FC Wacker Innsbruck

The ascent of Wacker Tirol into the Bundesliga took only two years from formation, with promotion to the top division achieved in 2004. This was possible because the club made an alliance with 3rd league club Wattens and thus avoided starting in the bottom league. After finishing first in Regionalliga West (2002–03), Wacker advanced to Red Zac Erste Liga, and only a season later (2003–04) was promoted to Bundesliga. FC Wacker Tirol finished 6th out of 10 in their first Bundesliga season (2004–05) and 7th in their second (2005–06). In 2006–07, the Tyroleans avoided relegation only because Grazer AK went into administration and was docked 28 points as a result. One year later (2008) the club, now named FC Wacker Innsbruck, finished last and was relegated to the Austrian Football Second League. After finishing runner-up in the 2008–09 season, FC Wacker Innsbruck won promotion back to the Austrian Bundesliga in 2010 in a tight run. About 5000 Tyrolean supporters had travelled to the final away game on 28 May 2010 in Pasching against Red Bull Juniors, which FC Wacker Innsbruck won 2–0.

As in 2004–05, FC Wacker Innsbruck finished their first Bundesliga season (2010–11) again 6th and then 7th in 2011–12 when they had been close to the Europa League spots for much of the season. After a disastrous start into the 2012–13 season (ten losses in eleven matches) it seemed unlikely that the club could avoid relegation. In a dramatic season finale against relegation which involved four…

The Fußball-Club Wacker ("Valiant") Innsbruck was established in 1915 by Jakob Hanspeter, Benedikt Hosp, Josef Leitner, Josef Albrecht and other now unknown football enthusiasts and adopted club colours of black and green. After a few years playing friendlies against other Innsbruck sides, the club was put on hiatus until 1918 because of the interruption of the First World War. In 1964 the club participated the first time in Austria's A-Liga, today's Bundesliga, winning its first championship in 1971.

On 20 July 1971, FC Wacker Innsbruck and SV Wattens, also playing in Austrian first division, merged to form a single team called SpG Swarovski Wattens-Innsbruck (SSW Innsbruck) in order to focus the football power of Tyrol better. The union applied only to the professional footballers – the junior sides of both teams carried on as part of their original clubs. SSW Innsbruck won the Austrian Championship five times and reached the quarterfinals in the 1977–78 European Cup. In 1981 SSW Innsbruck was relegated the first time and in 1986 the club was renamed FC Wacker Innsbruck. After the new club FC Swarovski Tirol took over the license of the club, FC Wacker Innsbruck was forced to play in the eighth division, quickly managing to reach the fourth division in 1992. In the same year the FC Swarovski was dissolved and Wacker regained the Bundesliga license and access to the 1992–93 UEFA Cup. They nevertheless played in the Bundesliga only for one season, as in 1993 the FC Tirol…

QF = Quarterfinal

National

Austrian Bundesliga Champions (5): 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1976–77 Austrian Cup Winners (6): 1969–70, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1992–93

International

Mitropa Cup Winners: 1974–75, 1975–76