Franz Wohlfahrt (footballer)

Franz Bernhard Wohlfahrt (German pronunciation: [ˈfʁants ˈbɛʁnhaʁt ˈvoːlfaːɐ̯t]; born 1 July 1964) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Franz Wohlfahrt
Wohlfahrt as goalkeeper coach of Austria
Personal information
Full name Franz Bernhard Wohlfahrt
Date of birth (1964-07-01) 1 July 1964
Place of birth Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1972–1981 SV Sankt Veit
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1996 Austria Wien 351 (0)
1996–2000 VfB Stuttgart 118 (0)
2000–2002 Austria Wien 33 (0)
Total 502 (0)
International career
1987–2001 Austria 59 (0)
Managerial career
2008– ASV Baden
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Sankt Veit an der Glan, Carinthia, Wohlfahrt started his career at hometown outfit SV Sankt Veit. He turned professional at FK Austria Wien, where he would spend almost 20 years in two spells, winning six league titles and four domestic cups.

In 1996, aged 32, he finally moved abroad, joining Germany's VfB Stuttgart, and being essential as the club reached the final of the 1997–98 Cup Winner's Cup, lost 1–0 to Chelsea FC.[1] Subsequently, he returned to his first club, retiring a few years later with amateurs SC Untersiebenbrunn.

Incident at Ajax–Austria Wien

On 27 September 1989, Wohlfahrt made the sports headlines when he was hit and injured by a bar, thrown by a home supporter at an Ajax–Austria Wien UEFA Cup match. Ajax subsequently was banned from European competition for a year.[2]

International career

In 1983, Wohlfahrt was selected by Austria U-20's to play at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship.[3] He made his debut for the senior side in an August 1987 friendly match against Switzerland, and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup,[4] where he was a reserve behind Michael Konsel.

In total, Wohlfahrt earned 59 caps,[5] his final international being in November 2001, a 2002 World Cup qualification match against Turkey, which Austria lost 5–0. He also has the unfortunate distinction of having netted nine goals in a single match, a 9–0 loss to Spain at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium on 27 March 1999.

Coaching and managerial career

In July 2006, Wohlfahrt began a coaching career, training goalkeepers at SK Schwadorf 1936, VfB Admira Wacker Mödling, and the national team. In 2008, he had his first head coach experience, with ASV Baden.

He has been goalkeeping coach for Austria/ national team.[6] On 9 January 2015, it was announced that Wohlfahrt would become the next Sporting Director of Austria Wien.[6]

Honours

Austria Wien

  • Austrian League: 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93
  • Austrian Cup: 1985–86, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1993–94

VfB Stuttgart

References
  1. Sub Zola inspires Chelsea; UEFA.com, 13 May 1998
  2. Utrecht play for pride; UEFA.com, 16 December 2004
  3. 1983 Austria U20 squad; FIFA.com
  4. Record at FIFA Tournaments; FIFA.com
  5. Austria - Record International Players; RSSSF
  6. "Wohlfahrt wird Sportdirektor bei Austria Wien" (in German). kicker. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
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