1988-89 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.

In the 1988/89 championship, FC Tirol, coached by Ernst Happel, became Austrian football champions for the first time. SK Sturm Graz, SK Vorwärts Steyr, SV Austria Salzburg ,Kremser SC  were promoted from the intermediate play off for the 1989-90 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. Half of the points from the regular season were carried over to the championship playoffs.

Initial round table
Table mode (in case of equal points): 1. Goal difference ;Half of the points from the regular season were carried over to the championship playoffs.
Pl. Name M W D  L  P  1.FC Tirol 22 1534 332. Admira Wacker  22 135 4 313.FK Austria Wien  22 126 4304.VSE St. Pölten221057 255.SK Rapid Wien   22 104 8 24  6.First Vienna FC 22 610 622-37.Grazer AK   22 78 7 22-108.Wiener Sport-Club22 8410 209. SK Vorwärts Steyr   22 5891810.SK Austria Klagenfurt  22 56 11 1611.SK Sturm Graz  22 36 13 1212.LASK     22 35 14 11
Austria Soccer 

Champion play off table
Table mode (in case of equal points): 1. Goal difference 
Pl. Name M W D  L  P  1.FC Tirol  36 2475392. Admira Wacker  36 208 8 333.FK Austria Wien   36 1810 8314.SK Rapid Wien  36 177 12 295.First Vienna FC  36 1213 11 266.Wiener Sport-Club  36 136 17227.Grazer AK36 119 16 208.VSE St. Pölten36 1091717
Austria Soccer 

