Heinrich Müller (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Heinrich "Wudi" Müller was an Austria
n football (soccer)
player and coach. In the early 1930s he was an albeit minor part of Austria's all conquering Wunderteam. As coach he defined the post-World War II glory period of FK Austria Wien
.
in Vienna
, Austria. With this club he won the 1931 Cup of Austria and made it all the way to the final of the Mitropa Cup
, both matches of which were lost against local rivals First Vienna FC
.
In 1935 the offensive midfielder moved to MTK Hungaria in Budapest
where he won, alongside players like Gusztáv Sebes
and Ferenc Sas
the Hungarian championships of 1936 and 1937. In June 1940 Müller returned to Vienna and joined FK Austria Wien
, initially as a player.
This includes two nominations for the famed Wunderteam, where he played under the management team Hugo Meisl
and Jimmy Hogan
alongside the legendary Matthias Sindelar
. In these matches, Austria defeated Italy
2-1 in March 1932 and Hungary
3-2 in October 1932
Most successful was his first period which reached from 1945 to 1954. Besides the three championships in the years 1949, 1950 and 1953 he also led the club to success in the Austrian Cup finals of 1948 and 1949. In the first three years at the helm of Austria he also played for league matches for the club.
In 1951, Austria undertook a nowadays legendary trip to South America. There the team around players like Ernst Ocwirk
, Ernst Stojaspal
and Lukas "Harry" Aurednik
defeated in the huge Maracanã Stadium of Rio de Janeiro
the Club Nacional from Montevideo
, Uruguay
, which had six World Cup winners from the tournament in the previous year in their line-up, with 4-0
Beginning with April 1953 Austrian players aged 30 and beyond became exempt from the ban to play abroad. Especially after the World Cup of 1954, this led to a hefty blood-letting for Austrian football. The club Austria itself lost several of its aces, most of the moving to France, thus the remarkable Austria of that era becoming part of the past.
Also "Wudi" Müller chose to leave. Thus, in 1956 he could be found leading the Dutch national football team to a 3-2 win in Switzerland.
In the later 1950s and early 1960s he could be found at the helm of the Dutch first division
side Willem II
in Tilburg
.
In December 1964, after a stint with AEK
in Athens, he returned to Austria trying to fill the gap left behind when Edi Frühwirt left the club. With Robert Sara, who should remain with the club for 21 years, Thomas Parits, and Hans "Buffy" Ettmayer the club had a number of promising talents in their roster.
Nevertheless, the club ended up seventh in the league and
Ernst Ocwirk
was placed as "sporting director" alongside Müller and replaced him fully by the end of the year.
In the 1971/72 season "Wudi" Müller made another comeback on the coaching bench of Austria, but this remained a venture as hapless as his previous one.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and coach. In the early 1930s he was an albeit minor part of Austria's all conquering Wunderteam. As coach he defined the post-World War II glory period of FK Austria Wien
FK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...
.
Club career
The trained shoemaker played from 1921 to 1935 for Wiener ACWiener AC
Wiener Athletiksport Club, also known as Wiener AC or WAC, is an Austrian sports club in Vienna. It is particularly noted for its hockey team, which was established in 1900....
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria. With this club he won the 1931 Cup of Austria and made it all the way to the final of the Mitropa Cup
Mitropa Cup
The Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides...
, both matches of which were lost against local rivals First Vienna FC
First Vienna FC
First Vienna FC is an Austrian association football club based in the Döbling district of Vienna. Established on 22 August 1894, it is the country's oldest team and has played a notable role in the history of the game there...
.
In 1935 the offensive midfielder moved to MTK Hungaria in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
where he won, alongside players like Gusztáv Sebes
Gusztáv Sebes
Gusztáv Sebes was a Hungarian footballer and coach. With the title of Deputy Minister of Sport, he coached the Hungarian team known as the Mighty Magyars in the 1950s. Among the players in the team were Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, József Bozsik, and Nándor Hidegkuti...
and Ferenc Sas
Ferenc Sas
Ferenc Sas - born as Ferenc Sohn, in Argentina known as Francisco "Sas" Sohn - was a Hungarian football player. With the Hungary he played in the final of the World Cup 1938...
the Hungarian championships of 1936 and 1937. In June 1940 Müller returned to Vienna and joined FK Austria Wien
FK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...
, initially as a player.
