Walter Schachner facts for kids
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Schachner in 2009
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Schachner | ||
| Date of birth | 1 February 1957 | ||
| Place of birth | Leoben, Austria | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1967–1975 | St. Michael | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1975–1978 | Alpine Donawitz | 72 | (65) |
| 1978–1981 | Austria Wien | 101 | (72) |
| 1981–1983 | Cesena | 58 | (17) |
| 1983–1986 | Torino | ||
| 1986 | Pisa | ||
| 1986–1988 | Avellino | 48 | (13) |
| 1988–1990 | Sturm Graz | 16 | (3) |
| 1990 | FC Salzburg | 20 | (18) |
| 1991 | Grazer AK | 8 | (2) |
| 1991 | VSE St. Pölten | 9 | (1) |
| 1991 | SR Donaufeld | 5 | (0) |
| 1992 | Alpine Donawitz | 6 | (2) |
| 1992–1993 | DSV Leoben | 20 | (19) |
| 1993–1994 | Sturm Graz | 11 | (0) |
| 1994–1996 | DSV Leoben | 50 | (12) |
| 1996–1997 | FC Tirol Innsbruck | 6 | (0) |
| 1997 | ASK Kottingbrunn | ||
| 1998 | Eintracht Wels | 12 | (4) |
| International career | |||
| 1976–1994 | Austria | 64 | (23) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1999–2000 | FC Zeltweg | ||
| 2000–2002 | FC Kärnten | ||
| 2002 | Austria Wien | ||
| 2002–2006 | Grazer AK | ||
| 2006–2007 | 1860 Munich | ||
| 2007 | SK Kärnten | ||
| 2008–2010 | VfB Admira Wacker Mödling | ||
| 2011–2012 | LASK | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Walter "Schoko" Schachner was born on February 1, 1957. He is a famous Austrian football manager and a former player. He played as a forward, which means he was a goal scorer. Walter played 64 games for the Austrian national team and scored 23 goals.
When he was a boy, Walter always brought chocolate to his games. Because of this, he earned the fun nickname Schoko, which means "chocolate" in German. He became one of the most successful Austrian players to play football in Italy. He played for four different Italian clubs over seven years.
Contents
Playing Career: Walter's Journey in Football
Walter Schachner started his professional football career when he was 18 years old. This was in the 1975–76 season with a local team called Alpine Donawitz. After playing for only a year and a half, he was good enough to join the national team!
Playing in Austria and Italy
Soon after, a big club from Vienna, Austria Wien, signed him. But Walter's biggest adventure was moving to Italy. He played there for seven years, from 1981 to 1988. He played for three Italian teams:
- A.C. Cesena: He played 58 matches and scored 17 goals.
- Torino F.C.: He played 85 matches and scored 18 goals.
- Avellino: He played 48 matches and scored 13 goals.
In 1981, when Cesena was promoted to Serie A (Italy's top league), their fans even changed their group name to "Weisschwarz Brigaden." This German name, meaning "Black-and-white Brigades," was a special way to honor Walter, who was Austrian.
Returning to Austria
Walter returned to Austria in 1988. For the rest of his playing career, he moved between different clubs. He often played in the second division. He finally stopped playing football when he was 41 years old, with a team called Eintracht Wels.
International Matches: Playing for Austria
Walter Schachner first played for the Austrian national team in December 1976. It was a World Cup qualification game against Malta. He also played in two big tournaments, the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups. Overall, he played 64 games for Austria and scored 23 goals. His last international game was a friendly match against Russia in August 1994.
Memorable World Cup Moments
- The Miracle of Cordoba: On June 21, 1978, at the World Cup in Argentina, Walter was part of the Austrian team that beat West Germany 3–2. This was a huge win because West Germany was the reigning champion! This historic match is known as "The Miracle of Cordoba" because it knocked West Germany out of the competition.
- The "Disgrace of Gijón": In the 1982 World Cup, Walter was also on the Austrian team that lost 1–0 to West Germany. This game is sometimes called the "Disgrace of Gijón" because both teams seemed to stop trying to score after the first goal, which helped both of them move forward in the tournament. However, Walter was one of the players who kept trying to play a normal game.
Coaching Career: Leading Teams to Success
After his playing days, Walter Schachner became a football coach. He started his coaching career in the 1999–2000 season with FC Zeltweg. He helped them get promoted from the fourth division to the third.
Success with FC Kärnten and Austria Wien
- FC Kärnten: From 2000 to 2002, he coached FC Kärnten. Under his leadership, the team was promoted to the Austrian Bundesliga (the top league). They also won the National Cup in his first year and the National Supercup in his second!
- FK Austria Wien: In 2002, Walter coached FK Austria Wien. They had a fantastic start to the season, leading the championship by seven points. They even beat Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk 5–2 in the UEFA Cup. But despite this great start, he was replaced by another coach in October 2002.
Leading Grazer AK to a Championship
A few days after leaving Austria Wien, Walter was hired by Grazer AK. This team was near the bottom of the Austrian Bundesliga. But Walter turned things around!
- They finished the season in second place.
- In the 2003–04 season, Walter led Grazer AK to win their first and only national championship title!
- They also won the Austrian Cup in the same season.
- In 2005, Grazer AK played against Liverpool (who later won the title) in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. Grazer AK even managed to win one game at Liverpool's home stadium, Anfield, by 1-0! Walter left Grazer AK in January 2006.
Later Coaching Roles
- TSV 1860 Munich: Walter then moved to Germany to coach TSV 1860 Munich in the second division. He helped them avoid being moved down to a lower league. He left the club in March 2007.
- SK Austria Kärnten: He signed with SK Austria Kärnten in April 2007 but left in December of that year.
- FC Admira Wacker Mödling: In August 2008, Walter took over as coach for FC Admira Wacker Mödling. The team was struggling, but he helped them finish the season in third place. They also reached the National Cup final for the first time in 13 years, though they lost to Austria Wien. He coached them until April 2010.
Achievements and Awards
Walter Schachner had a very successful career both as a player and a coach.
As a Player
- With Austria Wien:
- Won the Austrian Bundesliga (top league) three times: 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81.
- Won the Austrian Cup once: 1979–80.
- Individual Awards:
- Was the top scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga twice: 1978–79, 1979–80.
- Was named to the Serie A Team of The Year in 1982.
- Was the top scorer in the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) in 1983–84, with eight goals.
As a Manager
- With Grazer AK:
- Won the Austrian Bundesliga once: 2003–04.
- Won the Austrian Cup once: 2003–04.
- With FC Kärnten:
- Won the Austrian Supercup once: 2001.
See also
In Spanish: Walter Schachner para niños
