FK Austria Wien: the historic Austrian football club ready to wear Macron
Starting next season, Macron will be the new technical sponsor of FK Austria Wien, the most successful club in Austrian football history. A new multi-year partnership agreement with the Veilchen (the Violets) will cover the supply of technical sportswear to the first team, youth team and women’s team, plus a line of exclusive merchandise for supporters.
Austria Wien was officially formed in 1911, though its roots go back to the late 1800s when it was part of the Viennese cricket club. Austria Wien shares with local rivals SK Rapid the enviable record of never having been relegated from the country’s top division. The famous Vienna Derby is the second most frequently played in the history of European football, behind only the legendary Scottish Old Firm of Celtic and Rangers. The club’s collection of prestigious trophies includes 24 Austrian Championships, 27 Austrian Cups and 6 Austrian Supercups. In European competitions, in which it is a frequent participant, the club boasts one final in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977-1978 and, one year later, a semi-final in the predecessor competition of the UEFA Champions League.
In the club’s history many star players have worn the colours of Austria Wien, two of the most iconic being Matthias Sindelar and Herbert Prohaska. Sindelar captained the Austrian national side that so enchanted Europe and the world in the 1930s that it won the nickname of Wunderteam. Prohaska was elected footballer of the 20th century both at the club Austria Wien and in the whole of Austria. In the 80’s he played for AS Roma and FC Inter Milan as well.
The agreement between Macron and FK Austria Wien brings together the quality and design capacity of one of the world’s leading names in sportswear and one of the proudest teams in Austrian football. Collaboration between the two partners will lead to the creation of unique and exclusive match kits, sportswear and merchandising, representing the identity of the club and the sense of belonging felt by its many supporters.
“Having Austria Wien among the clubs that wear the Macron Hero allows us to make a very important step into the historic world of Austrian football,” declares Gianluca Pavanello, Macron’s CEO. “This is a history we look forward to paying homage to in a shared project based on exclusive technology and style. Our objective in this new collaboration is to convey the colours, symbols and traditions of the club and the passion felt by its supporters. We shall be expressing this heritage of emotions and belonging through the players’ kits on the pitch and the fans’ shirts on the terraces.”
Harald Zagiczek, CEO of Austria Wien said: “Macron have stood out from the beginning of the process with their ability to create unique designs. The aim of the partnership is to make a bold appearance while conveying the history and values of Austria Wien in the joint products. The first few months together were characterized by mutual appreciation and inspiration. The fact that Macron was personally present at the members' party shows how much they already identify with Austria Wien - this creates an excitement for what is to come in the next few years - to a long-term and successful partnership.”