The Austrian Cup final opposed Wacker (Innsbruck) to Austria (Vienna). Since Wacker already declined after 1975, Austria was the favourite – and won both legs: 1-0 and 3-1.
Nothing really to think about – it was logical: if one the big clubs won the championship, the other compensated by winning the Cup. So, Austria finished with trophy as well.
Standing from left: Anton Polster, Felix Gasselich, Ernst Baumeister, Erich Obermayer, Friedl Koncilia, Hannes Weninger, Franz Zore, Karl Daxbacher, Erich Hof – coach.
Crouching: Gerhard Steinkogler, Thomas Pfeifer, Chavdar Tzvetkov, Josef Sara, Robert Sara, Harald Furst, Hans Dihanich, Petko Petkov.
The photo is a bit mysterious – Polster joined Austria in the summer of 1982, according to records, and Hannes Weninger apparently did not play for Austria in the 1981-82 season. Must be a picture from the summer of 1981, between seasons, but, generally, this was the squad for the season. If Rapid was full of national team players, so was Austria – former and current, including the two Bulgarian strikers. Petkov satisfied in the previous season, so a second Bulgarian was bought in July 1981: the left-winger Chavdar Tzvetkov, the star left-winger and goalscorer of Slavia (Sofia) and the Bulgarian national team. Austria matched Rapid in strength, but still something was found wanting and Erich Hof was dismissed in April 1982. Just like their rivals, Austria thought that the team was not quite right under the guidance of the coach – may be one trophy was not enough, may be something else.