Marcel Koller

Football Legend

The Austria Years: How Koller Built a Golden Generation

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careerMarch 10, 20245 min readEuropean Football Magazine

Between 2011 and 2017, Marcel Koller achieved what many thought impossible: he turned Austria into a competitive international football nation.

When Koller took over, Austria was ranked 70th in the FIFA rankings. By 2015, they had climbed to an unprecedented 10th place – their highest position ever.

Building the Foundation Koller's first task was instilling belief in a group of talented but underachieving players. He brought discipline, organization, and a winning mentality to the squad.

The Qualifying Campaign Austria's Euro 2016 qualifying campaign was nothing short of remarkable. The team won 9 of their 10 matches, including victories over Russia and Sweden.

Key Players Koller developed several players who would become household names: - David Alaba (Bayern Munich) - Martin Harnik - Marc Janko - Marko Arnautovic

The Legacy Although Austria's Euro 2016 tournament didn't go as planned, Koller's impact on Austrian football cannot be overstated. He created a blueprint for success that influenced the next generation of coaches and players.

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