it’s only six years away

Within the last two and one-half year period under Coach Hickersberger, amongst the many successes likely the most important is a sense of pride and a slow development of confidence in play. This was clearly evident within Euro matches as creative and attacking play within matches would slowly build as the squad gained confidence. Naturally there is a large body of work ahead but the first steps returning a sense of pride in wearing the nations jersey is complete.

As the ÖFB moves forward from the recovery and overall successful return to respectability through Josef Hickersberger’s management into the next (possibly led by Andreas Herzog) phase of re-conditioning Austrian Football, a keen look towards the long-term horizon is crucial. While World Cup 2010 is most commonly noted as a target within the media, more clear-cut plans need to be implemented to address the squad’s long-term development through the 2012 Euro in Poland / Ukraine and most importantly the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Given this long time-line, I want to first look at the grouping of the top players under 23 years-old whose career would be peaking in that time frame. As we work through long-term plans of the national team we will be able to monitor these players development as well as others and consider how they work within more experienced players. While long-term planning of this magnitude is rarely discussed within media outlets and sadly, even within some Football associations / coaching regimes, it is critical for overall development. With this in mind our short-list, includes the following players with their club and dates of birth. In our next installment we’ll individually review players according to position.

Goalkeepers
Bartolomej Kuru, April 6, 1987 - Austria Wien
Andreas Lukse, November 8, 1987 - Rapid Wien
Michael Zaglmair, December 7, 1987 - LASK Linz
Robert Olejnik, November 26, 1986 - Falkirk

Defenders
Sebastian Prödl, June 21, 1987 - Werder Bremen
Thomas Panny, February 3 1987 - Admira Wacker Mödling
Daniel Gramann, January 6, 1987 - TSV Hartberg
Thomas Pirker, January 17, 1987 - Kärnten
Michael Madl, March 21,1988 - Austria Wien
Andreas Dober, March 31, 1986 - Rapid Wien
Niklas Hoheneder, August 17, 1986 - LASK Linz
Mario Sonnleitner, October 8, 1986 - SK Sturm Graz
Markus Suttner,April 16, 1987 - Austria Wien

Midfielders
Christian Fuchs, April 7, 1986 - VfL Bochum
Siegfried Rasswalder, May 13, 1987 - DSV Leoben
Michael Stanislaw, June 5, 1987 - SC Schwanenstadt
Thomas Hinum, July 24, 1987 - SC Schwanenstadt
Mario Reiter, October 23, 1986 - SC Schwanenstadt

Veli Kavlak, November 3 1988 - Rapid Wien
Zlatko Junuzovic, September 26,1987 - Austria Kärnten
Peter Hackmair, June 26, 1987 - SV Ried
Harun Erbek, June 8, 1986 - SV Ried
Daniel Toth, June 10, 1987 - SV Ried
Tomas Simkovic, April 16, 1987 - Austria Wien
Bernhard Morgenthaler, June 21 1987 - Wacker Mödling
Veli Kavlak, November 3, 1988 - SK Rapid Wien
Michael Madl, March 21, 1988 - Wacker Tirol (from Austria Wien)
Christoph Saurer, January 22, 1986 - LASK Linz

Forwards
Martin Harnik, June 10, 1987 - Werder Bremen
Erwin Hoffer, April 14, 1987 - SK Rapid Wien
Ingo Enzenberger, August 27,1987 - Red Bull Salzburg
Rubin Okotie, June 6, 1987 - Austria Wien
Zlatko Junuzovic, September 26,1987 - SK Austria Kärnten
Marko Stankovic, February 17, 1986 - SK Sturm Graz
Ermin Sulimani, August 4, 1986 - FK Austria Wien