Vienna Vikings

The Vienna Vikings is a professional American football club based in Vienna, Austria. Founded in 1983, the Vikings are known as one of Europe's most dominant clubs, having won the Eurobowl title five times (2004–2007 and 2013), as well being the runner-up five times (2001, 2003, 2008, 2010 and 2012). In the national championship the Vikings are holding the record of 15 Austrian Bowl victories. Since the 2022 season they are member of the European League of Football and under the name Dacia Vienna Vikings they are also still part of the Austrian Football League (AFL).

Vienna Vikings
Team logo
Founded1983 (1983)
Based inAustria Vienna, Austria
Home stadiumGenerali Arena Vienna (ELF)
Football-Zentrum Ravelin (AFL)
Head coachChris Calaycay
LeagueEuropean League of Football
Austrian Football League
DivisionEastern Conference
ColorsPurple, gold, white
     
League titlesELF: 2022
AFL: 1994, 1996, 1999–2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012–2014, 2017, 2020
Eurobowl: 2004–2007, 2013
Websiteviennavikings.com

History

The Vikings were founded in 1983. Three years later, the Vikings made it to the Austrian Bowl, the Austrian championship game, where they fell short against the Graz Giants. In 1994, the Vikings won their first national championship and repeated the victory two years later. In 1999, the Vikings played their eighth Austrian Bowl, all of them against the Giants, and gained their third title. It was also their first of five consecutive Austrian Bowl wins. Until 2007 the Vikings made it always to the Austrian Bowl and collected two more national titles becoming the team with the record number of 10 Austrian Bowl wins. From 2012 to 2017 the Vikings won four more national titles.

From 2014 to 2016, the team took part in a new European competition, the BIG6 European Football League.[1]

Naming rights
  • 1983–1998: Vienna Vikings
  • 1999–2005: Chrysler Vikings
  • 2006–2007: Dodge Vikings Vienna
  • 2008–2014: Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna
  • 2015–2016: Vienna Vikings
  • 2017– Dacia Vienna Vikings

Notable persons

European League of Football

On September 25, 2021 the Vienna Vikings announced their that their first team will compete in the 2022 European League of Football season together with their league rival Tyrolean Raiders[2][3][4][5][6] The coaching staff of the former AFL team will continue coaching the ELF team. The franchise, now being a private corporation as a GesmbH, is owned by the Voluntary association. Together with its rivals Raiders Tirol the Vikings play in the Central Conference of the ELF. The participation allows the signing of up to 6 European foreign players and 4 US-American, Canadian, Mexican or Japanese players.

At the start of the 2022 season, business lawyer and long-time Austrian Football League quarterback Robin Lumsden joined as co-owner and investor.[7] On February 17, 2022 the organisations announced that all home games in the ELF season will be played at the Generali Arena Vienna.[8]

Roster
2023 Vienna Vikings roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs


Rookies in italics
 Roster updated 23 March 2023
4 A-import, 5 E-import, 33 homegrown
42 active

Staff
2023 Vienna Vikings staff

Front office

  • Owners – Constantin Burkheiser, Markus Kraetschmer,
    Robin Lumsden, AFC Dacia Vienna Vikings e.V.
  • President – Karl Wurm
  • Vice president – Michael Holub
  • General Manager – Lukas Leitner

Head coach

  • Head coach – Chris Calaycay
  • Assistant head coach – Benjamin Sobotka

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – John Shannon
  • Running backs – Marianne Pahkala
  • Wide receivers/tight ends – n/a
  • Offensive line – Thomas Tippold
  

Defensive coaches

  • Defensive coordinator/linebacker – Daniel Auböck
  • Defensive line – Benjamin Sobotka
  • Defensive backs – n/a

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – n/a


Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Marianne Pahkala


updated 23 March 2023

Season-by-season
Season Head coach Regular season Postseason Result Ø Attendance
GP Won Lost Win % Finish GP Won Lost Win %
2022 Chris Calaycay 12 10 2 .833 1st (Central) 2 2 0 1. Won Championship Game 3,085
2023 Chris Calaycay 0 0 0 .000 (Eastern) 0 0 0 .000 — –
"Blue River Bowl III": Danube Dragons vs. Vikings at Rattenfängerstadion in Korneuburg, 2010

Honours
  • European League of Football
  • Eurobowl
    • Champions: (5) 2004–2007, 2013
    • Runners-up: (5) 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012
  • Austrian Bowl
    • Champions: (15) 1994, 1996, 1999–2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012–2014, 2017, 2020
    • Runners-up: (14) 1986, 1988, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021–2023

References
  1. "BIG6 European Football League starts 2014". www.eurobowl.com. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  2. "ELF: Dacia Vienna Vikings become the league's newest member". 25 September 2021.
  3. "PR: Ninth Team, Fourth Nation: Vienna Vikings Will Start in the European League of Football for the 2022 Season". 25 September 2021.
  4. "Vienna Vikings ab 2022 Teil der European League of Football". 30 September 2021.
  5. https://news.in-24.com/sports/news/168498.html
  6. "Der Krampf ums Eierlaberl: Warum sich Football in Europa schwertut". Der Standard (in German). October 4, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  7. "Vienna Vikings present new investors with interesting background". May 12, 2022.
  8. "Vikings sorgen für internationale Spiele in der Generali Arena". Kurier (in German). February 17, 2022.
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