1987-88 Austrian football championship

The 1987-88 Austrian football championship  was organized by the Austrian Football Association The top-flight First Division and the second-tier Second Division were merged this season through a playoff format. The third tier consisted of the Regionalliga East (Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland) and West (Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg), as well as the regional leagues of Carinthia, Upper Austria and Styria.

SK Rapid Wien became  Austrian football champion for the 29th time this season. Rapid entered the championship playoffs with an eight-point lead over  FK Austria Wien. They secured the title four rounds before the season ended. Rapid, however, lost three of the four derbies against Austria. In the whole season they lost only four matches.

Linzer ASK, SK Austria Klagenfurt , VSE St. Pölten , SK Vorwärts Steyr were promoted from the intermediate play off for the 1988-89 season.
Mode 
The championship in the 1st and 2nd Divisions was initially contested in the fall with 12 teams. Each team initially played 22 matches. The teams were then divided into the Champion play off (1st to 8th in the 1st Division), the Intermediate play off  (9th to 12th in the 1st Division and 1st to 4th in the 2nd Division) and the Relegation play off (5th to 12th in the 2nd Division) for the spring championship. This meant that the Masters Playoff determined the champions and European Cup berths, the Intermediate play off determined promotions and relegations between the 1st and 2nd Divisions.  Relegation Playoff determined teams relegated to the regional and state leagues. Games, goals, and points were carried over into the spring for the Masters and Relegation Playoffs.
Initial round table
Table mode (in case of equal points): 1. Goal difference 
Pl. Name M W D  L  P  1.SK Rapid Wien   22 1561 362.FK Austria Wien  22 116 5 28 3.Grazer AK   22 107 5274. Admira Wacker  221138 25+215.FC Tirol 22 89 5 25 +46.SK Sturm Graz  22 96 7247.First Vienna FC 22 111 10 238.Wiener Sport-Club22 6106 229. VOEST Linz   22 75101910.LASK   22 45 13 1311.SK Austria Klagenfurt  22 44 14 1212. VFB Mödling22 26 14 10
Austria Soccer 

Champion play off table
Table mode (in case of equal points): 1. Goal difference 
Pl. Name M W D  L  P  1.SK Rapid Wien   36 22104542.FK Austria Wien  36 198 9 463.SK Sturm Graz 36 1512 9424.First Vienna FC  36 183 15 395. Admira Wacker  36 166 14 386.FC Tirol 36 1115 10377.Grazer AK36 1113 12 358.Wiener Sport-Club  36 91314 31
Austria Soccer 

