Ernst Ocwirk

Ernst Ocwirk

Ernst Ocwirk in 1953
Personal information
Full name	Ernst Ocwirk
Date of birth	(1926-03-07)7 March 1926
Place of birth	Vienna, Austria
Date of death	23 January 1980(1980-01-23) (aged 53)
Place of death	Klein-Pöchlarn, Austria
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Central Midfielder
Youth career
	FC Stadlau
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1942–1947	Floridsdorfer AC
1947–1956	Austria Wien	212	(30)
1956–1961	Sampdoria	154	(37)
1961–1963	Austria Wien	21	(8)
National team
1945–1962	Austria	62	(6)
Teams managed
1962–1965	Sampdoria
1965–1970	Austria Wien
1970–1971	1. FC Köln
1971–1973	Admira/Wacker
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Ernst Ocwirk (7 March 1926 – 23 January 1980) was an Austrian football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest Austrian footballers of all time.

He spent the majority of his playing and coaching years between Austria and Italy, being both player and manager for the clubs FK Austria Vienna and Serie A's Sampdoria. He also went on to become a member of the Austria national team, which he led to a third-place finish at the 1954 World Cup as its captain.

Nicknamed Clockwork by the British for his midfield consistency,as well as the nickname being suggested by his surname, he is often cited as the last of the old-fashioned attacking centre-halves; he was known for his aesthetic and technical style of playing, his heading ability, excellent timing (both in offensive and defensive tasks) and his passing range; particularly his long passing ability. The fans loved him for his modest and fair personality. The international media of the era saw Ocwirk as "the best centerhalf in the world". He is considered one of the greatest central midfielders of all time.

Born in Vienna, 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 Vienna, but it was rivals FK Austria who won the race for his services and, in 1947, signed him.

In a decade at Austria Vienna, Ocwirk became one of the most prominent players for the club, helping them to win five Austrian League championships and three domestic cups.