Article by Adrian Duţă – Published Monday, April 27, 2026, 6:51 p.m. / Updated Monday, April 27, 2026, 7:01 p.m.
Before the derby won with Salzburgscore 1-0, his ultras Quick Vienna they commemorated Josef Uridil, who was also the first foreign coach in Romania's history.
The former great striker of a century ago was a legend for the Austrians, playing for Rapid Vienna from 1914 to 1925. He won the championship in 1916, 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1923.
PHOTO GALLERY. Scenography from Rapid Vienna – Salzburg in memory of Josef Uridil
“Pepi Tankul”, wrote the supporters from Rapid Vienna, next to 1895, the year of Uridil's birth, under the scenography with the face and name of the former striker. The gallery also wrote the number of trophies won, 5 titles and two Cups.
Rapid Vienna won with Salzburg and reached 27 points. He is in 4th place in the play-off, 3 points behind the leader LASK, with 3 stages left to play.
Josef Uridil, the first foreign selector in the history of Romania
The Austrian Josef Uridil remained in the annals of football for what he did in Austria, but he will definitely remain in the history of the Romanian national team.
The reason? “Pepi” was the first foreign selector in the history of the “tricolors”. He arrived in Romania in 1934, first training Ripensia Timișoara, one of the great teams of those times.
In the same year, he was also appointed to the national bank of Romania. He was then chosen to replace Constantin Rădulescu, who had qualified Romania for the World Championship in Italy, the second final tournament in the history of football.
The leaders of Romanian football at the time chose Uridil for his international reputation, wanting to have a well-known figure on the bench for the tournament in Italy.
What Gazeta Sporturilor wrote in 1934
“We are informed that the FRFA intends to call on the services of the Viennese Uridil. It is for the coach of Ripensia to supervise the national team, starting from Monday, until after the match with Yugoslavia.
This project belongs to Major Th. Davila, who will make proposals in this regard, in the first meeting of the Federal Bureau. Uridil arrives in the Capital on Saturday evening”, he wrote Sports Gazette in 1934.
Josef Uridil had only one match on Romania's bench, score 1-2 with Czechoslovakia, in the round of 1934 World Championship. After the final tournament, he returned to the country, where he finished in 2nd place with Ripensia, losing the final of the championship with Venus Bucharest.
Josef Uridil, star in Austria 100 years ago
Josef Uridil was born on December 24, 1895, in Austria, and at the age of 19 he was sent to the First World War. “Pepi” had a special mission in Pionale, Italy, where he was sent to retrieve the barbed wire left behind by his comrades.
He was elected with a head wound following the War. In 1916 he was sent home and became a legendary footballer and a prominent figure in Austria.
Not only was he the star of the championship, with hundreds of goals scored, but he was also a personality outside of sports. He became a movie star, created his own brand of beer “Uridil” and sugar “Kracheln”. He also starred in the film “Pflicht und Ehre”.
