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On Thursday @WolfsbergerAC will "host" @SpursOfficial in the biggest game in their history.
The game in Budapest will be their first European knockout tie and the gulf between the two clubs is enormous. So, let's compare them & talk about the rise of Wolfsberger AC!
THREAD
The game in Budapest will be their first European knockout tie and the gulf between the two clubs is enormous. So, let's compare them & talk about the rise of Wolfsberger AC!
THREAD
Firstly, where is Wolfsberg?
Wolfsberg is a city of 25,025 inhabitants in the state of Carinthia in the south of Austria, an area more known for winter sports than football. It is one of the smallest places to ever reach the #UEL
knockouts.
Wolfsberg is a city of 25,025 inhabitants in the state of Carinthia in the south of Austria, an area more known for winter sports than football. It is one of the smallest places to ever reach the #UEL
knockouts.
How's the ground?
WAC (as they're known) play at the modest 8,100 capacity Lavanttal-Arena, which has a scenic backdrop.
Although in Europe they've played in both Graz (last season) & Klagenfurt (this season) to fit to UEFA standards - so they're used to playing away in Europe.
WAC (as they're known) play at the modest 8,100 capacity Lavanttal-Arena, which has a scenic backdrop.
Although in Europe they've played in both Graz (last season) & Klagenfurt (this season) to fit to UEFA standards - so they're used to playing away in Europe.
A slight contrast with the new 62,850 capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium we think 
Where have WAC come from?
The club were promoted to the Bundesliga in 2012 for the first time after being a long-term lower division side and haven't looked back.
They finished 5th in their first season. But two back-to-back third place finishes are their highest ever
The club were promoted to the Bundesliga in 2012 for the first time after being a long-term lower division side and haven't looked back.
They finished 5th in their first season. But two back-to-back third place finishes are their highest ever
This is the third European campaign in their history and first time ever in the knockouts.
How have they managed to compete against the likes of Salzburg, Rapid et al at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga on a shoestring budget?
How have they managed to compete against the likes of Salzburg, Rapid et al at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga on a shoestring budget?
WAC are the aim of every small club. Well-managed, top coaching, fiscally sensible & great scouting.
Their current success was moulded by Gerhard Struber (who was poached by Barnsley) and continued without fuss by Ferdinand Feldhofer. Both have a similar managerial philosophy.
Their current success was moulded by Gerhard Struber (who was poached by Barnsley) and continued without fuss by Ferdinand Feldhofer. Both have a similar managerial philosophy.
Their scouting network has unearthed gems such as Israeli striker Shon Weissman.
Signed on a free transfer, 30 goals and a Golden Boot later, he was sold for €4m to Real Valladolid in summer. A bonafide jackpot sum in a league of modest transfer fees (Salzburg aside!).
Signed on a free transfer, 30 goals and a Golden Boot later, he was sold for €4m to Real Valladolid in summer. A bonafide jackpot sum in a league of modest transfer fees (Salzburg aside!).
Even in Austrian Bundesliga terms, they're a modest sized club.
The majority of the squad have been brought in for minor fees or free transfers and they utterly smashed their record transfer fee to bring in Dario Vizinger from NK Celje for €800k in the summer.
The majority of the squad have been brought in for minor fees or free transfers and they utterly smashed their record transfer fee to bring in Dario Vizinger from NK Celje for €800k in the summer.
So, who are WAC's main men?
Michi Liendl. Signed on a free from FC Twente is the Austrian Bundesliga's assist king & at 35-years-old is their main creative outlet. One of the biggest cult figures in Austrian football. He scored a hat-trick against Feyenoord in the group stage.
Michi Liendl. Signed on a free from FC Twente is the Austrian Bundesliga's assist king & at 35-years-old is their main creative outlet. One of the biggest cult figures in Austrian football. He scored a hat-trick against Feyenoord in the group stage.
Dejan Joveljic, a Serbian striker on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, is having a great season so far & in double figures. He also scored this beauty at the weekend. Pick that out!
Defensive rock Dominik Baumgartner is also a big favourite of ours. https://twitter.com/WolfsbergerAC/status/1361282072506216448
Defensive rock Dominik Baumgartner is also a big favourite of ours. https://twitter.com/WolfsbergerAC/status/1361282072506216448
Despite being new to the #UEL stage, there's been some memorable scalps...
A 4-0 win away at Borussia Monchengladbach
A 1-1 & a 2-2 draw vs. Roma
A 4-1 win away & a 1-0 home win vs. Feyenoord.
A 1-0 win away at CSKA Moscow.
They aren't to be taken lightly Spurs fans!
stage, there's been some memorable scalps...A 4-0 win away at Borussia Monchengladbach
A 1-1 & a 2-2 draw vs. Roma
A 4-1 win away & a 1-0 home win vs. Feyenoord.
A 1-0 win away at CSKA Moscow.
They aren't to be taken lightly Spurs fans!
Not many expected them to qualify from their #UEL group this season: a tough group with Dinamo Zagreb, Feyenoord and CSKA Moscow - but they sealed it with a final day win over the Dutch side.
We were there as they celebrated a remarkable achievement https://twitter.com/OtherBundesliga/status/1337167516876099586
group this season: a tough group with Dinamo Zagreb, Feyenoord and CSKA Moscow - but they sealed it with a final day win over the Dutch side. We were there as they celebrated a remarkable achievement
https://twitter.com/OtherBundesliga/status/1337167516876099586
Now, let's compare. The financial gulf between the clubs is vast.
Squad Market Value
WAC: €18.16m
Spurs: €719.65m (39.62x larger)
Record Transfer Fee
WAC: Vizinger (€800k)
Spurs: Ndombélé (€60m)
Record Transfer Received
WAC: Weissman (€4m)
Spurs: Bale (€101m)
Squad Market Value
WAC: €18.16m
Spurs: €719.65m (39.62x larger)
Record Transfer Fee
WAC: Vizinger (€800k)
Spurs: Ndombélé (€60m)
Record Transfer Received
WAC: Weissman (€4m)
Spurs: Bale (€101m)
The Puskás Aréna in Budapest will host the game.
WAC's biggest ever game will take place not in their own area (Klagenfurt is still a 40 min drive from Wolfsberg), but not even their own country. It's an unfortunate situation & would've been a huge financial boon for the club.
WAC's biggest ever game will take place not in their own area (Klagenfurt is still a 40 min drive from Wolfsberg), but not even their own country. It's an unfortunate situation & would've been a huge financial boon for the club.
So Mourinho, Kane, Son, Bale et al might think of it as an simple passage through, but this is a David vs. Goliath clash.
Nobody expects WAC to win this tie. But nobody expected them to qualify from the group, or finish 3rd in consecutive seasons. They are remarkable.
Nobody expects WAC to win this tie. But nobody expected them to qualify from the group, or finish 3rd in consecutive seasons. They are remarkable.
And hopefully it won't be the peak of this club's emergence and there'll be future European knockout games to come for the modest Carinthian club that could - with fans in attendance.
Now show @SpursOfficial what you've got on Thursday!
Now show @SpursOfficial what you've got on Thursday!