Matches initial round 
Austria Soccer 

Round 1
Date Team 1Team2  21 July 1987Admira WackerSK Sturm Graz 0-1 21 July 1987 Grazer AKFC Tirol 2-0 21 July 1987Linzer ASK FK Austria Wien2-1 21 July 1987 SK Rapid WienVOEST Linz2-1 21 July 1987VfB MödlingWiener Sport-Club 1-1 21 July 1987 First Vienna FC  SK Austria Klagenfurt  3-0
Round 2
Date Team 1Team2  24 July 1987Admira WackerVfB Mödling 3-3 24 July 1987 SK Austria Klagenfurt  Grazer AK 2-3 24 July 1987SK Sturm Graz FC Tirol2-2 24 July 1987VOEST LinzLinzer ASK1-1 24 July 1987Wiener Sport-Club  SK Rapid Wien1-3 26 July 1987 FK Austria Wien First Vienna FC 7-0
Round 3
Date Team 1Team2  31 July 1987FC Tirol SK Austria Klagenfurt  1-0 31 July 1987Grazer AKFK Austria Wien1-1 31 July 1987Linzer ASKWiener Sport-Club 1-1 31 July 1987 SK Rapid WienAdmira Wacker3-2 1 August 1987VfB Mödling SK Sturm Graz 2-2 1 August 1987First Vienna FC    VOEST Linz0-3
Round 4
Date Team 1Team2  4 August 1987FK Austria WienFC Tirol 3-0 4 August 1987VOEST LinzGrazer AK1-1 4 August 1987Wiener Sport-Club First Vienna FC  1-5 5 August 1987Admira Wacker Linzer ASK2-0 5 August 1987SK Sturm Graz SK Austria Klagenfurt  4-0 5 August 1987 VfB Mödling  SK Rapid Wien 0-3
Round 5
Date Team 1Team2  7 August 1987SK Austria Klagenfurt   FK Austria Wien0-0 7 August 1987Grazer AKWiener Sport-Club 2-2 7 August 1987Linzer ASK VfB Mödling  1-1 7 August 1987 SK Rapid Wien SK Sturm Graz2-0 8 August 1987FC Tirol  VOEST Linz3-1 8 August 1987First Vienna FCAdmira Wacker 2-4
Round 6
Date Team 1Team2  14 August 1987 SK Rapid Wien Linzer ASK3-1 14 August 1987SK Sturm Graz FK Austria Wien3-4 14 August 1987VOEST LinzSK Austria Klagenfurt   1-0 15 August 1987Admira Wacker Grazer AK3-0 15 August 1987 VfB Mödling   First Vienna FC2-3 15 August 1987Wiener Sport-Club FC Tirol 2-2
Round 7
Date Team 1Team2  21 August 1987SK Austria Klagenfurt   Wiener Sport-Club 1-3 21 August 1987Grazer AKVfB Mödling   1-0 21 August 1987Linzer ASK SK Sturm Graz 1-3 22 August 1987 FC Tirol Admira Wacker1-1 22 August 1987 First Vienna FC  SK Rapid Wien 1-2 23 August 1987FK Austria WienVOEST Linz5-2
Round 8
Date Team 1Team2  28 August 1987Admira WackerSK Austria Klagenfurt    6-2 28 August 1987Linzer ASK  First Vienna FC0-4 28 August 1987VfB Mödling    FC Tirol  1-3 29 August 1987 SK Rapid Wien Grazer AK4-0 29 August 1987 SK Sturm Graz VOEST Linz2-2 29 August 1987 Wiener Sport-ClubFK Austria Wien1-1
Round 9
Date Team 1Team2  1 September 1987SK Austria Klagenfurt     VfB Mödling  2-1 1 September 1987FK Austria WienAdmira Wacker 3-2 1 September 1987 FC TirolSK Rapid Wien  3-3 1 September 1987 Grazer AK Linzer ASK  2-1 1 September 1987VOEST Linz Wiener Sport-Club4-1 1 September 1987 First Vienna FC SK Sturm Graz0-1
Round 10
Date Team 1Team2  4 September 1987Admira Wacker  VOEST Linz2-0 4 September 1987Linzer ASK FC Tirol0-2 4 September 1987 SK Rapid Wien  SK Austria Klagenfurt3-0 4 September 1987VfB Mödling     FK Austria Wien3-3 5 September 1987SK Sturm Graz  Wiener Sport-Club2-2 5 September 1987 First Vienna FC  Grazer AK2-1
Round 11
Date Team 1Team2  11 September 1987FK Austria Wien SK Rapid Wien1-2 11 September 1987FC TirolFirst Vienna FC4-1 11 September 1987 VOEST LinzVfB Mödling    3-2 12 September 1987 SK Austria Klagenfurt  Linzer ASK 2-1 12 September 1987Grazer AKSK Sturm Graz  3-0 13 September 1987 Wiener Sport-Club  Admira Wacker3-2
Round 12
