LASK Linz - History

History

In the winter of 1908, Albert Siems, head of the royal post-office garage at Linz, who had already been a member of a 1899-founded club for heavy athletics, Linzer Athletik Sportklub Siegfried, decided to establish a football club. At that time, the side already played in the black-and-white lengthwise-touched shirts.

The club's first name was Linzer Sportclub. During an extraordinary general meeting on 14 September 1919, the final change of name, to Linzer Athletik Sport-Klub (short form Linzer ASK) took place, its forerunner setting the example. Nevertheless, the public denomination of the team was largely Lask. The club first appeared in top-flight competition in the Gauliga Ostmark in 1940–41, coming last and being relegated.

LASK achieved its greatest success, in winning the Austrian League in 1965. No club outside of Vienna had ever won before. Additionally, the club won the domestic cup that same year.

In 1985-86's UEFA Cup, the side managed to beat European giants Internazionale Milan at home (1–0), on 23 October 1985, eventually bowing out 4–1 on aggregate (second round).

In 1995, the official name became LASK Linz, as officials wanted to bring out the city's name as a complement to the LASK designation, which had constituted itself as a brand name. It is one of the few clubs of the country's higher divisions that, since coming in existence, never exhibited a sponsor in the official clubname.

In 1997, due to public pressure, LASK Linz officially merged with city rivals FC Linz (formerly known as SK VOEST Linz) which, however, resulted in the cancellation of the latter. Club name, colors, chairmen and members remained the same.