The Austrian football champions are the winners of the highest league of
football in Austria
Association football, Football is the most popular sport in Austria. The Austrian Football Association, the ''ÖFB'' (''Österreichischer Fußball-Bund''), was founded in 1904 and has been a member of FIFA since then.
Despite the sport's popula ...
. The championship has been contested through the
Austrian Football Bundesliga
The Bundesliga ( , "Federal League"), also known as Admiral Bundesliga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Austria and the highest level of the Austrian football league system. The competition decides the A ...
since the
1974–75 season.
Rapid Wien
Sportklub Rapid (), commonly known as Rapid Wien or Rapid Vienna in English, is an Austrian professional football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid has won the most Austrian championship titles (32), including the f ...
and
Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien AG (), known in English as Austria Vienna, and Austria Wien in German-speaking countries, is an Austrian professional association football club from the capital city of Vienna. It has won the most trophies of any Aust ...
are the most successful clubs. They have won 32 and 24 titles, respectively, as of 2023.
History
From 1911 until 1923 the Austrian football championship was organized by the football association of Niederösterreich (
Lower Austria
Lower Austria ( , , abbreviated LA or NÖ) is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Major cities are Amstetten, Lower Austria, Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt and Sankt Pölten, which ...
) which was made up only of clubs from the nation's capital of
Vienna
Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
. The championship was then taken over by the newly formed football association of Vienna (WFV, ''Wiener Fußball-Verband''), which organized the first professional league in continental Europe in 1924–25.
In 1938 Austria was united with
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
in the
Anschluss
The (, or , ), also known as the (, ), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938.
The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a "German Question, Greater Germany") arose after t ...
and the country's football competition became part of the German league structure as the
Gauliga Ostmark
The Gauliga Ostmark, renamed Gauliga Donau-Alpenland in 1941, was the highest football league in Austria after its annexation by Germany in 1938. Shortly after the occupation, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in Austria, and the se ...
. For the first time clubs from outside of Vienna were included in top-flight Austrian competition.

Austrian clubs took part in the German championship during this period. An "Austrian champion" would emerge from divisional play in the Gauliga Ostmark and then move on to the German national playoffs with other Gauliga winners. Austrian clubs enjoyed a considerable measure of success playing in Germany, making three national final appearances and two Tschammerspokal (predecessor of today's
German Cup
The DFB-Pokal (), also known as the German Cup in English, is a German knockout football cup competition held annually by the German Football Association (DFB). Sixty-four teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundes ...
) appearances:
Rapid Vienna
Sportklub Rapid (), commonly known as Rapid Wien or Rapid Vienna in English language, English, is an Football in Austria, Austrian professional football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid has won the most Austrian cham ...
won the national title in 1941, while
First Vienna took the Tschammerspokal in 1943.
Austrian football was again independent after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and championship play was limited to Viennese clubs until 1948–49 when clubs from the rest of Austria were re-admitted. In 1965,
Linzer ASK became the first team from outside the capital to claim the Austrian title, leading the way for clubs such as
FC Wacker Innsbruck
FC Wacker Innsbruck was an Austrian association football club from Innsbruck, Tyrol.
History
The ''Fußball-Club Wacker'' ("Valiant") ''Innsbruck'' was established in 1915 by Jakob Hanspeter, Benedikt Hosp, Josef Leitner, Josef Albrecht and o ...
,
VÖEST Linz
FC Stahl Linz is an Austrian football club, based in Linz, Upper Austria. They currently play in 2. Klasse Mitte, the eighth tier of Austrian football.
History SV Eisen und Stahl, SK VÖEST Linz and SK VOEST Linz
It was founded on 30 June 194 ...
,
SV Austria Salzburg
SV Austria Salzburg is an Football in Austria, Austrian professional association football, football club, based in the city of Salzburg. The club was formed in 2005 by some supporters of the original SV (Austria) Salzburg after it was renamed FC ...
,
Sturm Graz
Sportklub Sturm Graz is an Austrian professional association football club, based in Graz, playing in the Austrian Football Bundesliga. The club was founded in 1909. Its colours are black and white.
In its history, Sturm Graz has won the Austr ...
, and
Grazer AK
Grazer Athletiksport Klub (; abbreviated as GAK), better known simply as Grazer AK, is an Austrian sports club based in the city of Graz in the federal state of Styria. The football section was once among Austria's most popular clubs, enjoying s ...
.