Date Team 1Team2  15 September 1987SK Austria KlagenfurtFirst Vienna FC0-5 18 September 1987VOEST Linz SK Rapid Wien1-1 19 September 1987 FK Austria Wien Linzer ASK 2-0 19 September 1987FC Tirol    Grazer AK2-2 19 September 1987SK Sturm Graz  Admira Wacker3-1 19 September 1987 Wiener Sport-Club  VfB Mödling    2-1
Round 13
Date Team 1Team2  25 September 1987Linzer ASK VOEST Linz  2-1 25 September 1987VfB Mödling    Admira Wacker2-5 26 September 1987FC Tirol    SK Sturm Graz3-0 26 September 1987Grazer AKSK Austria Klagenfurt  2-0 26 September 1987 SK Rapid WienWiener Sport-Club3-3 26 September 1987 First Vienna FC  FK Austria Wien 1-1
Round 14
Date Team 1Team2  3 October 1987Admira Wacker  SK Rapid Wien1-2 3 October 1987 VOEST Linz     First Vienna FC3-1 3 October 1987SK Austria Klagenfurt      FC Tirol3-1 3 October 1987SK Sturm GrazVfB Mödling 1-0 3 October 1987Wiener Sport-ClubLinzer ASK4-0 4 October 1987 FK Austria Wien Grazer AK  0-2
Round 15
Date Team 1Team2  10 October 1987SK Austria KlagenfurtSK Sturm Graz 0-1 10 October 1987FC Tirol  FK Austria Wien  1-0 10 October 1987Grazer AK   VOEST Linz3-1 10 October 1987Linzer ASKAdmira Wacker 0-4 10 October 1987SK Rapid Wien   VfB Mödling 5-1 10 October 1987 First Vienna FCWiener Sport-Club2-0
Round 16
Date Team 1Team2  16 October 1987VOEST LinzFC Tirol 1-1 16 October 1987Wiener Sport-Club Grazer AK1-1 17 October 1987Admira Wacker  First Vienna FC2-0 17 October 1987SK Sturm GrazSK Rapid Wien   0-2 17 October 1987VfB Mödling Linzer ASK3-2 18 October 1987 FK Austria Wien  SK Austria Klagenfurt2-0
Round 17
Date Team 1Team2  23 October 1987First Vienna FCVfB Mödling3-1 24 October 1987SK Austria KlagenfurtVOEST Linz2-1 24 October 1987FC Tirol  Wiener Sport-Club 1-1 24 October 1987Grazer AKAdmira Wacker1-0 24 October 1987Linzer ASKSK Rapid Wien   1-3 25 October 1987 FK Austria Wien  SK Sturm Graz2-0
Round 18
Date Team 1Team2  30 October 1987SK Rapid Wien   First Vienna FC3-1 30 October 1987Wiener Sport-Club SK Austria Klagenfurt2-0 31 October 1987Admira WackerFC Tirol  3-1 31 October 1987SK Sturm GrazLinzer ASK1-3 31 October 1987VOEST Linz FK Austria Wien  1-3 31 October 1987VfB MödlingGrazer AK1-2
Round 19
Date Team 1Team2  7 November 1987SK Austria Klagenfurt Admira Wacker0-0 7 November 1987FK Austria Wien  Wiener Sport-Club5-1 7 November 1987FC Tirol  VfB Mödling2-1 7 November 1987Grazer AKSK Rapid Wien 1-1 7 November 1987VOEST Linz SK Sturm Graz0-3 7 November 1987First Vienna FCLinzer ASK 3-2
Round 20
Date Team 1Team2  13 November 1987Wiener Sport-ClubVOEST Linz4-2 14 November 1987Linzer ASK  Grazer AK2-1 14 November 1987 SK Rapid Wien FC Tirol 0-0 15 November 1987Admira WackerFK Austria Wien3-1 15 November 1987SK Sturm Graz First Vienna FC2-1 15 November 1987VfB MödlingSK Austria Klagenfurt 2-1
Round 21
Date Team 1Team2  21 November 1987SK Austria Klagenfurt  SK Rapid Wien 1-1 21 November 1987 FC Tirol Linzer ASK0-0 21 November 1987 Grazer AKFirst Vienna FC0-4 21 November 1987VOEST Linz Admira Wacker1-0 21 November 1987Wiener Sport-Club SK Sturm Graz1-1 22 November 1987FK Austria WienVfB Mödling0-0
Round 22
Date Team 1Team2  28 November 1987Linzer ASKSK Austria Klagenfurt  0-0 28 November 1987SK Rapid Wien FK Austria Wien1-2 28 November 1987SK Sturm Graz Grazer AK1-1 28 November 1987First Vienna FC  FC Tirol 3-1 29 November 1987Admira Wacker Wiener Sport-Club6-2 29 November 1987VfB MödlingVOEST Linz 1-6

