Herbert Gager

**Herbert Gager** (born 18 September  1969, in Vienna) is a former Austrian football player and current football coach. 
## Career 
After progressing through all the youth levels at SK Rapid Wien, Gager received a professional contract in 1987 at the age of 18. He made his first league appearance in a 2-2 draw against SK Vorwärts Steyr on 10 September 1988. Gager was substituted on for Reinhard Kienast by coach Otto Barić in the 64th minute. 

In the summer of 1992, Gager's contract with SK Rapid was not renewed. He moved to FC Linz. After just one season, he was signed by VfB Mödling, where he also only stayed for one season . Then he went  FC Admira Wacker. He played successfully there. His performances were so impressive that in 1996 he was signed by FK Austria Wien. After stints at Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz and SC Untersiebenbrunn he moved to the Greek club Skoda Xanthi. Skoda Xanthi qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time in the club's history in 2002.  Although Gager was offered a contract extension, he went back to Austria. With his child starting school, he declined the offer and ended his professional career. 

Gager ended his active career in the amateur ranks at FK Hollabrunn and SV Draßmarkt. Even in his football "retirement," Gager can't stay away from the sport. He's actively involved and successful in futsal with Stella Rossa tipp3.

## International 
On 3 October 1989, he made his debut for the Under-21 national team in a friendly against Poland (0-0)  Two years later, he made his first appearance for the senior national team in a 1-2 defeat to Northern Ireland on 16 October 1991.   Gager's international career lasted less than six months. On 29 April 1992, he was substituted by Michael Baur in the 46th minute of a 1-1 draw against Wales and was never called up again.
## Manager 
A factor in the end of Gager's professional career was also his offer as a youth coach at the Frank Stronach Academy, which allowed him to begin his coaching career. There, Gager worked his way up from the U-14 team to the U-19 team.

As coach of the youth teams at FK Austria Wien, Gager was also instrumental in the development of David Alaba and Aleksandar Dragović. Under Gager's guidance they made the jump to the reserve team in the First League. After the coach of FK Austria Wien's second team , Thomas Janeschitz, left for the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB), Gager was offered the position. The team played its championship matches in the Regionalliga Ost (third division). 2014 he became coach of the first team.

But his contract was not renewed. He accepted an offer from second-division side SKN St. Pölten after their coach, Gerald Baumgartner, moved to the head coach position at Austria Wien. On July 24, 2014, Herbert Gager achieved the greatest success in St. Pölten's club history with a 2-0 home victory against Botev Plovdiv in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. Things didn't go as well for SKN St. Pölten in the league. After just 13 rounds, Herbert Gager was dismissed as St. Pölten's coach in October 2014.

After working for  USC Pilgersdorf, SC Mannsdorf and SC Team Wiener Linien he became coach of Favoritner AC in 2025.

## References