26 years after the duel

Former opponent gets Polster’s autograph

Liechtenstein's 25-time team player Thomas Hanselmann and Toni Polster met at Viktoria-Platz(Bild: Heinz Palme)

Toni Polster was once a nightmare for Liechtenstein defender Thomas Hanselmann. On September 7, 1994, Polster scored three goals in a 4-0 away win in the European Championship qualifiers, and on June 2, 1998, he scored two goals in a pre-World Cup test in Vienna. Back then, Hanselmann secured Toni's kit, on which he got Polster's autograph on Wednesday evening.

Toni welcomed Hanselmann at Viktoria-Platz in Vienna with the words "Thomas, are you tall, I don't remember you being that tall." Laughing reply from the current investment manager: "I can still remember the 1998 match very well. We had a great chat during the game and you told me back then that you were going to move to Mönchengladbach."

Thomas Hanselmann, Toni Polster and Heinz Palme met at Viktoria-Platz in Vienna.(Bild: Heinz Palme)

Hanselmann also remembers exactly how difficult it was to get hold of Polster's kit: "Our goalkeeper secured it in 1994. In 1998 at the Happel Stadium, there were also several interested parties, but I fought for it and got it."

Thomas Hanselmann in action in 1998, here against Peter Stöger.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Also signed Gladbach kit
26 years later, the 25-time Liechtenstein team player now got Polster's autograph on the kit. The meeting was arranged by sports manager Heinz Palme, who is close friends with Toni and works for the Liechtenstein company "Sporteo". Polster made Hanselmann, who was in Vienna, even happier by signing a Mönchengladbach kit for his father-in-law and adding a dedication for his upcoming 70th birthday.