Matches initial round 
Austria Soccer 

Round 1
Date Team 1Team2  22 July 1988FK Austria Wien Linzer ASK 3-1 22 July 1988FC Tirol SK Sturm Graz1-0 22 July 1988 Grazer AKSK Austria Klagenfurt   3-4 22 July 1988VSE St. Pölten SK Rapid Wien 1-0 23 July 1988SK Vorwärts Steyr  First Vienna FC0-0 23 July 1988 Wiener Sport-Club   Admira Wacker0-2
Round 2
Date Team 1Team2  26 July 1988Admira Wacker   VSE St. Pölten 2-1 26 July 1988SK Austria Klagenfurt  SK Sturm Graz0-0 26 July 1988Linzer ASK  SK Vorwärts Steyr    1-3 26 July 1988SK Rapid Wien  FC Tirol1-0 26 July 1988First Vienna FCWiener Sport-Club 1-2 27 July 1988 Grazer AK  FK Austria Wien3-3
Round 3
Date Team 1Team2  29 July 1988SK Sturm Graz SK Rapid Wien 0-0 29 July 1988VSE St. Pölten First Vienna FC6-1 29 July 1988Wiener Sport-Club Linzer ASK    4-2 30 July 1988 FK Austria Wien SK Austria Klagenfurt  3-0 30  July 1988FC TirolAdmira Wacker2-0 30 July 1988 SK Vorwärts Steyr    Grazer AK0-0
Round 4
Date Team 1Team2  5 August 1988Admira WackerSK Sturm Graz 2-1 5 August 1988SK Austria Klagenfurt  SK Rapid Wien 1-4 5 August 1988Grazer AK Wiener Sport-Club  3-2 5 August 1988Linzer ASK VSE St. Pölten 1-2 6 August 1988First Vienna FCFC Tirol5-1 7 August 1988   FK Austria Wien   SK Vorwärts Steyr  3-1
Round 5
Date Team 1Team2  12 August 1988FC Tirol Linzer ASK 4-0 12 August 1988VSE St. Pölten Grazer AK 1-0 12 August 1988Wiener Sport-Club   FK Austria Wien  2-613 August 1988SK Rapid Wien Admira Wacker1-2 13 August 1988SK Sturm Graz  First Vienna FC1-1 Replay of the game that was cancelled on 12 August  due to rain.  13 August 1988 SK Vorwärts Steyr   SK Austria Klagenfurt   2-0
Round 6
Date Team 1Team2  19 August 1988SK Austria Klagenfurt   Admira Wacker 4-3 19 August 1988FK Austria WienVSE St. Pölten0-0 19 August 1988Linzer ASK SK Sturm Graz   2-120 August 1988Grazer AK  FC Tirol 0-3 20 August 1988First Vienna FCSK Rapid Wien2-2 20 August 1988  SK Vorwärts Steyr  Wiener Sport-Club 1-1
Round 7
Date Team 1Team2  23 August 1988Admira Wacker  First Vienna FC1-1 23 August 1988FC Tirol FK Austria Wien3-1 Due to an injury to Austria goalkeeper Wohlfahrt caused by a rocket from the fan block, the Tivoli Stadium was closed for one home game.  23 August 1988SK Rapid Wien Linzer ASK 3-123 August 1988SK Sturm Graz   Grazer AK 0-1 23 August 1988VSE St. PöltenSK Vorwärts Steyr 2-0 24 August 1988  Wiener Sport-Club  SK Austria Klagenfurt3-0
Round 8
Date Team 1Team2  26 August 1988SK Austria KlagenfurtFirst Vienna FC2-2 26 August 1988FK Austria WienSK Sturm Graz 3-1   26 August 1988Linzer ASK Admira Wacker   0-227 August 1988 Grazer AK SK Rapid Wien 3-1 27 August 1988SK Vorwärts Steyr FC Tirol 0-5 28 August 1988   Wiener Sport-Club   VSE St. Pölten2-4
Round 9
Date Team 1Team2  2 September 1988First Vienna FC Linzer ASK 2-1 3 September 1988FC Tirol Wiener Sport-Club  1-3 The game took place in Salzburg because the Tivoli Stadium was closed for one home match.  3 September 1988SK Rapid Wien FK Austria Wien    0-3 3 September 1988SK Sturm Graz   SK Vorwärts Steyr 0-0 3 September 1988VSE St. PöltenSK Austria Klagenfurt1-1 4 September 1988   Admira Wacker  Grazer AK  1-1
Round 10
Date Team 1Team2  9 September 1988SK Austria Klagenfurt Linzer ASK 0-2 10 September 1988FK Austria Wien    Admira Wacker  '''  
|4-2
|-
| 10 September 1988
|Grazer AK  
|First Vienna FC
| 0-0
|-
| 10 September 1988
|VSE St. Pölten
|FC Tirol |1-3
|-
| 10 September 1988
|SK Vorwärts Steyr 
|SK Rapid Wien 
|2-2
|-
| 11 September 1988
|  Wiener Sport-Club
|SK Sturm Graz'''   1-2
Round 11
Date Team 1Team2  16 September 1988FC Tirol SK Austria Klagenfurt  5-1 17 September 1988 Admira Wacker SK Vorwärts Steyr    1-0 17 September 1988 Linzer ASKGrazer AK  0-1 17 September 1988SK Rapid Wien  Wiener Sport-Club1-1 17 September 1988SK Sturm GrazVSE St. Pölten2-3 17 September 1988 First Vienna FCFK Austria Wien3-3
