Part 2 of the “Krone” series on Salzburger Austria: When player-coach Weber sent “Komet” Amerhauser into orbit and the “Euro-Fighters” made their first appearance in the UEFA Cup.
The start of the season was mixed, with the coach missing due to heart problems. It was a great opportunity for the media to question Otto Baric and to bring Hans Krankl, who had shot Austria back into the first division a few years earlier, into the game. Heri Weber was completely unimpressed by this. The captain took on even more responsibility and temporarily acted as player-coach. In his new role he brought new blood into the team. Martin Amerhauser was one of the beneficiaries. Suddenly the then 19-year-old found himself in the starting line-up. “When my name was on the flipchart, I just thought: Oh well!”, he can laugh about it today. “It was a nice feeling, but you also need the nerve to do it.” The Anifer native undoubtedly had that. He netted three times in his first four games. Amerhauser: “There was no one better.” “What happened there was like a fairy tale,” is how the Graz native sums it up. His thanks go to Weber, who was responsible for the meteoric rise and sent the youngster into orbit. “Heri was Baric’s extended arm and always took responsibility. There was no one better,” he said, giving roses to the former leader. When Baric returned, Weber focused again on his role as a player. Amerhauser, however, had established himself in the team and was also in the starting line-up against Dunajska Streda. It happened as it had to happen: the UEFA Cup debutant scored straight away – it was the starting point for an extraordinary European Cup prize. Heimo Pfeifenberger stepped up and was also successful in the second leg alongside Hermann Stadler, who played despite a knee abscess. “I was unsettled in the fall, but I was fully present in these games,” says Pfeifenberger.Stadler: “We were very lucky.” However, the overall score of 4-0 did not correspond to the true balance of power. “The home game was close. Otto Konrad saved a penalty away. We were very lucky,” says Stadler. This didn’t just mean the sporting aspect. “I don’t know whether the club would have existed for long if it had been eliminated.” President Rudi Quehenberger had put everything on one card and put together an expensive team that had missed out on the championship title in the previous season. “We didn’t really realize what Rudi was risking. “But it was clear that every subsequent round was a blessing,” said Pfeifenberger, confirming the precarious situation the Violets were in. The risk was worth it. Austria found their way and the rumors about a Baric transfer were nipped in the bud. And the Austria Express picked up speed. Read part 3 of the series on Sunday: A “Krone” reporter as a spy and Jurcevic’s revenge on his former club
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