Matches Champion play off 
Round 23
Date Team 1Team2  12 March 1988FC TirolAdmira Wacker  1-0 12 March 1988SK Sturm Graz First Vienna FC 1-1 13 March 1988FK Austria Wien  Grazer AK5-1 23 March 1988Wiener Sport-ClubSK rapid Wien0-0
Round 24
Date Team 1Team2  19 March 1988Admira Wacker   FK Austria Wien3-1 19 March 1988Grazer AKWiener Sport-Club2-2 19 March 1988SK Rapid Wien SK Sturm Graz 1-1 19 March 1988First Vienna FCFC Tirol3-0
Round 25
Date Team 1Team2  26 March 1988FK Austria Wien First Vienna FC1-2 26 March 1988FC TirolSK Rapid Wien 0-0 26 March 1988Grazer AKAdmira Wacker4-1 27 March 1988Wiener Sport-ClubSK Sturm Graz 1-2
Round 26
Date Team 1Team2  1 April 1988Admira WackerWiener Sport-Club1-0 1 April 1988First Vienna FCGrazer AK2-1 2 April 1988FK Austria Wien SK Rapid Wien 4-2 2 April 1988SK Sturm Graz FC Tirol2-0
Round 27
Date Team 1Team2  8 April 1988Wiener Sport-Club  FC Tirol5-3 9 April 1988Admira WackerFirst Vienna FC4-29 April 1988Grazer AKSK Rapid Wien 0-0 10 April 1988FK Austria Wien SK Sturm Graz5-1
Round 28
Date Team 1Team2  15 April 1988SK Rapid Wien  Admira Wacker2-1 16 April 1988FC TirolFK Austria Wien2-116 April 1988SK Sturm GrazGrazer AK5-2 16 April 1988First Vienna FC Wiener Sport-Club3-0
Round 29
Date Team 1Team2  22 April 1988Admira WackerSK Sturm Graz0-0 23 April 1988Grazer AK FC Tirol0-023 April 1988First Vienna FC SK Rapid Wien  1-324 April 1988 FK Austria WienWiener Sport-Club2-0
Round 30
Date Team 1Team2  29 April 1988SK Rapid Wien  First Vienna FC 3-1 29 April 1988SK Sturm GrazAdmira Wacker2-030 April 1988FC TirolGrazer AK 0-030 April 1988Wiener Sport-Club FK Austria Wien1-6
Round 31
Date Team 1Team2  6 May 1988SK Rapid Wien  Wiener Sport-Club3-0 7 May 1988Admira WackerFC Tirol1-17 May 1988Grazer AK  FK Austria Wien1-27 May 1988First Vienna FC SK Sturm Graz1-4
Round 32
Date Team 1Team2  14 May 1988FK Austria Wien Admira Wacker2-2 14 May 1988FC TirolFirst Vienna FC 0-1 14 May 1988SK Sturm GrazSK Rapid Wien2-1 14 May 1988Wiener Sport-ClubGrazer AK 8-2
Round 33
Date Team 1Team2  20 May 1988SK Rapid Wien FC Tirol4-2 21 May 1988Admira WackerGrazer AK2-0 21 May 1988 SK Sturm Graz Wiener Sport-Club1-1 21 May 1988First Vienna FC    FK Austria Wien 2-0
Round 34
Date Team 1Team2  27 May 1988SK Rapid WienFK Austria Wien2-4 28 May 1988 FC TirolSK Sturm Graz 0-0 28 May 1988 Grazer AKFirst Vienna FC2-2 28 May 1988Wiener Sport-Club   Admira Wacker1-4
Round 35
Date Team 1Team2  3 June 1988Admira WackerSK Rapid Wien 1-2 4 June 1988FK Austria Wien FC Tirol1-1 4 June 1988 Grazer AKSK Sturm Graz 1-1 4 June 1988Wiener Sport-Club  First Vienna FC5-0
Round 36
Date Team 1Team2  7 June 1988FC TirolWiener Sport-Club  2-0 7 June 1988SK Rapid Wien Grazer AK6-1 7 June 1988SK Sturm Graz  FK Austria Wien 0-2 7 June 1988First Vienna FCAdmira Wacker3-2

 Champion squad
 SK Rapid Wien   
Michael Konsel, Herbert Feurer – Heribert Weber (C), Kurt Garger, Franz Weber, Robert Pecl – Reinhard Kienast, Andreas Heraf, Andreas Herzog, Karl Brauneder, Rudolf Weinhofer, Peter Schöttel, Peter Hrstic, Leo Lainer, Gerald Willfurth – Zlatko Kranjčar, Sulejman Halilović, Sergej Schawlo, Franz Blizenec, Peter Wurz, Zoran Stojadinović – Trainer: Otto Barić
Austria Soccer

Top scorer
 Name Club Goals    Zoran Stojadinovic SK Rapid Wien 27     Walter KnallerAdmira Wacker26    Harald Krämer  SK Sturm Graz 20
Austria Soccer

References and notes 

Category:Football in Austria
Category:Football seasons
Category:1980s in Austrian sport