Nostalgia review

“The Lindenstadion was a real institution”

The Lindenstadion used to be a real "madhouse".

(Bild: Haenlein)

SC Eisenstadt's soccer facility used to be legendary and almost cult. Today, the former spectator magnet resembles a ruin. SCE legend Hannes Marzi looks back. And the existing club is flirting with the idea of a new home of its own.

Squeezing past thousands of fans to queue for a stadium sausage - or a legendary "Knacker". While "SCE forever" rang out from the loudspeakers. The capital city club was at home in the Austrian soccer elite for 13 years, its stadium almost cult. Today, everything is lost in museum-like memories. SCE legends such as Hannes Marzi are particularly saddened by the decay of the stadium in Schlosspark.

Today, the Lindenstadion resembles a ruin.

(Bild: Judt)

SCE legend Hannes Marzi remembers glorious times.

(Bild: Wolfgang Haenlein)

"That really hits me emotionally, to be honest. The Lindenstadion was a real institution in Austria, with a unique atmosphere. You can hardly find that anywhere else," says the former SC Eisenstadt striker. He joined the club in 1982 and was overwhelmed by the impressions. "It was outstanding, including the Bundesliga experiences. Simply terrific. I still have fond memories of it today."
Wenger, Henry and co.
There is not much more left for Marzi and Co. After all, the Lindenstadion has been a ruin for many years now, with nothing left of the glory of the sporting successes. "It's hard to imagine that professional soccer was once played here." And in addition to numerous well-known Bundesliga footballers, the stadium was also home to absolute world stars. In the early 2000s, Rapid Vienna played a test match against Arsenal London with Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and co.

Rapid and Arsenal also played in Eisenstadt in the past.

(Bild: Haenlein)

Arsene Wenger and Josef Hickersberger having a little chat.

(Bild: Haenlein)

The English world team was coached by the legendary Arsene Wenger, who also had a chat with the then coach of the Green-Whites, Josef Hickersberger. A match that was the only event in which the Lindenstadion was bursting at the seams with around 15,000 spectators, with spectators from all over Austria making the pilgrimage to the match. "It was unbelievably beautiful and perfectly suited the flair in the Schlosspark," says former Eisenstadt footballer Edi Stössl, who played for the club in the Regionalliga Ost.

Edi Stössl (left) played for SCE in the Regionalliga.

(Bild: Niko Formanek)

"And it's all extremely unfortunate what happened. However, I don't know what would prevent matches still being played here. But obviously it was no longer important to maintain the facility," says 64-year-old Marzi. At least the club itself experienced a kind of "rebirth". Tradition-conscious officials revived the SCE - after its (economic) demise in 2008 - around nine years later.
New sports ground planned
Even though the club is (still) in the insignificant 2nd division North, it is pursuing ambitious goals - at least in the long term. "In around ten years' time, we want to be playing in the Burgenlandliga again. Strengthened with home-grown players and a good base of young talent," says deputy chairman Christoph Brenner.
There is also news regarding the club's own facility. Which will also please "die-hard" fans. At the moment, the team is playing at the athletics facility, or to be more precise, they are "guests" there. However, this is set to change as soon as possible, as Brenner reveals.

We are in good talks with the city. We are aiming to have our own home in two to three years' time.

Obmann-Stellvertreter des SCE, Christoph Brenner

"We are in good talks with the city. We are aiming to have our own home in two to three years." The city has the following to say about the SCE issue in general: "Currently, almost 450,000 euros are invested annually in the diverse sports club landscape with 80 active clubs. Of course, we will also discuss additional funding options for an SC Eisenstadt project as soon as it becomes concrete."

The fact is: the provincial capital finally needs a renewed euphoria around the round leather. Just like back then, in the time-honored Lindenstadion. Because everything used to be better. At least in red and gold soccer.