Ball sports: Austrian football continues to soar

Regardless of whether it is in the national team, at club level, in the youth team or in the non-corporeal flag variant: Austria is the leading force in Europe in American football. This was demonstrated by the European Championship title at elite level last year, U20 World Cup bronze and World Cup silver for the domestic flag men this summer.

This also documents the continued success of the Vienna Vikings in the ELF, the Viennese are in the final, as they were in 2022. Last year, they only reached the semifinals. In the regular season over the last three years, head coach Chris Calaycay can boast a unique record of 34:2 victories.

Top European for years

The long-standing focus on training coaches and young talent is considered Austria’s recipe for success. In the club sector, the Vikings and Raiders Tirol have been among the best the continent has to offer for a quarter of a century.

Both have a football academy – Austria’s NFL figurehead Bernhard Raimann, among others, comes from the Viennese school – and both clubs are a fixture in the ELF (formerly in the Eurobowl). The “Vikings” won the ELF title on their league debut in 2022. This year, after the spectacular semifinal victory over the Paris Musketeers on September 22nd, the title could follow again in the ELF final in Gelsenkirchen in the first duel with the Düsseldorf Rhein Fire.

A good reputation is hard work

Although there have been setbacks this year due to injuries, a “perfect season” is possible, even a year without defeats. “People go through many phases. At the beginning we had a lot of injuries in the offensive. Our defense carried us through. Later we had injuries in the defense because the offense was taken over. We started the journey together and are now slowly coming to the end. “All of this has made us a stronger team,” explained Calaycay.

The Hawaii-born coaching wizard came to Vienna 25 years ago and played quarterback for the Vikings. He has been the Violets’ coach since 2004. “It’s a journey for American football. It’s gotten bigger and bigger,” said Calaycay, who was also part of the red-white-red national team until the European Championship title last year. Austria has a great reputation in football, the 48-year-old knows. “We have to grow with it – fans, sponsors, investors, ticket sellers, athletes. We always want to be the top team in Europe, but it’s a harder path.”

Training and commitment

Was it done right here? “Coaching and the young talent in the clubs. I coach players here in Vienna who I have known since they were twelve years old. I have also known the coaching staff for many years, Max Sommer for example.” Sommer is the national team manager and offensive coordinator for the Vikings.

The local association AFBÖ sees things similarly. “Through the successful focus on solid training of young people and coaches and through overwhelming commitment, we have succeeded in establishing Austria as one of the top nations in Europe and worldwide,” said AFBÖ President Michael Eschlböck. He also highlighted the teamwork of everyone involved. “The fact that everyone is pulling in the same direction is the basis of the current success.”

Successes and the Olympics ensure popularity

Football is currently one of the fastest growing sports in Austria. “We are the ‘hottest shit’ in town,” says Vikings co-owner Robin Lumsden. The fact that flag football will be an Olympic sport at the Summer Games in four years will further fuel the hype surrounding the rotating “egg-ball”.

The fact that the Raiders, who narrowly missed the ELF playoffs this year, are also an attractive football franchise can be seen in their head coach. Jim Herrmann has just extended his contract with the Innsbruck team by two years. The 63-year-old was a coach in the NFL for 13 years and won the Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2012. “Jim is exactly the right man for our goals,” explained Tyrol’s managing director Ulz Däuber. These are set very high, as is the case everywhere in Austria.

Financial tightrope walk

Financially, however, tackle football with its large squads is a major undertaking for the clubs. “We’re doing well.” But there are challenges. You often have to ask yourself whether it’s worth it. You need a lot of sponsors for multi-year planning. Are we profitable? No. But I won’t run. “It’s going in the right direction, the Vikings as a brand are becoming more and more valuable,” said Lumsden. Which the “Vikings” proved once again on Saturday.

European Football League