Ernst Ocwirk

Ernst Ocwirk

Ocwirk in 1953
Personal information
Date of birth	(1926-03-07)7 March 1926
Place of birth	Vienna, Austria
Date of death	23 January 1980(1980-01-23) (aged 53)
Place of death	Klein-Pöchlarn, Austria
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	FC Stadlau
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1942–1947	Floridsdorfer AC	83	(3)
1947–1956	Austria Wien	209	(31)
1956–1961	Sampdoria	154	(37)
1961–1963	Austria Wien	15	(5)
Total		461	(76)
International career
1945–1962	Austria	62	(6)
Managerial career
1962–1965	Sampdoria
1965–1970	Austria Wien
1970–1971	1. FC Köln
1971–1973	Admira Wacker
Medal record Representing  Austria FIFA World Cup 1954 Switzerland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ernst Ocwirk (7 March 1926 – 23 January 1980) was an Austrian football player and coach. A former midfielder, he is regarded as one of the greatest Austrian men's footballers of all time.

He spent the majority of his playing and coaching years between Austria and Italy, being both player and manager for FK Austria Vienna and Serie A club Sampdoria. He also went on to become a member of the Austria national team, which he led to a third-place finish at the 1954 World Cup as its captain.

Nicknamed Clockwork by the British for his midfield consistency, as well as the nickname being suggested by his surname, he is often cited as the last of the old-fashioned attacking centre-halves; he was known for his aesthetic and technical style of playing, his heading ability, excellent timing (both in offensive and defensive tasks) and his passing range; particularly his long passing ability. The fans loved him for his modest and fair personality. The international media of the era saw Ocwirk as "the best centerhalf in the world". He is considered one of the greatest central midfielders of all time.