Top Goal Scorers For Austria Football Team All-Time: Austria may not be known as a top football nation, but it has produced some great football players over the years. We want to find out who are the top goal scorers for the Austria football team.
After World War II, Austria’s national team re-emerged and did well at the 1954 World Cup, finishing third. But then, there was a long period without notable football success. In 1978, at the World Cup in Argentina, Austria made it to the quarter-finals and even beat the reigning world champions, Germany, which became known as the Miracle of Córdoba.
Austria last played in a World Cup in 1998, and they qualified for the 2008 European Championships as the host country.
Top Goal Scorers For Austria Football Team All-Time
Now, let’s talk about the top goal scorers for the Austria football team.
1. Anton Polster
- Career Span: 1982–2000
- Matches: 95
- Goals: 44
- Average: 0.46
Anton Polster is the top goal scorer for the Austria football team. From 1982 to 2000, he played 95 matches for the Austrian national team, scoring 44 goals. This makes him the 5th highest appearance maker for Austria.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Polster was named Sportsman of the Year in Austria in 1997 and was also awarded Footballer of the Year for the second time, the first being in 1986.
2. Marko Arnautović
- Career Span: 2009–present
- Matches: 110
- Goals: 36
- Average: 0.33
Marko Arnautović is the second-highest goal scorer for the Austria football team. Despite some setbacks, Arnautović was seen as a promising talent for the Austrian national team. He was part of the Austrian squad in the 2016 European Football Championship and the 2021 European Championship.
On June 6, 2022, Arnautović played his 100th international match in a UEFA Nations League game against Denmark. He equaled Andreas Herzog’s international record with his 103rd match on September 22, 2022, and eventually became Austria’s all-time leading appearance-maker with his 111th match. In these 110 matches, he scored a total of 36 goals for Austria.
3. Johann Krankl
- Career Span: 1973–1985
- Matches: 69
- Goals: 34
- Average: 0.49
Johann Krankl is the third-highest goal scorer for the Austria football team. He made his debut in June 1973 in a friendly match against Brazil and played in the 1978 and 1982 World Cups. Throughout his international career, Krankl earned 69 caps and scored 34 goals. During the 1978-79 season of the Spanish Primera División, Krankl was the top goalscorer for Barcelona with 29 goals and was awarded the Pichichi Trophy.
He played a crucial role in Austria’s historic victory against West Germany in a match known as The Miracle of Córdoba. Krankl scored the winning goal in the 88th minute, securing Austria’s first win against West Germany in 47 years. This moment made him a legend in his homeland, and the audio commentary from the goal is still widely recognized by Austrian football fans.
4. Johann Horvath
- Career Span: 1924–1934
- Matches: 46
- Goals: 29
- Average: 0.63
Johann Horvath is the fourth-highest goal scorer for Austria. He was a key player for the national team, scoring hat-tricks against Bulgaria in 1924, Sweden in 1925, and Switzerland in 1926. His impressive performances attracted attention, and in 1927, he moved to Rapid in Hütteldorf.
With Rapid, Hansi Horvath became a runner-up in the league and reached the final of the Mitropa Cup. Although his team lost in the final, Hansi continued to shine, scoring six goals in eight Mitropacup games that season. Throughout his international career, Hansi Horvath scored a total of 29 goals in 46 matches for Austria, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
5. Erich Hof
- Career Span: 1957–1968
- Matches: 37
- Goals: 28
- Average: 0.76
Erich Hof is the fifth-highest goal scorer for the Austria football team. He had an exceptional performance in the national team, being part of the regular lineup and impressing in many international games. One remarkable display, in a match against Hungary in 1961, led Hungarian sports reporter Georg Szepesi to hail Hof as “the best player in the world,” although this praise might have been exaggerated.
Hof’s skills in technique, game understanding, and creativity were world-class. He continued to shine on the international stage, scoring nine goals in his last five matches. Unfortunately, his football career was cut short due to a serious meniscus injury in 1968. In total, Erich Hof scored 28 goals in 37 matches for Austria, showcasing his talent and contribution to the national team.
6. Marc Janko
- Career Span: 2006–2019
- Matches: 70
- Goals: 28
- Average: 0.4
Marc Janko is the sixth-highest goal scorer for the Austria football team. He made his debut in May 2006 against Croatia. In the 2012 European Championship qualifiers, Janko scored twice in a win against Azerbaijan after a two-year goal drought for the national team. He played a significant role in Austria’s qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup, scoring crucial goals, including one against Sweden.
Janko captained the national team, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in 2009 and holding the official captaincy from 2010 for two and a half years. In his 70 international matches, Janko scored 28 goals for Austria, tying with Erich Hof in the country’s all-time goal-scorers list. He retired from international football after his last match against Israel, ending his career with the national team.
