Karl Koller

**Karl Koller** (9 February 1929 – 24 January 2009) was an Austrian football player. He is considered one of the best Austrian midfielders. He played during his professional carrer only for First Vienna FC. The national player completed 86 games for the team with 5 goals and took part in two World Cups. He is regarded, behind Ernst Ocwirk and Gerhard Hanappi, as one of the best Austrian midfielders of all time and was rated as one of the best 100 European footballers of the 20th century by the IFFHS. Normally a center midfielder, Koller was capable in both in defense and attack and was well known for technique, strength and powerful shot from distance.

## Career

Karl Koller began his football career with 	ASK Blumau. 1949 he went to First Vienna FC where he made his championship debut in 1949. Througout his professional career he played for this club.  He played 414 league matches for Vienna and scored 39 goals. Overall he played 836 matches and scored 101 goals. In 1955 he became Austrian Champion and 1961 they played in the Cup final which they lost 3-1 versus SK Rapid.

## International career

He debuted on 23 March 1953  against Belgium (2-0). He went to the World Cup as one of the regulars for the midfield. Together with the Austrian Ernst Ocwirk he formed the Austrian midfield.  Karl Koller played in  all matches.

In the 1958 FIFA World Cup the team failed in the group stage. In the 2-2 draw versus England shot one of his five goals for the team
Karl Koller's career in the team ended when they failed to qualify for the 1966 World Cup. His last international match was on 5 September 1965 versus Hungary.

## International statistics

|National team|Year|Apps|Goals||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|rowspan="14"|Austria|1952|3|0|
|1953|3|0|||
|1954|10|0|||
|1955|6|0|||
|1956|7|1|||
|1957|8|1|||
|1958|8|1|||
|1959|6|0|||
|1960|6|0|||
|1961|4|0|||
|1962|8|0|||
|1963|7|0|||
|1964|5|0|||
|1965|5|1|||

- _Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gschweidl goal._

|scope="col"|No.|scope="col"|Date|scope="col"|Venue|scope="col"|Opponent|scope="col"|Score|scope="col"|Result|scope="col"|Competition|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1|17 June 1956|Dinamo-Stadion,  Zagreb, Yugoslavia||1-0|1-1|Gerö-Cup||||||||
|2|14 April 1957|Prater Stadion,  Vienna, Austria]||4-0|4-0|Gerö-Cup||||||||
|3|26 May 1857|Praterstadion ,  Vienna, Austria||1-2|3-2|1958 FIFA World Cup qualification||||||||
|4|15 June 1958|Ryavallen,    Borås, Sweden||1-0|2-2|1958 FIFA World Cup||||||||
|5|24 March 1965|Parc des Princes, Paris,  France||2-1|2-1|Friendly match||||||||

## Death

Koller died on 24 January 2009 as a result of his Alzheimer's disease.

## Infobox (football biography)

- **name**: Karl Koller
- **image**: Karl Koller (1964).jpg
- **caption**: Karl Koller in 1964 representing Austria
- **fullname**: Karl Koller
- **birth place**: Hölles, Austria
- **death place**: Baden bei Wien, Baden , Austria
- **position**: Midfielder (association football), Midfielder
- **youthyears1**: 1943–1945
- **youthclubs1**: ASK Blumau
- **years1**: 1945–1949
- **years2**: 1949–1966
- **clubs1**: ASK Blumau
- **clubs2**: First Vienna FC
- **caps1**: 422
- **caps2**: 414
- **goals1**: 62
- **goals2**: 39
- **totalcaps**: 836
- **totalgoals**: 101
- **nationalyears1**: 1952–1965
- **nationalteam1**: Austria national football team, Austria
- **nationalcaps1**: 86
- **nationalgoals1**: 5
- **manageryears1**: 1967
- **manageryears2**: 1968
- **managerclubs1**: SC Wiener Neustadt, 1. SC Wiener Neustadt
- **managerclubs2**: First Vienna FC