Why Rapid and Austria are cooperating again and benefiting from it

As is often the case in football, that’s what counts human level. Wrabetz and Gollowitzer have known each other for a long time and appreciate each other.

The Ebreichsdorf bridge

There is one for this so far Bridge not known to the publicwhich was built in Ebreichsdorf many years ago.

Austria’s finance chief Harald Zagiczek learned between beer and sausages Christian Podoschek at the place of the former regional league team. Both lived in the area.

Zagiczek made a significant contribution to the violet rescue in the negotiations for the haircut with Bank Austria and the upcoming sale of the stadium to the city of Vienna.

The Voluntary board member Podoschek holds up – except for the double conferences CFO Knipping at the general meetings – always in the background, but is a key figure in the Greens. The lawyer forms a working group with his predecessor Nikolaus Rosenauer – with success, as became clear when the point deductions were withdrawn.

Podoschek is also familiar with the inner workings of the “Ultras”.

Quick reaction to scandal derby

The basis for the conversation with Zagiczek is also right. When the Bundesliga imposed particularly severe punishments after the derby scandal, the two realized that only one joint, honest processing of the incidents would be to help the clubs.

The presidents were also quick to take action, with concrete measures like this four derbies without away fans – to prove that the clubs cooperate much better than hardcore fans want or can imagine.

This was the only way to prevent draconian punishments.

Silence at the stadium

Some people in the West block were also surprised by Rapid not a single comment on the Vienna SPÖ’s about-face came: Although the Austria Stadium was supported with public funds, money will flow again in the spring 40 million into the purchase.

In fact, the topic was also discussed in a Rapid executive board meeting. There was agreement not to say anything now. Rapid has a stadium for which a large loan installment has just been repaid on time, an academy and a training center that was largely financed with its own money.

Future rapid requests for the town hall

But We are working on a to-do list for the future – the contents of which will be presented to the town hall in due course. At the basis of the conversation Michael Ludwig it won’t fail. The mayor was the one biggest advocate for an SPÖ minister Wrabetz – who, for well-known reasons, will remain Rapid president.

In the “Club Cuvée” both presidents unanimously emphasized: “Nothing better can happen to Vienna than having two successful clubs.”

In fact, some problems could be solved with more pragmatism and less anger.