Vienna Vikings

AFC Dacia Vienna Vikings

City:

Vienna

Founded:

1983

Team colors:

Purple, Gold & White

Head coach:

Chris Calaycay

League (2019):

Austrian Football League (AFL)

Greatest successes

Eurobowl winner

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013

Austrian champion

1994, 1996, 1999–2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012–2014, 2017

Stadion

Surname:

Hohe Warte stadium

Address:

Klabundgasse 11, 1190 Vienna-Döbling

Play surface:

Natural grass

Capacity:

4,500

Average audience (2010):

2500

Contact

Internet:

www.daciavikings.com

Data status

15th May 2017

The Vienna Vikings winning the Austrian Bowl XXIX (2013)

Vienna Vikings Cheerleaders (2013)

The AFC Dacia Vienna Vikings (formerly also Vienna Vikings , Chrysler Vikings Vienna , Dodge Vikings Vienna , Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna ) are an American football team from the Austrian capital Vienna .

Club history up to the 2008 season

The Vienna Vikings were founded on October 11, 1983 by Thomas Aichmair, who had previously resigned from the management of the Vienna Ramblocks - also founded by him - after internal disputes during the 1983 European Football Championship in Castel Giorgio (Italy). As a prerequisite for the founding of the new club, he installed his friend and national team colleague Thomas Bundschuh as head of the offense and only allowed newcomers to the football team.

Already at the beginning of April 1984, only a few weeks after the first training in equipment, the Vikings faced the reigning national champion "Salzburg Lions". In pouring rain, the newcomers went down in a true "Gatsch battle" with 50: 0. Two weeks later on April 8, 1984, the Nürnberg Vikings, the namesakes from Nürnberg, were guests. In the 13:47 defeat, Horst Obermayer was able to achieve the first touchdown in the club's history.

In the following two seasons, the Vienna Vikings were able to defeat all opponents: The championship of the second division went undefeated to them. Friendlies, etc. a. Again against the Nürnberg Vikings, they were won and the first games of the first division in the 1986 season were won by the Vikings partly without counterpoints. Only one game against the Linzer Rhinos, who amazed with unconventional moves (e.g. punts in the 3rd attempt), was lost.

After marching through the 2nd and 1st leagues, the Vikings drove to their first championship final - the Austrian Bowl II - in Salzburg on June 26, 1986. The second finalist were the eternal rivals “Graz Giants”, who were clearly defeated in both games in the regular season. But the Vikings couldn't keep up in the final. Graz won the final with an undisputed 31:12 victory. Some players then left the team and Thomas Aichmair decided to reorganize the Vikings and compete in the 2nd division in the next season. In 1987 they won the 2nd division without losing a game and rose again to the first division.

In 1988 the Vikings competed in the Austrian Bowl for the second time, and they faced the Graz Giants again. The Giants won the final by 33:15. After this defeat, Thomas Aichmair decided to step down as President of the Vikings. In the same season, the Vienna Ramblocks faced their dissolution and offered the Vienna Vikings to take over; in fact, a few of the remaining players moved to the Vikings' camp.

In 1989 and 1990 the Vikings missed their entry into the Austrian Bowl. In the 1991 season they made it into the Austrian Bowl VII. For the third time, the Vikings lost to the Graz Giants (7:38). Also in the following two seasons the entry into the Austrian Bowl was missed.

Under the American coach Tom F. Smythe , the Vikings moved into the Austrian Bowl X with an 88:12 victory (Austrian record) against the "Klosterneuburg Mercenaries". The Vikings won this for the first time on July 7, 1994. The opponents in the final were once again the Graz Giants.

In the 1995 season they met the Graz Giants again in the Austrian Bowl XI and lost for the fourth time (20:26). The Vikings also played their first Eurobowl season in 1995. Here, however, they were eliminated in the second round against the Düsseldorf Panthers .

Before the 1996 season, the Vikings had to cope with the departure of ten starting players, but they still reached the final. The Vikings won the championship for the second time in the Austrian Bowl XII. In a game with many points, the Vikings won 41:35 against their long-time rivals, the Graz Giants. The Vikings won further championships in the years 1999 to 2003, 2005 and 2007. In the years 2004 to 2007 they were also successful in the Eurobowl . In 2004 and 2005 the Bergamo Lions were defeated , in 2006 La Courneuve Flash and in 2007 the Marburg Mercenaries . The Vikings were European champions and the first and only team in history to win the cup four times.

