Ernst Ocwirk

Ernst Ocwirk (7 March 1926 – 23 January 1980) was an Austrian football player and coach. He played as midfielder mainly for FK Austria Wien in Austria and U.C. Sampdoria Genua in Italy. He was also player of the Austrian national football team.
Club career.
Ocwirk began his career as a striker. He joined his first club, the local "FC Stadlau", in 1938. He then played for Floridsdorfer AC, where he was spotted by former Austrian international Josef Smistik, who moved Ocwirk to centre midfield. Smistik tried to bring him to his former team, Rapid Wien, but it was FK Austria who won the race and signed him in 1947. With Austria he won five Austrian League championships and three domestic cups.
1956 he went to Sampdoriaand was the second Austrian footballer ever to play in Seria A after Engelbert König. Ocwirk played five seasons at the Genova club. He also became the captain. In 1961 he returned to FK Austria and played there his last season. He was winning in 1961–62.
Ocwirk was chosen in Austria's Team of the Century in 2001.
International career.
Ocwirk played 62 caps matches and scored six goals for Austria. He made his debut in 1945 and played at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.
At the 1954 World Cup he was captain of Austria and played in all five of his team matches. He scored two goals during the tournament: one in the memorable quarter-final against hosts Switzerland, and the 3–1 in the third-place match against reigning champions Uruguay.
Coaching career.
After retiring from playing, Ocwirk became a manager. Sampdoria was the first team he coached from 1962 to 1965. He also managed 1. FC Köln one year whre he reached final of the DFB Cup. Before the time in Germany he managed his former club FK Austria Wien. After his year in Germany he trained VfB Admira Wacker Mödling.
Death and legacy.
He died in Januyry 1980 of multiple sclerosis in Klein-Pöchlarn, Lower Austria.
Honours.
Austria Wien
Austria
Individual