Ernst Happel

Ernst Franz Hermann Happel was born in Vienna. Joining Rapid Wien in 1938 at age thirteen, Happel became one of Europe's premier center-backs, earning 51 caps for Austria and helping them secure third place at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland. Known for his laconic personality, chainsmoking, and dry humor, he was nicknamed 'Aschyl'.

After retiring as a player, Happel blossomed into a legendary tactician. In 1962, he took charge of ADO Den Haag, leading them to the Dutch Cup, before taking over Feyenoord Rotterdam. In May 1970, Happel guided Feyenoord to a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Celtic in Milan, bringing the European Cup to the Netherlands for the first time in history.

Happel repeated this European triumph thirteen years later with Hamburger SV, masterminding a 1-0 upset victory over Juventus in Athens in 1983. In total, Happel won league titles in the Netherlands, Belgium (Club Brugge), Germany, and Austria. Appointed manager of the Netherlands national team for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, he led the Dutch to the final without Johan Cruyff. Following his death in 1992, Austria's national stadium, the Praterstadion in Vienna, was officially renamed the Ernst-Happel-Stadion.