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| Austrian Cup | |
|---|---|
| Name | Austrian Cup |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Organiser | Austrian Football Association |
| Region | Austria |
| Number of teams | 64 |
| Qualifier for | UEFA Europa League |
| Current champions | FC Red Bull Salzburg |
| Most successful club | SK Rapid Wien (14) |
Austrian Cup is the main national knockout cup competition in Austria for men's club football. It is organised by the Austrian Football Association and involves clubs from the Austrian Football Bundesliga, 2. Liga, regional leagues such as the Austrian Regionalliga, and amateur sides from provincial associations including Vienna, Upper Austria, Styria, Tyrol, and Carinthia. Winners historically earned a berth to UEFA club competitions such as the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Europa League.
The competition began in the aftermath of World War I with early editions influenced by clubs from Vienna and the Austrian Bundesliga's precursors like Wiener AC and FK Austria Wien. During the era of the Anschluss (1938–1945) Austrian clubs were integrated into the German football championship, affecting cup continuity; notable figures such as Hugo Meisl and players like Matthias Sindelar were prominent in interwar Austrian football. Post‑World War II reconstruction saw clubs like SK Rapid Wien and FC Admira Wacker Mödling dominate domestic cup competition. The cup format has undergone changes paralleling reforms in the Austrian Football Association and the professionalisation period that included the rise of SV Austria Salzburg and later corporate entities like FC Red Bull Salzburg.
The tournament operates as a single‑elimination knockout with rounds including preliminary stages, first round, second round, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final. Matches are typically decided by 90 minutes, extra time, and penalty shoot‑outs, following formats recognised by UEFA. Home advantage rules, seeding, and draw procedures involve clubs from the Austrian Football Bundesliga, 2. Liga, and regional cup winners representing provincial federations such as the Tyrol Football Association and the Styria Football Association. The final traditionally takes place at neutral venues like Wörthersee Stadion or Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna, featuring match officials appointed by the Austrian Football Association and referees who also appear in Austrian Bundesliga fixtures.
Cup winners secure entry to European competition such as the UEFA Europa League or, in prior seasons, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. If the cup winners qualify for the UEFA Champions League via league position, the European place is reallocated according to UEFA regulations and the Austrian Football Bundesliga's allocation, sometimes benefiting clubs like Rapid Wien or Sturm Graz. Qualification impacts club season planning alongside domestic league campaigns and regional cup competitions organised by associations including Lower Austria Football Association and Salzburg Football Association.
Final matches have produced historic moments involving clubs such as SK Rapid Wien, FK Austria Wien, FC Red Bull Salzburg, SK Sturm Graz, LASK Linz, and FC Admira Wacker Mödling. Record holders include SK Rapid Wien for most cup victories and individual goalscoring records held by players associated with clubs like FK Austria Wien. Memorable finals featured managers such as Heribert Weber, Matthias Jaissle, Franco Foda, and Fredi Bobic (as sporting director) shaping tactics. Venues with recurrent hosting duties include Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Wörthersee Stadion, and regional stadia in Graz and Linz.
Prominent clubs with distinguished cup histories include SK Rapid Wien, FK Austria Wien, FC Red Bull Salzburg, SK Sturm Graz, LASK Linz, FC Admira Wacker Mödling, Wolfsberger AC, and Grazer AK. Renowned players who have shone in cup competition or with these clubs comprise Andreas Herzog, Marko Arnautović, David Alaba, Marc Janko, Toni Polster, Herfried Sabitzer, Stefan Maierhofer, Roman Kienast, Jakub Jankto, and Kevin Danso. Influential coaches and sporting directors linked to cup success include Franz Konrad, Gerhard Struber, Adolf Hütter, Felix Magath (in Austrian contexts), and Roger Schmidt.
The competition has carried sponsored titles reflecting commercial partnerships with broadcasters and corporations; sponsorship deals have involved brands connected to media rights holders like ORF and commercial sponsors tied to regional industry in Vienna and Salzburg. Naming rights and sponsorship agreements are negotiated by the Austrian Football Association in line with UEFA regulations, affecting trophy branding, matchday advertising, and prize money distribution that benefits participating clubs such as FC Red Bull Salzburg and FK Austria Wien.
Category:Football competitions in Austria