Ernst Ocwirk

Midfielder Ernst Ocwirk was a member of the Austrian football team at the 1948 London Olympics. They lost their first-round match 3-0 to the eventual gold medallists Sweden. In total, Ocwirk won 63 international caps and scored six goals. He was considered one of the best Austrian midfielders after World War II.

Domestically, Ocwirk played with Floridsdorfer AC (1944-47), FK Austria Wien (Vienna) (1947-56), and Sampdoria Genoa in Italy (1956-61). He then returned to Austria for his last season until 1962. He helped Austria Wien win the Austrian Championships in 1949, 1950, 1953, and 1962 and the Austrian Cups in 1948, 1949 and 1962.

Ocwirk turned to coaching after his active career and worked with Sampdoria Genoa (1962-65), FK Austria Wien (Vienna) (1965-70), 1. FC Köln in Germany (1097-71), and FC Admira / Wacker Wien (Vienna) (1972-75). With Austria Wien he won the national title in 1969 and 1970, and the Austrian Cup in 1967.

Ocwirk captained the World Selection in 1953 and 1955, against England and the United Kingdom respectively. He was also elected World Football Player of the Year by France Football in 1952, having been named Austrian Sportsman of the Year in 1951. Ocwirk died at the age of 53 in 1980 from multiple sclerosis. He was married to Austrian international handball player Maria Fasching, World Championship runner-up in 1949.