The big interview
Is humor your elixir of life, Mr. Polster?
Soccer legend Toni Polster turns 60! The record goalscorer for the Austrian national team talks to Conny Bischofberger about the light and shade of an incomparable career, loyal fans and "mental non-swimmers" and probably his most dramatic match, the life-threatening gastric rupture with emergency surgery at the turn of the year.
On the pitch of "SC Wiener Viktoria" in Vienna's 12th district, the mini-kickers of the U13 team are doing their best when Toni Polster steps onto the pitch. The coach blows his whistle and everyone gathers around their boss to cheer. He turns 60 on March 10 and was on the brink of retirement in December after suffering a gastric rupture.
It's like being reborn, he says later during our interview in the packed office of president Martin Hinteregger. "The boy wanted to be a gardener," he laughs as he reads the interview I conducted with him in 1997 and brought with me to the appointment. At the time, his son Anton-Jesus was seven years old and he was a crowd favorite at FC Köln. He laughs as cheerfully as he did back then, as a "scheena Bua".
Only today, 27 years later, he has snow-white hair. Sometimes he answers thoughtfully in his quiet growling voice, sometimes he really lets it rip...
"Krone": Are there still homeless people sleeping in the players' dressing rooms?
Toni Polster: Yes, that's still the case. It started about 20 years ago when a homeless man froze to death in Meidling. Our association said: That must never happen again. That's why I love this association so much. And it has never happened again since.
Do you sometimes talk to these guests?
Of course I do. Over the years, a few of them have also started working here, as equipment managers or in the bar. At times, Gerri works for us. It's often a vicious circle. If you don't have an apartment, you can't get a job. But people often want to work, they just can't get an apartment. That's where we came in.
This association is the temporary end of an unprecedented career. Looking back, how would you describe it? All in all, I think I did a lot of things right. I made the squad at the age of 16. I made my debut for the national team at 18. I went abroad at 23. Many people said at the time: "He won't make it anyway!" And then I was actually the one who was away the longest. Successes have followed each other. The Golden Boot, the Bronze Boot.
Were you underestimated?
Yes, that was always the case. As a player, as a coach. Nobody thought I was capable of anything. Even though I proved it over and over and over again.
Does that still hurt a bit?
Not me, but maybe the clubs that didn't sign me. - Laughs. - But yes, I assumed that I would have the same career as a player as a coach. But then I couldn't influence that any more.
Whether as a player or as a coach. Nobody had any confidence in me. Even though I proved it over and over and over again.
Der Rekordschützenjäger fühlte sich oft unterschätzt
Disappointed?
No, I've also had a very successful coaching career. I became champion with the LASK amateurs and even won three championships with Wiener Viktoria.
That's just not the first division.
Yes, but I would never have imagined that Andi Herzog wouldn't get an offer from the ÖFB as a coach. But apparently they all have such fantastic coaches and so much success - in quotation marks! - that they didn't need us.
Would you have liked to be team manager?
That would also have been a goal, of course. But now I don't want that anymore. I'm now in my 12th year with the Victorians. I've led them from the fifth to the third division and have now established them as a top club in the third division. That is something that makes me proud.
Looking back, what was the most difficult moment? When you were first booed by the entire stadium during the legendary World Cup qualifier against the GDR and then went down in history as the savior of the nation?
Yes, of course it was sad to be booed like that as a national player. But to this day, there are still many intellectual non-swimmers among soccer fans. I'm still grateful to the soccer gods today that he gave me those three goals. We all fulfilled a lifelong dream back then. To go to the World Cup.
You were also banned from the Vienna Austria stadium. What is your relationship with the Violets like today?
When I came back from abroad, I imagined that I might be able to work with Frank Stronach, even if no one could. But I have rarely met such a naive, clueless person as him. He didn't even know the simplest soccer rules. And I lost face practically every day. But that was important to me. That's why there was a break. And the man who had almost ruined Austria didn't invite me, Austria's all-time top scorer, to the stadium opening. In the meantime, however, my relationship with Austria is very good again.
What did you think when the Rapid managing director called the Austrians "a...holes"?
That was so embarrassing! It was embarrassing. Hoffmann was always a fine footballer. Something like that simply shouldn't happen. I think he was lucky, because in Germany that would have led to a break-up.
