Career springboard: Half the ÖFB team played in the 2nd league

In fact, this is only allowed in a few countries in Europe. In Belgium and in the Netherlands approximately.

Knows from Denmark Johannes Hoff Thorup a very similar first division format to that in Austria. The 2nd league with Rapid II But it was new to the Greens’ new head coach – Hoff Thorup is very happy with it: “Our talents are challenged at a good level and there is a bit of pressure compared to an academy championship.”

But not too much, as the 37-year-old explains: “The most important thing is development. I always call on all coaches of our talents to let them play courageously and to pay as little attention to the results as possible. We should be able to stay in the league anyway thanks to the good quality of the young talent.”

Hoff Thorup wants to bring up some Rapid II players in the summer: “I quickly recognized enough potential in the 2nd league.”

Role model Alaba

In Austria, 50 percent of the current senior national team played in the 2nd league, which was once called the “Today for Tomorrow League”.

13 of the 26 players who Ralf Rangnick last convened in March, there were more of them (see information box). Above all the captain: David Alaba played for the Austria Amateurs in league two at the age of 15 before moving to Bayern in the summer of 2008. Goalie had the most appearances Tobias Lawalwho played 65 games for LASK’s amateur team, the OÖ Juniors.

Also a Bayern star Konrad Laimer was seen as a teenager at FC Liefering. Because amateur teams from Bundesliga clubs were previously not allowed in the 2nd division, Red Bull Salzburg turned its second team into an independent cooperation club, which has been in the second division since 2013 and has a number of later international top stars such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Dayot Upamecano or Benjamin Sesko had in his ranks.