Football is a popular sport in Vienna. In fact, the Austrian capital has some of the world’s oldest and most successful football clubs. The national team of Austria is also based in the Ernst Happel stadium in the Prater Park.
The two major football teams that compete against each other are the Rapid Wien, Austria Wien and First Vienna. The Rapid Wien, though, is considered the oldest club.
Rapid Wien
Founded in the later part of the 19th century, this club is also known as the Hutteldorfer after the stadium’s location. Its other name is Grun-Wis after the club’s traditional green and white shirts.
Rapid Wien was champion of the Austrian League for 32 times and reached the European Cup-Winners’ Cup final twice. Football fans who would like to see the football players or watch their games can head to the Gerhard-Hanappi Stadium in Vienna’s 14 district.
Austria Wien
The Austria Wien club is the arch rival of Rapid. Known as the Veilchen or the Violets, it has won the Austrian championship 23 times. It has also reached the final of the European Cup-Winners’ Cup once.
The club is headquartered at the Franz Horr Stadium in the southern part of Vienna specifically close to the Sudosttangente motorway.
First Vienna
This club is said to be Vienna’s oldest although it just did not perform well in recent years. It was established in 1894 in Hohe Warte and it is still based there up to now. The club’s other name is Doblinger after its location in the suburb of Dobling.
The First Vienna club has won the Austrian championships for six times.