S.C. Hakoah Wien facts for kids
| Full name | Sport Club Hakoah Wien |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1909 |
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S.C. Hakoah Wien was a famous football club from Austria. It was part of a larger Jewish sports club called Hakoah. "Hakoah" means "the strength" in Hebrew. This club is still around today.
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The Start of Hakoah Wien
The S.C. Hakoah Wien football club began in 1909. In its first year, the club had many different sports. Athletes competed in fencing, football, field hockey, track and field, wrestling, and swimming.
Hakoah Wien was one of the first teams to travel the world. They played matches in many different countries. Because of this, Hakoah Wien had fans in many parts of Europe. Even the famous writer Franz Kafka was a supporter.
A Top Team in Austria
Before World War II, Hakoah was one of the best football clubs in Austria. They made history by being the first team from mainland Europe to beat an English club in England. They won against Westham United with a score of 5-0.
On July 15, 1917, their goalkeeper, Willy Halpern, became the first Hakoah player to join the national team. By 1919, Hakoah had moved up to the top division of Austrian football.
Becoming Austrian Champions
In the 1924/25 season, Hakoah Wien achieved a great success. They became the Austrian Champions! This was a huge moment for the club.
In 1926, the team went on a tour to the United States. They played a match in New York City. An amazing 46,000 people came to watch them play. This was a record for the time.
Many players were impressed by the USA. They found less prejudice there and good pay. About half of the team decided to stay in the United States. Some of these players formed a new team called New York Hakoah. Other players moved to Palestine and started Hakoah Tel Aviv. Because so many players left, the original Hakoah Wien team was moved down to the second division.
The Club During Difficult Times
In the 1937/38 season, Hakoah Wien was leading their league. However, Germany took control of Austria. This event led to all matches being stopped.
Like other Jewish sports clubs, Hakoah Wien was closed down during this time. The club lost all its properties. Sadly, many Hakoah football players were harmed or lost their lives. These included Oskar Grasgrün, Ernst Horowitz, Josef Kolisch, Erwin, Oskar Pollak, Max Scheuer, and Ali Schönfeld. Fritz Weinberger and Julius Zwickler also died in concentration camps. Many players who were able to leave Austria went to Palestine. They played for Hakoah Tel Aviv there.
Hakoah Wien After the War
After World War II ended in 1945, the Hakoah club was started again. The football team played in the second division of the Austrian championship. However, the football team was eventually closed down in 1949.
Today, the club exists under a new name: SC Maccabi Wien. They now play in a smaller league.
Famous Players
One of the most well-known players from Hakoah Wien was Béla Guttmann. He played for Hakoah from 1922 to 1926. After he stopped playing, he became a very successful manager. He managed teams in Italy, South America, and Europe.