What is your relationship with Rapid?
I've always enjoyed going to Rapid and have never realized that as an Austrian you have to hate Rapid.
Rapid also wished you a speedy recovery after your emergency operation in December. How are you doing today?
I've lost eight kilos, so everything is much easier. My wife says I don't snore so much anymore either. Of course, it was a scare for all of us.
Did you take too little care of your health before your stomach burst?
I wasn't a physical corpse now. But I never managed 10,000 steps, as is often recommended, even though I often walk our dog. I also always drank too much coffee, perhaps ate too much and too spicy and never said "no" to a digestive schnapps. Yes, and the alcohol was probably too much too... Now I eat more consciously and healthier.
Did you think you might not make it?
The doctors said I'd been running around with a stomach bug for two days. On the third day, I felt really bad. I only actually went to the hospital at Birgt's insistence. I would have preferred to lie down at home and just take an aspirin. But then I probably wouldn't have woken up. Yes, at a moment like that, you put your life in other hands. Maybe the good Lord hasn't needed a coach in heaven yet...
Would it be paradise for you to be a national team coach in heaven?
No, no! As I said, that chapter is closed. I would coach the Victorians there, who have already preceded me.
Has banter always been your elixir of life?
Yes, you could say that. I'm simply a cheerful person. I love to laugh for the life of me. And it's true: when you're having fun, you enjoy everything more. But being a badmouth has also brought me a lot of disadvantages. People kept saying: "Well, he can't be a serious sportsman, the way he laughs!"
The last time I dyed my hair was when I was a testimonial for Schwarzkopf tints. I don't have Botox either. Many women look terrible with their inflatable lips.
Toni Polster über Eitelkeit und kleine kosmetische Eingriffe
You celebrate your 60th birthday on March 10. What's going through your head?
It's amazing how quickly everything has happened. I was always the youngest. The youngest in the Austria squad, the youngest in the national team and suddenly - bang, bang - you're the oldest. The youngsters will be thinking, he's already very old.
Signs of ageing?
I'm very happy with myself. Many people my age already have a new hip. The important thing is that people still like me. I'm also still interesting for the advertising industry.
From building kangaroos to the big wide world of soccer
Childhood
Born on March 10, 1964 in Vienna-Favoriten. His father was an enthusiastic footballer, national league referee and coach. Toni spent his free time from an early age in the soccer cage of the "Känguru-Bau". The name of the municipal building at Brunnweg 4 comes from the animal sculpture in the courtyard.
Career
Polster won the Golden Shoe in 1987 and the Bronze Shoe in 1986, and is still the Austrian national team's record goalscorer with 44 goals. In his active career, he played for Vienna's Austria, Torino, FC Sevilla, Cologne and Mönchengladbach, among others. He currently coaches the regional league club Wiener Viktoria.
Private life
Married to Birgit in his second marriage. Two children from his first marriage (Anton Jesus is 34, Lisa-Maria is 31).
Documentary
To mark his 60th birthday on March 10, 2024, ORF will broadcast the documentary "Toni Polster - Abseits des Strafraums" on March 6 (ORF 1, 8.15 p.m.). It traces Polster's eventful life between soaring heights and down-to-earthness, between adoration and hostility.
Are you helping out a little?
As you can see, I don't dye my hair. The last time I did that was when I was a testimonial for Schwarzkopf tints. I don't do Botox either. If you do it discreetly, there's nothing wrong with that. But many women look terrible with their inflatable lips. That's ugly to the power of ten!
ORF is dedicating a documentary to you on Wednesday. Flattered?
Yes, it's like an accolade.
You are still the record goalscorer for the Austrian national team. Why are you now claiming goals in court?
It's about three matches that are considered unofficial international matches and are therefore not counted against me. That has bothered me for decades. My statistics are therefore distorted. I didn't score 44 goals, I scored 47. That's also the opinion of my lawyers and that's why we're going to fight for it.
What would be so bad if Marko Arnautovic were to overtake you?
That's not the point. Records are there to be broken, and if someone beats my record once, then that's totally okay. But it's not okay if three goals simply don't count.
Kommentare
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