Round 12
Date Team 1Team2  23 September 1988SK Austria Klagenfurt  FC Tirol 0-1 23 September 1988VSE St. Pölten  SK Sturm Graz   1-0 23 September 1988Wiener Sport-Club SK Rapid Wien  0-3 24 September 1988FK Austria Wien First Vienna FC2-1 24 September 1988Grazer AK Linzer ASK2-0 24 September 1988 SK Vorwärts Steyr Admira Wacker0-0
Round 13
Date Team 1Team2  30 September 1988FC Tirol VSE St. Pölten4-2 30 September 1988SK Rapid Wien   SK Vorwärts Steyr 1-0 1 October 1988Admira WackerFK Austria Wien2-1 1 October 1988 Linzer ASKSK Austria Klagenfurt   1-1 1 October 1988SK Sturm Graz   Wiener Sport-Club 2-5 1 October 1988First Vienna FCGrazer AK 2-4
Round 14
Date Team 1Team2  27 September 1988FK Austria Wien  SK Rapid Wien 1-0 8 October 1988SK Austria Klagenfurt     VSE St. Pölten 4-1 8 October 1988Grazer AK Admira Wacker1-1 8 October 1988 Linzer ASKFirst Vienna FC1-1 8 October 1988SK Vorwärts Steyr SK Sturm Graz   0-0 8 October 1988Wiener Sport-Club FC Tirol 4-0
Round 15
Date Team 1Team2 11 October 1988Admira Wacker Linzer ASK3-1 11 October 1988FC Tirol  SK Vorwärts Steyr 3-011 October 1988SK Sturm GrazFK Austria Wien2-1 11 October 1988 VSE St. Pölten Wiener Sport-Club2-1 11 October 1988 First Vienna FC   SK Austria Klagenfurt   2-0 12 October 1988SK Rapid Wien  Grazer AK 4-0
Round 16
Date Team 1Team2 22 October 1988SK Austria Klagenfurt    Wiener Sport-Club4-1 22 October 1988FK Austria Wien FC Tirol2-222 October 1988Grazer AK SK Sturm Graz0-4 22 October 1988Linzer ASK  SK Rapid Wien  1-2 22 October 1988  First Vienna FC    Admira Wacker0-0 22 October 1988SK Vorwärts Steyr VSE St. Pölten2-0
Round 17
brought forward due to World Cup qualification match 
Date Team 1Team2 13 September  1988Admira Wacker    SK Austria Klagenfurt4-113 September  1988FC TirolGrazer AK 0-013 September  1988SK Rapid WienFirst Vienna FC  0-113 September  1988VSE St. PöltenFK Austria Wien  1- 114 September  1988  SK Sturm Graz   Linzer ASK  0-114 September  1988Wiener Sport-Club SK Vorwärts Steyr3-2
Round 18
Date Team 1Team2 5 November  1988Admira Wacker    SK Rapid Wien3-15 November  1988SK Austria KlagenfurtSK Vorwärts Steyr2-25 November  1988Grazer AK VSE St. Pölten 1-15 November  1988Linzer ASKFC Tirol1- 15 November  1988  First Vienna FC    SK Sturm Graz3-26 November  1988FK Austria Wien   Wiener Sport-Club4-0
Round 19
Date Team 1Team2 12 November  1988FC Tirol First Vienna FC2-012 November  1988SK Rapid WienSK Austria Klagenfurt3-112 November  1988SK Sturm Graz Admira Wacker   1-512 November  1988 VSE St. Pölten Linzer ASK1- 112 November  1988  SK Vorwärts Steyr    FK Austria Wien 2-113 November  1988Wiener Sport-ClubGrazer AK 0-0
Round 20
Date Team 1Team2 18 November  1988Grazer AK  SK Vorwärts Steyr3-119 November  1988Admira Wacker FC Tirol 3-419 November  1988SK Austria Klagenfurt  FK Austria Wien    0-319 November  1988Linzer ASKWiener Sport-Club1- 419 November  1988  SK Rapid Wien  SK Sturm Graz1-019 November  1988 First Vienna FC VSE St. Pölten 0-2
Round 21
Date Team 1Team2 26 November  1988 FK Austria Wien     Grazer AK6-026 November  1988FC Tirol SK Rapid Wien3-126 November  1988SK Sturm Graz SK Austria Klagenfurt0-026 November  1988VSE St. Pölten Admira Wacker    1- 427 November  1988  SK Vorwärts Steyr  Linzer ASK1-027 November  1988 Wiener Sport-Club First Vienna FC0-0
Round 22
Date Team 1Team2 3 December  1988Admira Wacker    Wiener Sport-Club 2-13 December  1988 SK Austria Klagenfurt Grazer AK 3-13 December  1988 Linzer ASK FK Austria Wien0-03 December  1988SK Rapid Wien  VSE St. Pölten4-03 December  1988  First Vienna FC SK Vorwärts Steyr3-24 December  1988 SK Sturm Graz FC Tirol0-2