List of Austrian national football champions
Performance
Performance by club
Notes:
* All teams are defunct clubs from
Innsbruck
Innsbruck (; ) is the capital of Tyrol (federal state), Tyrol and the List of cities and towns in Austria, fifth-largest city in Austria. On the Inn (river), River Inn, at its junction with the Wipptal, Wipp Valley, which provides access to the ...
,
Tirol
Tyrol ( ; historically the Tyrole; ; ) is a historical region in the Alps of Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary, f ...
.
Wacker Innsbruck
FC Wacker Innsbruck was an Austrian association football club from Innsbruck, Tyrol.
History
The ''Fußball-Club Wacker'' ("Valiant") ''Innsbruck'' was established in 1915 by Jakob Hanspeter, Benedikt Hosp, Josef Leitner, Josef Albrecht and o ...
(1915–1999),
Swarovski Tirol
Swarovski (, ) is an Austrian producer of glass based in Wattens, Tyrol (state), Tyrol. It was founded in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski.
The company is split into three major industry areas: the Swarovski Crystal Business, which primarily produces ...
(1986–1992) and
Tirol Innsbruck
FC Tirol Innsbruck was an Austrian association football club from Innsbruck, Tyrol which existed between 1993 and 2002, when bankruptcy was declared.
History
Tirol Innsbruck was formed after the dissolvement of FC Swarovski Tirol in 1992 which w ...
(1993–2002). They are considered to be the continuation of each other.
* The Red Bull company bought the club on 6 April 2005 and rebranded it. Prior to 2005 the team was known as SV Austria Salzburg or Casino Salzburg. They also changed the colours from white-violet to red-white. The Violet-Whites ultimately formed a new club,
SV Austria Salzburg
SV Austria Salzburg is an Football in Austria, Austrian professional association football, football club, based in the city of Salzburg. The club was formed in 2005 by some supporters of the original SV (Austria) Salzburg after it was renamed FC ...
.
* *
FC Admira Wacker Mödling
Admira Wacker is an Austrian professional football club based in Maria Enzersdorf, a town in the Mödling District of Lower Austria. The team competes in the 2. Liga, the second tier of the Austrian football league system.
The club was form ...
was formed after the merger of
SK Admira Wien
Admira Wacker is an Austrian professional football club based in Maria Enzersdorf, a town in the Mödling District of Lower Austria. The team competes in the 2. Liga, the second tier of the Austrian football league system.
The club was formed ...
and
SC Wacker Wien
Admira Wacker is an Austrian professional football club based in Maria Enzersdorf, a town in the Mödling District of Lower Austria. The team competes in the 2. Liga, the second tier of the Austrian football league system.
The club was form ...
in 1971, under the name of
Admira Wacker Wien, the merger with ''VfB Mödling'' in 1997 and the merger with ''
SK Schwadorf
Sportklub Schwadorf (more commonly known as SK Schwadorf) was an Austrian football club, based in Schwadorf. They were last playing in the First League. The club was known as Trenkwalder Sportklub Schwadorf for sponsorship reasons — '' ...
'' in 2008. The new team plays in
Mödling
Mödling () is the capital of the Austrian Mödling (district), district of the same name located approximately 15 km south of Vienna.
Mödling lies in Lower Austria's industrial zone (Industrieviertel). The Mödlingbach, a brook which rises ...
.
Name changes
*
Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien AG (), known in English as Austria Vienna, and Austria Wien in German-speaking countries, is an Austrian professional association football club from the capital city of Vienna. It has won the most trophies of any Aust ...
was known as ''SV Amateure'' until 1926. From
1973–74 season,
Wiener AC
Wiener Athletiksport Club, also known as Wiener AC or WAC, is an Austrian sports club in Vienna. It is particularly noted for its hockey team, which was established in 1900.
Its football team won the Austrian Championships and was Runner-up in ...
formed a joint team with
FK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien AG (), known in English as Austria Vienna, and Austria Wien in German language in Europe, German-speaking countries, is an Football in Austria, Austrian professional association football club from the capital city of Vi ...
, which was called
FK Austria WAC Wien until
1976–77 season when
Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien AG (), known in English as Austria Vienna, and Austria Wien in German-speaking countries, is an Austrian professional association football club from the capital city of Vienna. It has won the most trophies of any Aust ...
decided to revert to their own club's traditional name. The results of the joint team are part of the
Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien AG (), known in English as Austria Vienna, and Austria Wien in German-speaking countries, is an Austrian professional association football club from the capital city of Vienna. It has won the most trophies of any Aust ...
football history.
