly known, have a rich history that dates back over 100 years.  They are the most successful club in Austrian football history, and recovered from a nine year hiatus to get back to winning ways and claim a league title 2004/05.

Established:  September 1898
Home Stadium:  Gerhard Hanappi-Stadion, 17,500
President:  Rudolf Edlinger
Manager:  Peter Schottel
Home Strip:  Green with white vertical striped shirt, green shorts and green with white hooped socks
Away Strip:  Red shirt with blue shorts and socks

History

The club was founded in 1898 under the name 'Erste Wiener Arbeiter Fußballklub' (First Workers' Football Club of Vienna), but were replaced in early January the following year by SK Rapid.  Foundations have always been built on success, with Rapid now being centurions in the top flight having plied their trade at the top table since 1911.  In addition they were first being forced to play on makeshift pitches, before moving into their 'Pfarrwiese' home in 1912 and staying their for over six decades.

1911 was a year which built the platform from which to move forward, as they won the first league title in that season.  Added to this feat is the fact they also became the same team to win the Austrian Cup in 1918/19, completing a double by adding to it their fifth domestic league title.  Success continued to come their way, until World War II struck and a feat within which the club still pride themselves.

After German invasion Austria was incorporated in the German Reich, and after winning the German Cup in 1938 added a German League title three years later.  Purple patches became a rare thing within the club through the 50s, 60s and 70s, so much so that the club had to move into it's new home in 1977.

The Gerhard Hanappi-Stadion, home of Rapid Vienna

The newly constructed and much larger Weststadion, which came to fruition thanks to a club legend.  Gerhard Hanappi, who made well over 300 appearances for the club and is considered one of the finest footballers produced by the country. turned architect on retirement and helped with the stadiums construction.  Following his death in 1981, the stadium was renamed the Gerhard Hanappi-Stadion.

It was the 80s however which proved to be the real 'golden era' within the clubs history, as they stormed to four League titles, four Cup triumphs and three Austrian Supercups between 1982-1988.  The 'Greens' also made the 1984/85 Cup Winners Cup final but lost out 3-1 to now Premier League side Everton, after dumping out Besiktas, Celtic, Dynamo Dresden and Dinamo Moscow.

Another amazing route to the final came to the forefront in 1996, but this time Paris Saint Germain proved too much and ran out 1-0 victors.  This was also a year in which started a long and arduous barren spell for the club, as little did they know the 1995/96 league title would be their last until 2004/05.

Since breaking the hoodoo and getting back to winning ways the club has gone from strength to strength.  Another league title was added three years later, while attendances have continued to rise.  While on occasion some of the bigger matches have been moved to the Ernst Happel Stadion, which boasts a 50,000 capacity.

Managers

Rapid Vienna have not been shy when it comes to managers, when the list just seeming to go on and on.  Added to the clubs huge trophy haul, it is clear to see that a whole host of managers have had some exciting times at the club.

As previously mentioned it is perhaps the 1980s that proved to be the glory years for Rapid.  So it is perhaps Otto Baric (1982-85 and 1986-89) who deserves the most plaudits, instilling a winning mentality and bulking up the trophy cabinet considerably.

Peter Pacult in the dug out during his time as manager

Ernst Dokupil is also held in high regard, continuing the good times in the early 1990s before what could be considered a barren spell hit.  Peter Pacult, who had played for the club, had some winning over to do after also turning out for fierce rivals Austria Wien (Vienna), but sill holds a whole host of credit amongst green fans.  This is because after the huge gulf between league title triumphs, it is Pacult who brought the good times back to Rapid.

Players

There are a whole host of players from the rich history of this club who are held in high regard, as all cannot possibly be mentioned a few will be pointed out. Josef Uridil enjoyed two spells at the club, 1914-25 and 1926-27, winning five Australian Bundeliga titles and two Austrian Cups while finishing top scorer on two occasions.

Another high achiever, who was with the club during the war, is Franz Binder who held a phenominal scoring record for the club.  His average of 1.33 goals per game is an unofficial world record, while he was also the first European player to reach the 1,000 goals barrier.  Amongst his achievements while at Rapid are four League titles, a German and Austrian cup and multiple indiviual scoring records.

A man whose name now adorns the stadium in which the national team ply their trade is surely considered a huge legend, and Ernst Happel is precisely that.  The Defender came through the youth ranks at Rapid and enjoyed a long and successful career with the club, 1942-1954 and 1956-1959, with a brief spell at RC Paris the only thing to take him away.  In addition to just over a half century of caps for his country, he was also manager from 1991-1992.  Happel's honours list is quite some haul, both as player and manager.

Herzog during his playing days

Hans Krankl loved this club so much he just kept being drawn back.  The striker had an enviable record during two spells at the club, 1970-78 and 1981-86, he event went back to manage the side between 1989-92, whilst also managing the Austrian national team from 2002-2005.  Two Bundesliga titles, four Austrian Cups and a Cup Winners Cup were won during his two spells at the club, which came either side of a spell at Barcelona.

Peter Schottel has spent nearly all his footballing life at one club.  After coming through the ranks at Rapid the defender enjoyed a 16 year playing career, notching up three League title and two Cup triumphs.  Following a two year management spell at SC Wiener Neustadt, 2009-2011, fate has taken him back to the club where his heart lies.

More modern, and Andreas Herzog is as big a legend as you can get.  After spending the first six years of his career at Rapid, he moved abroad and spent nine years in Germany before returning for another year, 2002-03 back in Austria.  Since retirement from playing he has fulfilled various roles within the national set up.

Honours

Austrian league titles
1912, 1913, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1929, 1930, 1935, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1996, 2005, 2008

German league title 
1941

Austrian Cups
1919, 1920, 1927, 1946, 1961, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1995

German Cup
1938

Austrian Supercups
1986, 1987, 1988

Mitroipacups
1930, 1951

Intertoto Cup
1992, 1993

Future Stars - David Alaba

Could this be one of the future gems to add to the Bayern Munich crown.  After hitting headlines as a bright prospect, the hype around the young midfielder seems to have died down a little.  One thing is for certain though, if column inches aren't being dedicated to the 19-year-old now they certainly will be in the future.

After starting his career at SV Aspern, David Alaba quickly caught the eye of Austrian giants Austria Vienna and his bags were packed.  After joining in 2002, progress through the ranks seemed to be rather swift.  After being named amongst the squad for an Bundesliga matched in his native Austria, it wasn't long before Germany's biggest team came knocking and he was transferred for the second time in his young life.

Bayern Munich seemed to be the platform that was required, and after a debut season in 2008/09 spent in the youth system he was promptly elevated into the second string.  It was here that an upward turn was taken, with his half season spent in the reserves proving very fruitful indeed.  Not only was he named in the squad for the Champions League, but on the national front he was beginning to be recognised too.

Following on from his two years in the under-17s, only a handful of games were completed in the under-21s before another promotion was completed.  This time into the senior set up, where he has remained since.  In addition to this, in January of last year it was also announced that Alaba was to train with the first team squad at club level.  Two others were also promoted at the same time, one of which was Diego Contento who has been making huge strides into the first team since.

David Alaba celebrating a goal for FC Bayern

In the next year and a half he would remain on the fringes of the Bayern Munich team, clearly showing signs of promise but not being able to crack into the first eleven on a regular basis.  It was announced before the 2011/12 Bundesliga season commenced that he was to go on loan Hoffenheim, where he has featured much more prominently.

That loan spell however expires shortly after the turn of the new year, and Bayern will be hoping the confidence and experience gained will ensure his transition into a first team regular will be rather swift.  Juup Heynckes could just have one of the next stars of the Allianz Arena on his hands.