Matches Champion play off 
Round 23
Date Team 1Team2  11 March 1989FK Austria WienAdmira Wacker  0-0 11 March 1989Grazer AK FC Tirol 0-1 11 March 1989VSE St. PöltenWiener Sport-Club0-2 11 March 1989First Vienna FCSK Rapid Wien0-5
Round 24
Date Team 1Team2  18 March 1989Admira Wacker  First Vienna FC0-2 18 March 1989FC TirolFK Austria Wien 2-0 18 March 1989SK Rapid WienVSE St. Pölten4-0 18 March 1989Wiener Sport-ClubGrazer AK 2-1
Round 25
Date Team 1Team2  27 March 1989First Vienna FC   VSE St. Pölten5-0 28 March 1989Admira WackerFC Tirol 2-0 28 March 1989FK Austria Wien  Wiener Sport-Club2-0 28 March 1989Grazer AK SK Rapid Wien0-0
Round 26
Date Team 1Team2  31 March 1989SK Rapid Wien FK Austria Wien0-0 31 March 1989VSE St. PöltenGrazer AK   0-1 1 April 1989FC TirolFirst Vienna FC1-1 1 April 1989Wiener Sport-ClubAdmira Wacker6-2
Round 27
Date Team 1Team2  7 April 1989FK Austria WienVSE St. Pölten2-0 8 April 1989Admira WackerSK Rapid Wien  3-2 8 April 1989FC TirolWiener Sport-Club2-1 8 April 1989First Vienna FCGrazer AK6-2
Round 28
Date Team 1Team2  14 April 1989VSE St. PöltenAdmira Wacker1-1 14 April 1989Wiener Sport-ClubFirst Vienna FC 2-2 15 April 1989Grazer AKFK Austria Wien1-2 15 April 1989SK Rapid Wien FC Tirol2-3
Round 29
Date Team 1Team2  21 April 1989FK Austria WienFirst Vienna FC2-1 21 April 1989FC TirolVSE St. Pölten 3-2 22 April 1989Admira WackerGrazer AK5-0 22 April 1989Wiener Sport-ClubSK Rapid Wien 0-3
Round 30
Date Team 1Team2  28 April 1989VSE St. Pölten FC Tirol0-0 29 April 1989 Grazer AKAdmira Wacker 1-2 29 April 1989First Vienna FCFK Austria Wien3-2 30 April 1989SK Rapid WienWiener Sport-Club 1-1 Replay of the match that was cancelled due to rain on 28 April. 
Round 31
Date Team 1Team2  5 May 1989FC TirolGrazer AK4-1 5 May 1989 SK Rapid WienFirst Vienna FC 5-1 7 May 1989 Admira WackerFK Austria Wien4-1 7 May 1989Wiener Sport-Club VSE St. Pölten 2-0
Round 32
Date Team 1Team2  12 May 1989 FK Austria WienFC Tirol1-1 12 May 1989Grazer AK Wiener Sport-Club 2-0 12 May 1989VSE St. Pölten   SK Rapid Wien1-2 13 May 1989First Vienna FC Admira Wacker3-1
Round 33
Date Team 1Team2  26 May 1989FC Tirol Admira Wacker2-2 26 May 1989SK Rapid WienGrazer AK 3-0 26 May 1989VSE St. Pölten   First Vienna FC2-2 27 May 1989Wiener Sport-Club FK Austria Wien3-1
Round 34
Date Team 1Team2  2 June 1989Admira WackerWiener Sport-Club3-1 2 June 1989First Vienna FC FC Tirol  0-4 3 June 1989FK Austria WienSK Rapid Wien2-1 4 June 1989Grazer AK VSE St. Pölten   2-0
Round 35
Date Team 1Team2  6 June 1989Grazer AK First Vienna FC 1-0 6 June 1989SK Rapid WienAdmira Wacker  1-2 6 June 1989 VSE St. Pölten  FK Austria Wien1-1 7 June 1989Wiener Sport-Club FC Tirol 0-3
Round 36
Date Team 1Team2  9 June 1989Admira Wacker  VSE St. Pölten  7-3 9 June 1989FK Austria WienGrazer AK 5-0 9 June 1989 FC TirolSK Rapid Wien1-3 9 June 1989First Vienna FC  Wiener Sport-Club5-0

 Champion squad
(matches/goals)
 FC Tirol   
Klaus Lindenberger (36) – Bruno Pezzey (26/3), Michael Streiter (31), Robert Wazinger (18/1), Kurt Garger (34/3), Leopold Lainer (32/7), Manfred Linzmaier (32/7), Heinz Peischl (30/1), Rupert Marko (12/3), Peter Hrstic (11/1), Hansi Müller (35/5), Alfred Hörtnagl (20/4), Werner Löberbauer (28/1), Manfred Schneider (18), Christoph Westerthaler (35/13), Peter Pacult (36/26), Alfred Jirausek (1), Ivica Kalinić (2/1), Andreas Spielmann (3) – Coach: Ernst Happel
Austria Soccer

Top scorer
 Name Club Goals    Peter PacultFC Tirol26     Walter KnallerAdmira Wacker25    Jose Percudani FK Austria Wien23
Austria Soccer

References and notes 

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