Mathias Theiner (3rd from left) rose to professional football with Austria Salzburg. © SV Austria Salzburg

A traditional club is back – and a South Tyrolean is right in the middle of it

Mathias Theiner has been playing for the traditional Austrian club Austria Salzburg for six years. Now the South Tyrolean has finally celebrated his long-awaited return to professional football with the Violets.

June 11, 2025

From: dl

Since 2019, Mathias Theiner from Laatsch in Vinschgau has been playing for Austria Salzburg in the Austrian Regionalliga West (3rd division). On Sunday, the defender secured promotion with his team. From now on, Theiner will be lacing up his football boots in the Admiral 2nd Division. This 16-team division is considered a semi-professional league—but can officially be called a professional division.

Theiner previously played in Kufstein. The now 27-year-old trained in Bavaria at Bad Aibling. According to Austria Wien's communications director Christoph Fazekas, Theiner is "considered a favorite player of many fans, not least because he had attractive offers, which led him to a well-considered decision to stay with us. The fact that he has now brought himself and all of us to where those temptations came from makes him a truly great player. I felt for him when Mathias' emotions burst out after the final whistle – you couldn't be more deserving of promotion."

Austria Salzburg has one of the most famous fan scenes in Austria.

"Mathias Theiner is someone who never left our side, even in the most difficult times, and, if necessary, even went with us on the most difficult paths. He came at a time when we were far from the glory we enjoy today. He cut down so much for us – and then also demonstrated frustration tolerance: Not being able to get promoted last year as champions was a mental setback. But he simply did it again, and now – all the more stable and infinitely deserved – he's going with us into the 2nd division," Fazekas enthused. SportNews-Demand.

Unique story

Austria Salzburg, which reached the UEFA Cup final against Inter in the 1993/94 season, was re-founded or revived by the fans following Red Bull's entry (and its rebranding as FC Red Bull Salzburg) in 2005. The club from the famous city of Mozart returned to professional football in 2015/16, but only for one year. Now Austria Salzburg, which averages over 1.300 spectators at its home games, is looking to re-establish itself there – with Theiner at the forefront.