In 1999 the name of the team was changed from Vienna Vikings to Chrysler Vikings Vienna , and in December 2005 to Dodge Vikings Vienna due to new sponsorship contracts . Since the beginning of 2008 the team has been called Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna . In spring 2017, the name was changed to Dacia Vienna Vikings after the new main sponsor , and the home games will again be played on the Hohe Warte .

Club history from the 2009 season

2009 season

After many structural changes in the league, such as the reduction of A-Class legionnaires on the field and in the squad, came into force at the beginning of the 2009 season and important top performers of the Vikings, such as long-time quarterback Luke Atwood , who Had played seven seasons for the Wiener, left the squad, the Vikings had to make fundamental changes and create a plan for the future in order to be able to build on earlier successes as soon as possible. In autumn 2008, the Vikings presented a concept that was unusual for Austrian standards, later much criticized, but ultimately successful without an American quarterback and instead with two equal Austrian playmakers, Christoph Gross and Philipp Jobstmann .

The team started the new season with two home wins against the Cineplexx Blue Devils and the Swarco Raiders Tirol and one away defeat against the reigning Austrian champions Turek Graz Giants , which was followed by a series of defeats lasting over six games, including in the quarter-finals of the EFL against La Courneuve Flash and at the Charity Bowl against the Wesleyan Titans . From this point on, the performance increased from game to game, with which she, including the Austrian Bowl XXV, lost no more games. A special increase in performance of the Vikings was evident in one of the last two quarters of the Austrian Bowl semi-finals (away against the Swarco Raiders), when they were able to turn a 0:21 deficit into a 22:21 victory. The Vienna Vikings won the final in Graz with 22:19 against the Turek Graz Giants, with which the tenth championship title could be achieved.

2010 season

The 2010 season was moderate despite a few victories. The win-defeat ratio could be improved from 6: 6 to 8: 4 compared to 2009, but the victories were not convincing enough and the defeats too clear to be able to draw hope from them, the Austrian Bowl this season as well to reach. The 22:50 defeat in Innsbruck at the end of April was followed by a few unconvincing victories (including against Badalona Drags and Courneuve Flash), before the Vikings incurred two defeats against the Dragons in the decisive AFL phase and were already in the defending championship Play-offs for the championship had to say goodbye. After all, the Vikings also had to admit defeat to the Berlin Eagles in the Eurobowl final despite the best performance of the season by a 53-yard field goal (when the time was running out). The Vikings Juniors said goodbye in autumn with a championship title (26-0 victory over the Raiders) from the junior championship in order to compete as Team 2 in Division 1 from 2011.

2011 season

The 2011 season began more than promisingly for the team, as they managed to sign RB Tony Hunt, a true NFL player, shortly before the start of the season. Due to injuries, the offense had to do without their players Hunt and Calhoun relatively often, but was still able to achieve a 5-1 balance in the regular season. With the 42-0 victory over Danube Dragons, the Blue River Bowl could be brought to Vienna for the first time since this bowl series began. The turning point of a promising season was the Eurobowl semifinals against the Tyrolean Raiders on May 28, 2011. Eight minutes separated the Vikings from the final when they forced the Raiders to punt with a 10: 7 lead behind them and after a punt return Reached first down on the Raiders 15-yard line. The play was canceled, however, because a Vikings player had attacked the Raiders-Punter without permission. The Raiders were then able to achieve the decisive field goal at 13:10 with the time running out. The Vikings also lost two irreplaceable top performers in this game with running back Tony Hunt and linebacker Paul Werner. Although the Vikings were able to reach the Austrian Bowl XXVII against the Tyrolean Raiders after that, they had to admit defeat 23:13 due to a good performance in the special teams. At the awarding of the league MVPs, which took place as part of the Austrian Bowl, wide receiver Laurinho Walch was able to celebrate as “Young Star of the Year 2011”, a Vikings player. Two weeks later, after several years of preparation (both athletically and organizationally), the Football World Championship started in Graz , Vienna and Innsbruck . In just four days, the Austrian national team completed their three basic rounds in the Graz UPC Arena , but despite 20 Vikings in the ranks of the Austrian team, they couldn't win a single victory, so Austria played for seventh place in the end. In September 2011 the junior national team (including a number of Vikings players and coaches) performed well at the Junior European Championship. After the 24:14 final victory over France, Football Austria was able to celebrate an European Championship title for the first time. The Vikings also won the youth championship title at the end of the 2011 season.

