 Ocwirk in 1953 | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1926-03-07)7 March 1926 | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Vienna, Austria | |||||||||||||
| Date of death | 23 January 1980(1980-01-23) (aged 53) | |||||||||||||
| Place of death | Klein-Pöchlarn, Austria | |||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| FC Stadlau | ||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 1942–1947 | Floridsdorfer AC | 83 | (3) | |||||||||||
| 1947–1956 | Austria Wien | 209 | (31) | |||||||||||
| 1956–1961 | Sampdoria | 154 | (37) | |||||||||||
| 1961–1963 | Austria Wien | 15 | (5) | |||||||||||
| Total | 461 | (76) | ||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||
| 1945–1962 | Austria | 62 | (6) | |||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||
| 1962–1965 | Sampdoria | |||||||||||||
| 1965–1970 | Austria Wien | |||||||||||||
| 1970–1971 | 1. FC Köln | |||||||||||||
| 1971–1973 | Admira Wacker | |||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||
Ernst Ocwirk (7 March 1926 – 23 January 1980) was an Austrianfootball player and coach. A formermidfielder, he is regarded as one of the greatest Austrian men's footballers of all time.
He spent the majority of his playing and coaching years between Austria and Italy, being both player and manager forFK Austria Vienna andSerie A clubSampdoria. He also went on to become a member of theAustria national team, which he led to a third-place finish at the1954 World Cup as itscaptain.
NicknamedClockwork by the British for his midfield consistency, as well as the nickname being suggested by his surname, he is often cited as the last of the old-fashioned attackingcentre-halves; he was known for his aesthetic and technical style of playing, his heading ability, excellent timing (both in offensive and defensive tasks) and his passing range; particularly his long passing ability. The fans loved him for his modest and fair personality. The international media of the era saw Ocwirk as "the best centerhalf in the world". He is considered one of the greatest central midfielders of all time.
Born inVienna, Ocwirk began his career as astriker. He joined his first club, the localFC Stadlau, in 1938. He then played forFloridsdorfer AC, where he was spotted by former Austrian internationalJosef Smistik, who moved Ocwirk tocentre midfield. Smistik tried to bring him to his former team,Rapid Wien, but it was rivalsFK Austria who won the race for his services and, in 1947, signed him.
In a decade at Austria Vienna, Ocwirk became one of the most prominent players for the club, helping them to win fiveAustrian League championships and threedomestic cups.
Brought toSampdoria by Alberto Ravano, he was the second Austrian footballer ever to play inSerie A afterEngelbert König had done it in the 1940s. He also remained the last Austrian in Serie A until 1980, whenHerbert Prohaska played forInter Milan. Ocwirk would play five seasons at the Genova club, of which he became the captain. In 1961, he returned to FK Austria to play the final season of his career, winning the "double" in 1961–62.
Ocwirk was chosen in Austria's Team of the Century in 2001.
Ocwirk won 62 caps and scored six goals for his country.[1] He made his debut for his country in 1945 before appearing at the1948 Olympic Games in London.[2]
By 1953, the stopper centre-back had taken over, so Ocwirk was selected as a wing-half for a Rest-of-the-World team which drew 4–4 with England to celebrate the 90th birthday ofthe Football Association. His international successes earned him the honour of twice being named captain of the "FIFA World team".
At the 1954 World Cup, Ocwirk captained Austria and played in all five of his team matches, helping it achieve its best ever World Cup finish, third place. The centre-half scored two goals during the tournament: the one that gave Austria the lead after trailing 3–0 in thememorable quarter-final against hostsSwitzerland, and the 3–1 in the third-place match against reigning championsUruguay.[3]
Immediately after retiring from playing, Ocwirk became a manager, and Sampdoria was the first team he coached, from 1962 to 1965. He also managedGerman side1. FC Köln one year, taking them to the final of theDFB Cup.
In January 1980, at the age of 53, he died ofmultiple sclerosis, inKlein-Pöchlarn, Lower Austria. His death occurred on the same date thatMatthias Sindelar died 41 years before.
A friendly tournament was played in July 1981 in homage to Ernst Ocwirk atWiener Stadion. The participants wereFK Austria Wien,SK Rapid Wien,Ferencvárosi TC andBayern Munich. Bayern Munich won the tournament.
Austria Wien
Austria
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| Preceded by | Austrian Sportsman of the Year 1951 | Succeeded by |
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