*''SK Admira Wien'' and ''SC Wacker Wien'' merged in 1971 to form ''FC Admira Wacker Wien'' and played in the
Südstadt Stadium at
Maria Enzersdorf
Maria Enzersdorf (Central Bavarian: ''Maria Enzasduaf'') is a small city in the district of Mödling (district), Mödling in the Austrian state of Lower Austria.
There are several castles and ruins in the forests surrounding Maria Enzersdorf, in ...
in
Lower Austria
Lower Austria ( , , abbreviated LA or NÖ) is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Major cities are Amstetten, Lower Austria, Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt and Sankt Pölten, which ...
. A subsequent merger with ''VfB Mödling'' in 1997 saw the club renamed ''
VfB Admira Wacker Mödling
Admira Wacker is an Austrian professional football club based in Maria Enzersdorf, a town in the Mödling District of Lower Austria. The team competes in the 2. Liga, the second tier of the Austrian football league system.
The club was forme ...
''.
*''
Wacker Innsbruck
FC Wacker Innsbruck was an Austrian association football club from Innsbruck, Tyrol.
History
The ''Fußball-Club Wacker'' ("Valiant") ''Innsbruck'' was established in 1915 by Jakob Hanspeter, Benedikt Hosp, Josef Leitner, Josef Albrecht and o ...
'' changed names frequently and was also briefly united with ''
WSG Wattens
Wattener Sportgemeinschaft Tirol (), commonly known as WSG Tirol, is a professional association football club based in the town of Wattens, Tyrol (state), Tyrol, Austria, that competes in the Austrian Football Bundesliga, the top tier of the A ...
''. Successor side ''
Tirol Innsbruck
FC Tirol Innsbruck was an Austrian association football club from Innsbruck, Tyrol which existed between 1993 and 2002, when bankruptcy was declared.
History
Tirol Innsbruck was formed after the dissolvement of FC Swarovski Tirol in 1992 which w ...
'' folded in 2002.
*''SV Austria Salzburg'' was renamed ''
FC Red Bull Salzburg
Fußballclub Red Bull Salzburg, commonly known as simply Red Bull Salzburg, is an Austrian professional Association football, football club based in Wals-Siezenheim, that competes in the Austrian Bundesliga, the top flight of Football in Austria ...
'' after being purchased and re-made by
energy drink
An energy drink is a type of non-alcoholic psychoactive functional beverage containing stimulant compounds, usually caffeine (at a higher concentration than ordinary soda pop) and taurine, which is marketed as reducing tiredness and improving pe ...
maker
Red Bull
Red Bull is a brand of energy drinks created and owned by the Austrian company Red Bull GmbH. With a market share of 43%, it is the most popular energy drink brand as of 2020, and the third most valuable soft drink brand, behind Coca-Cola and ...
in April 2005. A new side using the original name ''
SV Austria Salzburg
SV Austria Salzburg is an Football in Austria, Austrian professional association football, football club, based in the city of Salzburg. The club was formed in 2005 by some supporters of the original SV (Austria) Salzburg after it was renamed FC ...
'' was established by ''SV'' fans the same year and after winning 5 championships, from level 7, now they play in the
Austrian Football First League
The Second League (), commonly known as Admiral 2. Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest professional division in Austrian football.
The division currently contains 16 teams, and the champion of the league is promoted to the Austr ...
, one league lower than
Austrian Football Bundesliga
The Bundesliga ( , "Federal League"), also known as Admiral Bundesliga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Austria and the highest level of the Austrian football league system. The competition decides the A ...
.
See also
*
Austrian Football First League
The Second League (), commonly known as Admiral 2. Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest professional division in Austrian football.
The division currently contains 16 teams, and the champion of the league is promoted to the Austr ...
*
Austrian Cup
The Austrian Cup (), known as UNIQA ÖFB Cup for sponsorship purposes, is an annual football competition held by the Austrian Football Association, the ÖFB. During the 2008–09 season, Austria Wien won the tournament for a record 27th time. Wo ...
*
Austrian Supercup
The Austrian Supercup (German: ÖFB-Supercup) was a football competition held annually from 1986 until 2004 between the winners of the Austrian Football Bundesliga and the Austrian Cup.
19 editions were played during the short history of the com ...
References
*
{{Football in Austria
Football leagues in Austria
Austria
Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
*