2012 season

Chris Calaycay

At the beginning of the 2012 season there was a paradigm shift in philosophy among coaches. From now on, the character should play an even more important role in imports from the USA to ensure that the players would really fit into the team. The legionnaires also had to bring the team forward in terms of sport. A defensive back was brought in with Tillman Stevens , and Dusty Thornhill , who the Vikings wanted to bring to Vienna in 2011 , joined the Vikings.

The import trio was completed with Kyle Kaiser , a wide receiver. Unfortunately Kaiser had to struggle with protracted injuries again and again, which meant that he was deprived of one or the other assignment. Since the team was extremely rejuvenated before the 2012 season, numerous young players made the leap into the team.

Right at the start, the first win against the Giants from Graz was 20:13. In the next few games, Dusty Thornhill became an important player for the Vikings. After a Vikings player moved to Canada on a scholarship and two other players suffered serious knee injuries, head coach Chris Calaycay ran out of players in the running back position. Islaam Amadu moved up in this position. Linebacker Simon Blach was also partially converted to running back.

Quarterback Christoph Gross had 33 touchdowns with only three interceptions at the end of the season. After the defense had consistently solid performances, the Vikings made it into the Eurobowl after victories over the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (25:13) and the Berlin Adler (34: 7) .

In the Eurobowl, the Vikings competed against the Calanda Broncos , studded with numerous international stars , to whom the Vienna Vikings lost 14:27.

In the AFL , the Vikings suffered only one defeat in the regular season. Away, the Vikings were defeated by the Giants from Graz 34:35 after the Graz team had successfully completed a two-point conversion in the last second. In the AFL playoff, the Danube Dragons kept the duel with the Vikings on the Hohe Warte open for a long time, but in the second half the Vikings turned up again and won in the end with 48:32. This led to the now legendary clash with the Swarco Raiders in the Austrian Bowl . Originally the final should have taken place in Innsbruck , for economic reasons the AFBÖ moved the final to the Hohe Warte at short notice . The Vikings won the game and were henceforth the sole record champions of the AFL .

2013 season

The 2013 season was one of the Vikings' most successful seasons. In the end, with no defeat in all competitions, they celebrated victory in the Austrian Bowl XXIX with 48:31 against the Swarco Raiders and thus won their 12th national championship. The two top Austrian teams also played against each other in the Eurobowl XXVII this year. On July 6, 2013, the Vikings defeated the Raiders 37:14.

2014 season

The Vikings started the 2014 season as defending champions. After the AFL's regular season, they made it into the play-offs with a total of five wins and three defeats. In the play-off semi-final against the Prague Black Panthers, they secured a place in the Austrian Bowl XXX with a 41:27 win. Against the Swarco Raiders, the Vikings won 24:17 and won the state championship for the 13th time.

In the BIG6 European Football League, which was newly created in 2014 to determine the Eurobowl participants, they won in the group stage against the New York Lions from Braunschweig with 14:13. The second group game was followed by a narrow 35:41 defeat against the Dresden Monarchs . The entry into the Eurobowl XXVIII was missed.

2015 season

In the 2015 season, too, defending the title was the goal of the Vikings. The play-offs in the AFL reached the Vikings with only one defeat. The semifinals were won against the Danube Dragons with 38:27. In the Austrian Bowl XXXI they then lost 0:38 against the Swarco Raiders.

In the Big6 European Football League , as in the previous year, it was not possible to reach the final. The entry into the Eurobowl XXIX was missed by a 23:45 defeat against Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns , the later Eurobowl winner.

2016 season

The 2016 season started with a move. The home games were no longer played on the Hohe Warte, but in the FAC stadium . The start of the season in the Vienna Derby against Danube Dragons was still successful with a 31-0 victory. With a record of seven wins and three defeats, they reached the wildcard playoffs. This chance was used and the wildcard playoff was won again with 30:13 against the Danube Dragons. In the semifinals, however, the Vikings lost to the Graz Giants 3: 7.

In the Big6 European Football League , the Vikings traveled to France and scored a 42-0 win against the Argonautes d'Aix-en-Provence . In the subsequent group game against the New Yorker Lions from Braunschweig, the Vikings lost 14:21, which meant that the entry into the Eurobowl XXX was missed.

2017 season

In 2017 the Vikings were able to reach the play-offs directly. After the AFL main round, there were nine wins and only one defeat. In the semifinals, the Vikings managed a 21:18 victory over the Danube Dragons. The final against the Swarco Raiders, the Austrian Bowl XXXIII , could be won with 45:26. It was the 14th national title for the Vikings.

