Kleer calls for patience: Vienna wants to strike again in the derby against FAC!

Kleer calls for patience: Vienna wants to strike again in the derby against FAC!

First Vienna FC 1894, Austria's oldest football club, faces a decisive duel in the small Vienna derby against Floridsdorfer Athletiksport-Club. Under the leadership of new head coach Hans Kleer, who recently returned to the club he loves from ASKÖ Oedt, it will be important for the team to assert itself against its rivals. Kleer has only picked up one point in his first two games, which is already making the situation tense. However, on September 28, 2023, Vienna was able to record the first complete success of his term in office with a 3-0 win against Kapfenberg. The pressure on the players is high, not only because the fans are tense, but also because the sporting director Andreas Ivanschitz has made promotion to the Bundesliga a clear goal.

The defense has stabilized under Kleer, especially after switching to a three-man defense in the 2-0 defeat against Klagenfurt. However, the offensive remains a weak point - Vienna has only scored three goals in the last five championship games. Another bitter setback is the loss of striker Marco Djuricin, who will not be available until after the international break due to a torn ankle ligament. Despite these challenges, Kleer firmly believes in the championship chances, although Vienna is currently in 7th place with 12 points, while St. Pölten is at the top with 22 points. “We have to concentrate on our own performance and ignore the objectives,” is his credo in this affected phase.

A look into the club's history

First Vienna FC was founded on August 22, 1894 in Döbling and is actually the oldest football club in Austria. The club's colors of blue and yellow are reminiscent of the Rothschilds' racing uniforms, and the Triskelion logo was designed by Manx player William Beale. In its early years the club enjoyed great success, including winning the Challenge Cup in 1899 and 1900, one of the first international tournaments in Central Europe. The club was particularly able to demonstrate its strength in the 1920s and 1930s by, among other things, winning the Austrian championship in 1931 and 1933.

However, in the decades that followed there were numerous ups and downs, including relegations and financial difficulties, which led to a decline in performance. After the sponsor's bankruptcy in 2017, the club fell to the fifth division and has since slowly fought its way back into the higher leagues. In 2019, the club became champions of the 2nd Regional League Vienna and was promoted to the Regionalliga East in 2021.

Current challenges and opportunities

The current situation presents the club with new challenges. The mood among the fans is currently rather negative, which Hans Kleer can understand. His goal of delivering timely success is even more important given the injuries and lack of goals. Vienna has to survive against the FAC as an unpleasant opponent and shows that it can reflect on its heritage and strengths despite the current difficulties.

The upcoming encounter not only represents a sporting challenge, but could also set the course for the future of the club. With a good result, the frustration of the last few weeks could have disappeared and provide new motivation for the tasks ahead. Kleer hopes that the fans will continue to show him and the team the patience they need. “There is still a lot up to us, but we can turn things around,” said the coach hopefully.