International career
In the early 1930s he was called five times to play for the Austrian national football team, for which he scored four goals.This includes two nominations for the famed Wunderteam, where he played under the management team Hugo Meisl
Hugo Meisl
Hugo Meisl , brother of the journalist Willy Meisl, was the multi-lingual football coach of the famous Austrian 'Wunderteam' of the early 1930s, as well as a referee.-Background:...
and Jimmy Hogan
Jimmy Hogan
James "Jimmy" Hogan was an English football player and coach of Irish descent...
alongside the legendary Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar was an Austrian footballer.He played centre-forward for the celebrated Austria national team of the early 1930s known as the Wunderteam, which he captained at the 1934 World Cup....
. In these matches, Austria defeated Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
2-1 in March 1932 and Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
3-2 in October 1932
Managerial career
As coach his name is primarily associated with FK Austria. Over three terms, which span the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s, he altogether was in charge there for about 12 years. To date he remains the longest serving coach of Austria.Most successful was his first period which reached from 1945 to 1954. Besides the three championships in the years 1949, 1950 and 1953 he also led the club to success in the Austrian Cup finals of 1948 and 1949. In the first three years at the helm of Austria he also played for league matches for the club.
In 1951, Austria undertook a nowadays legendary trip to South America. There the team around players like Ernst Ocwirk
Ernst Ocwirk
Ernst Ocwirk was an Austrian football player and coach. He is considered one of the greatest Austrian footballers of all time....
, Ernst Stojaspal
Ernst Stojaspal
Ernst Stojaspal was an Austrian football player. He was born in Vienna.-Club career:A prolific striker, the left-footed Stojaspal played for Austria Wien for 10 years, winning three league titles and 2 domestic cups. Also, he topped the final goalscoring charts 5 times...
and Lukas "Harry" Aurednik
Lukas Aurednik
Lukas "Harry" Aurednik was an Austrian footballer and football manager.He coached AEK Athens F.C., Pierikos F.C., 1...
defeated in the huge Maracanã Stadium of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
the Club Nacional from Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, which had six World Cup winners from the tournament in the previous year in their line-up, with 4-0
Beginning with April 1953 Austrian players aged 30 and beyond became exempt from the ban to play abroad. Especially after the World Cup of 1954, this led to a hefty blood-letting for Austrian football. The club Austria itself lost several of its aces, most of the moving to France, thus the remarkable Austria of that era becoming part of the past.
Also "Wudi" Müller chose to leave. Thus, in 1956 he could be found leading the Dutch national football team to a 3-2 win in Switzerland.
In the later 1950s and early 1960s he could be found at the helm of the Dutch first division
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
side Willem II
Willem II Tilburg
Willem II , also known as Willem II Tilburg, is a football club based in Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands. The team was founded on 12 August 1896 as Tilburgia...
in Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
.
In December 1964, after a stint with AEK
AEK
AEK may refer to:*Apple Extended Keyboard, a computer keyboard*Athletic Union of Constantinople, also known as AEK Athens, a sports club based in Athens, Greece*AEK Athens F.C., an association football club based in Athens, Greece...
in Athens, he returned to Austria trying to fill the gap left behind when Edi Frühwirt left the club. With Robert Sara, who should remain with the club for 21 years, Thomas Parits, and Hans "Buffy" Ettmayer the club had a number of promising talents in their roster.
Nevertheless, the club ended up seventh in the league and
Ernst Ocwirk
Ernst Ocwirk
Ernst Ocwirk was an Austrian football player and coach. He is considered one of the greatest Austrian footballers of all time....
was placed as "sporting director" alongside Müller and replaced him fully by the end of the year.
In the 1971/72 season "Wudi" Müller made another comeback on the coaching bench of Austria, but this remained a venture as hapless as his previous one.
Statistical Summaries
| Era | Club | Successes |
| 1971-1972 |  FK Austria WienFK Austria Wien Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA... | |
| 1964-1965 | FK Austria Wien | |
| 196X-1964 |  AEK Athens F.C. | |
| 1960-1961 |  Willem II TilburgWillem II Tilburg Willem II , also known as Willem II Tilburg, is a football club based in Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands. The team was founded on 12 August 1896 as Tilburgia... | |
| 1958-1959 | Willem II Tilburg | |
| 1956 | Netherlands | |
| 1946-1954 | FK Austria Wien | 1948 - Cup of Austria 1949 - Championship of Austria 1949 - Cup of Austria 1950 - Championship of Austria 1953 - Championship of Austria |
Record as Bondscoach of the Netherlands
| Era | P | W - D - L | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15/09/1956 | 1 |