Austria Vienna

Ripped by financial struggles Austria looked in huge trouble numerous times this season, but somehow they found a way to defy the odds and achieve unlikely qualification for Europe with the team’s best displays offered in the last 2 months of the campaign. In huge financial hole Austria couldn’t sign any of the players targeted last summer and they had to work with what they’ve got + a few loanees. This led to slow start to the campaign (W2 D5 D5) and, even before Christmas came, it was obvious that the Violets would find it hard to make the top 6. The positive from the difficult financial situation was that many youngsters had the chance to shine. All of Pichler, Wimmer, Fitz and Jukic had breakthrough seasons, with relatively young (24) Sarkaria the best of the lot as he established as one of the most creative playmakers in the entire league. Still, back-to-back defeats to end the regular season resulted in bottom half finish and place in Play-off II. There Austria finally found reliable goalscorer in Djuricin, Monschein’s form was awful most of the season, and this saw them going unbeaten at home in the play-offs (W3 D2). This enough for second place, which normally would have ended the campaign but with the creation of the new European competition Austria still stood a chance. The Violets played arguably their best game of the campaign in the one-match shootout vs. Hartberg when 3:0 away win was secured to force play-off tie vs. Wolfsberger. A few days later another 3:0 win was achieved at home vs. the Wolves and this proved decisive for Austria stealing the last available European visa. With manager and many star players leaving in the summer + fact that the financial situation remains critical Austria are very likely to have mainly youths playing next season.

Player of the Season: Manprit Sarkaria