LASK Linz

LASK – Club History

LASK (Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub) was founded in 1908 in Linz, Austria's third-largest city on the Danube. The club went through an extraordinary journey from near-extinction to becoming a genuine European force within the span of a decade – one of European football's most remarkable turnaround stories. Playing in black and white stripes, LASK are the pride of Upper Austria and have established themselves as consistent challengers to RB Salzburg's Austrian dominance, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League and Champions League qualifying rounds on multiple occasions.

LASK's history includes a first Austrian championship win in 1965, but the club subsequently fell into prolonged decline, eventually dropping into the lower divisions of Austrian football. The club's resurrection began in the 2010s under new ownership and management. Under coaches including Valerien Ismaël and Oliver Glasner, LASK were transformed from a modest third-division club into Austrian Bundesliga title challengers and regular European participants in just a few years – a rebuilding story that drew admiration from across European football.

Austrian Bundesliga Revival

LASK's return to the Austrian Bundesliga's elite saw them finish second in 2018–19, behind RB Salzburg, and challenge consistently for European qualification. Their Europa League campaigns of 2019–20 were remarkable, with LASK defeating clubs including PSV Eindhoven and Sporting Braga in group stages and knockout rounds. This European exposure demonstrated the quality of their organised, intense pressing football under Oliver Glasner, who later moved to manage Frankfurt and Crystal Palace after catching European attention through LASK's performances.

Raiffeisen Arena

LASK play at the Raiffeisen Arena (also known as the LASK Stadion) in Linz's Pasching suburb, a modern stadium that opened in 2019 with a capacity of approximately 19,000. The purpose-built facility replaced the older Linzer Stadion and provides state-of-the-art facilities befitting a club with European ambitions. The arena's modern design and comfortable facilities have attracted larger crowds and created one of the Austrian Bundesliga's best matchday experiences. Building a new stadium was central to LASK's vision of establishing themselves permanently among Austria's top clubs.

Legendary Players

LASK's modern revival has been built on collective quality rather than individual stars, but several players have stood out. James Holland was an Australian international midfielder who gave excellent service in the revival years. Thomas Goiginger was an energetic, effective winger. Reinhold Ranftl was a reliable right-back of consistent quality. Petar Filipović and Philipp Wiesinger formed a solid defensive partnership. Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager was outstanding and was called up to the Austrian national team. Johannes Eggestein was a German striker who made important contributions to the club's European campaigns.

Key Milestones

1908 – Club founded in Linz. 1965 – Austrian championship; first major title. 1990s–2000s – Decline through the divisions. 2015 – Second Division (ADEG Erste Liga) promotion. 2017 – Austrian Bundesliga promotion and rapid rise. 2019 – Austrian Bundesliga runners-up behind RB Salzburg. 2019 – Europa League group stage; defeated PSV Eindhoven. 2020 – Europa League round of 16. 2019 – Moved to new Raiffeisen Arena. 2023 – Consistent Bundesliga top-three finishes.