Walter Zeman

Walter Zeman (* May 1, 1927; † August 8, 1991 ) was an Austrian football player ball on the position of the goalkeeper. He is next to Rudi Hiden as one of the best soccer men in the history of Austrian football. His leaping ability and skills as a goalie earned him the nickname Tiger and Panther. Particular strengths were its excellent responsiveness, its fishing safety, his positional play and the ability to lead the defense and organize.

Career

Early years and successes

Walter Zeman began his career with small Favoritner football club SV Wienerberger. From a young age he was an excellent athlete who was able to implement his acquired here jumping technique as goalie optimal. From the "brick Böhm " joined Walter Zeman 1942 Favoritner first division club FC Vienna. He drew attention to himself by numerous parades, so he came in 1945 with 18 years as a new strain goalie for top club SK Rapid Wien. In the same year he was the first home game of the re-established after the war the Austrian national football team the gate guard. Austria could then defeat France 4-1.

With the Hütteldorfern Walter Zeman could usually dominate the championship and celebrate international successes. Overall, he was with the Green-Whites eight -time champion, came in the European Cup of Champions semi-finals and won in 1951 Zentropapokal, a Neuauauflage of Mitropacups. Walter Zeman was a very popular player who had a high status among the fans in Hütteldorf. His flushed up with Ernst Happel on the pitch differences were often the spice of a game. Overall, he came to 235 league appearances for Rapid until 1961. In the 1961/62 season he played ten times for the Salzburger AK 1914 in the Austrian State League. After the descent of the Salzburg he ended his professional career.

His most famous games he played, however, the beginning of the 1950s for the national team. As a Panther from Glasgow, he was on December 13, 1950 famous when he was able to keep Austria 1-0 victory away against Scotland until the last second - shortly after he was elected as the first footballer Austrian Sportsman of the year. Furthermore, Walter Zeman brought the Golden Elf around Ferenc Puskás, with its fine saves to despair. Sándor Kocsis said after a game in Budapest on April 26, 1953: " Zeman is a warlock, he has brought us to win, it deserves its place in the world team ."

That same year, the Tigers of Budapest was actually appointed to the World XI, which in October 1953 played in London's Wembley Stadium to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Football Association against England and there is a 4:4 reached.

Bitter end of 1954

The Football World Cup 1954 in Switzerland was supposed to develop for Walter Zeman to a high point of his football career. With the national team, he switched from Portugal with a 9-1 win in qualifying, but then could not play due to a knee injury at the World Cup games. He was replaced by Kurt Smith from Vienna to the team, who kept brilliantly. Austria came to the semifinals, but Kurt Smith suffered in the famous Battle of heat Lausanne during the game sunstroke and could therefore no longer be used in the semifinals. This went on in the game against Germany the ailing Walter Zeman the goal, the got off to a bad day - Austria lost with 1:6. After this game, bribery allegations against him were loud. Walter Zeman was so upset that he ended his national team career with immediate effect and before the reception in Vienna left the train.

After the 1954 World Cup goalie was active only for Rapid Vienna, with which he could add a few more championship wins to his collection of titles. Only towards the end of his career on May 29, 1960, Walter Zeman could be persuaded, aground one last time in the Austrian national team. My opponent was Scotland - Austria won 4-1. After graduating as a player in 1962 and his last game for the Hütteldorfer, Walter Zeman made ​​his career at the Salzburger AK finish in 1914. After ending his playing career, the Tigers took a coach office at Rapid junior and was 1968 had thrown under Rudolf Vytlacil assistant coach of the first team, which the quarter -finals this season in the European Cup of Champions, while Real Madrid out of the competition.

On August 8, 1991, he died early after a serious illness. His tomb is located on the Baumgartner cemetery in Vienna ( group K1, number 500).

In April 2010, in Vienna's Danube city ( 22nd District ) was the Walter Zeman alley named after him.

Stations as a player

  • SV Wienerberger ( before 1942 )
  • FC Vienna (1942-1945)
  • SK Rapid Wien (1945-1961)
  • Salzburger AK 1914 (1961-1962)

Teams managed

  • Youth of the SK Rapid Wien (1963-1970)
  • KDAG Vienna (1970-1973)

Achievements

  • Participation in the Football World Cup 1954: 3rd place
  • 41 caps for the Austrian national football team from 1945 to 1960
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