2018 season

In the 2018 season, the Vikings got support from US quarterback Garrett Safron and US wide receiver Reece Horn. The regular season ended with a record of eight wins and two losses. In the play-off semifinals, head coach Chris Calaycay's team met the Graz Giants. These were defeated with 35:21. So the final, Swarco Raiders Tirol vs. Dacia Vienna Vikings fest. The Austrian Bowl XXXIV took place this season in the NV Arena in St. Pölten. In front of 5,500 spectators, the Vikings lost the game three seconds before the end with a field goal with 48:51.

successes

title	master	Runner-up
Austrian Bowl	14 (1994, 1996, 1999-2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012-2014, 2017)	11 (1986, 1988, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019)
Eurobowl	05 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013)	05 (2001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012)
Austrian Cup	02 (1993, 1994)
Viennese national champion	02 (1993, 1994)
Silver Bowl	07 (1987, 2004-2008, 2014)	02 (2002, 2003)
Ladies Bowl	15 (2003-2017)	03 (2000-2002)
College bowl	10 (1991, 1998-2000, 2002-2005, 2008, 2010)	02 (1997, 2001)
Youth bowl	18 (1994–1998, 2001–2005, 2007–2009, 2011, 2013–2016)	03 (2000, 2006, 2010)
Student bowl	12 (1994–1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Mini bowl	05 (2003-2005, 2012, 2013)	06 (2001, 2002, 2007-2010)
Flagbowl	01 (2003)
Austrian Cheerleaders	14 (2000-2014)
Austrian State Champion Cheer All Girl	02 (2015-2016)
Austrian Master Senior Groupstunt All Girl	01 (2015)
Austrian Champion Junior Cheer Elite Coed	01 (2016)
Austrian Junior cheerleaders	14 (2001-2013, 2015)
Austrian Peewees Cheerleaders	11 (2004-2014)
Austrian Junior dance team master	01 (2009)
Austrian Peewees Dance Team Masters	02 (2009, 2011)

Venues

Field goal attempt by Peter Kramberger in the EFL game against Badalona Dracs on the Hohe Warte (2010)

The football center Ravelinstrasse (2011)

High wait

From 1993 to 2015, the Hohe Warte stadium, with a capacity of 4,500 people, was the home ground of the Vikings. Since the lessor, the football club First Vienna FC , was in dire straits, a lease agreement between First Vienna FC and the Vienna Vikings was concluded after a year break.

The fans of the Vikings also call the stadium "Holy View". In 2015, an average of 2,500 to 5,000 fans attended the games of the first team on the Hohe Warte in Vienna-Döbling.

Floridsdorf

For the 2016 season, First Vienna FC ended the lease contract with the Vikings, whereupon the footballers moved to the FAC-Platz , the stadium of Floridsdorfer AC . In the course of this, the stadium was expanded to 4,000 seats. After only one season, however, the Vikings returned to the Holy See, as it is called by fans.

Ravelin Football Center

The open-ended lease was signed on January 17, 2007 , and the Vikings have had access to the American football training center in Ravelinstrasse in Vienna's 11th district since August 1, 2007 . On an area of 25,600 m², this center includes two permanently marked artificial turf football fields, floodlights suitable for television and a grandstand for 888 spectators.

All games of the youth, flag football and women's teams take place at this venue . In addition, the Ravelinstrasse training center also serves as the home ground for other football clubs from Vienna and the surrounding area such as the Vienna Warlords or the AFC Vienna Knights .

Teams

Vikings 1 (fighting team)
Vikings 2
Vikings ladies
U18
U15
U13
U11
Superseniors
Vikings flag
All stars
fusion
Infinity
Twisters
Galaxy
evolution
Destiny (Dance Seniors)
Calypso (Dance Juniors)
Twinkles (Dance Peewees)

The Dacia Vikings are particularly successful in their youth work. In 2004 and 2005, the minis, schoolchildren, youth and juniors won the Austrian championship titles in all classes. After the Dacia Vikings had a weaker junior season in 2006 (2 × runner-up - pupils and youth), the Vikings were able to provide three finalists in 2007 and win an Austrian championship title in the youth class as well as two further runner-up titles (minis and pupils). In 2008 the youth and junior team prevailed in the final and took the title back under the leadership of coaches Obermayer and Herz.

In addition, the management operates the Dacia Vikings Team II, which won the championship title in the Austrian Football Division One in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 . Conceived as a farm team, those who play little or no use in Team I play there. Juniors are already used here and often meet physically superior opponents. Team II consists of two-thirds of young players. In the 2009 season there was no Vikings Team II because not enough players made the internal cut before Christmas 2008. Also in the following season there was no second team.