Anton "Toni" Polster (born 10 March 1964) is an Austrian professional football coach and former player. He was known to fans as "Toni Doppelpack" – "Toni Brace" because of his tendency to score twice in a match. He is one of the all-time goalscorers for the Austria national team.
Playing career Polster came through the Austria Wien youth system to make his professional league debut in August 1982, at 18 years of age. He scored his first Bundesliga goal three weeks later and went on to win three league titles and a domestic cup before moving abroad to play a season in Serie A with Torino. Polster then spent the five following years at Spanish teams Sevilla, Logroñés and Rayo Vallecano, ending up with these teams in mid-table as well except for one year, 1989–90, in which Sevilla FC ended in sixth place and played UEFA Cup the following year. In 1990, he finished runner-up in the Spanish goalscoring chart. In 1993, he moved to Germany to spend five years at Köln, again ending up in mid-table every season except for the last one in which he experienced relegation. That made him join Borussia Mönchengladbach next year but they got also relegated at the end of the season and Polster returned to Austria to play a final season at Austria Salzburg. Polster was chosen in Austria's Team of the Century in 2001 and as Austrian Sportsman of the Year in 1997.
In 1983, Polster was selected for the Austria U20 to play at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship. In November 1982, Polster debuted for the Austria in a 4–0 victory against Turkey, immediately scoring his first goal. He participated at the 1990 and 1998 World Cups. Polster earned 95 caps, scoring a record 44 goals. He overtook the previous goalscoring record, set by Hans Krankl, in November 1996, scoring his 35th goal against Latvia.
His final (and record-breaking 94th) international appearance was thought to be a 1998 FIFA World Cup match against Italy in June, but he was given an official farewell match in September 2000 against Iran, in which he was substituted in the 21st minute by Christian Mayrleb. His appearances record was surpassed by Andreas Herzog in May 2002.
Coaching career Polster began his coaching career in January 2010 as the reserve-team coach at LASK. In June 2011, he became the head coach of SC Wiener Viktoria in the Austrian 2. Landesliga, the fifth tier league in Austrian football. During his first season at Wiener Viktoria, the team promoted to the fourth tier and consequently one year afterwards to the Austrian Regional League. On 17 June 2013, he accepted his first coaching role in the Austrian Bundesliga, taking over as the head coach of the top-flight side Admira Wacker Mödling. After starting the season with three straight defeats, including a 7–1 defeat to newly promoted Scholz Grödig, Polster was fired by Admira on 9 August 2013. Polster returned to SC Wiener Viktoria on 13 January 2014.
Personal life Polster has two children named Anton and Lisa-Marie from his first marriage with Elisabeth Polster. The couple divorced in 2008 due to Polster's alleged relationship with other women. He got married for the second time to a woman named Birgit in 2018.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAustria Wien1982–83Austrian Bundesliga26111285—35181983–84231381081—39241984–8529246963—41361985–8634324444—42401986–8734394443114347Total1461192329301611200165Torino1987–88Serie A279125—104014Sevilla1988–89La Liga329———3291989–903533———35331990–9135134141—4315Total102554141—11057Logroñés1991–92La Liga381477——4521Rayo Vallecano1992–93La Liga311400——31141. FC Köln1993–94Bundesliga251712——26191994–95321752——37191995–9628111043—33141996–97322110——33211997–9833131052—3915Total150799495—16888Borussia Mönchengladbach1998–99Bundesliga311143——35141999–20002. Bundesliga7410——84Total381553——4318Austria Salzburg1999–2000Austrian Bundesliga12243——165Career total5443076452432221653382
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsAustria1982111983001984301985411986651987621988611989641990101199120199285199371199475199577199662199786199873199900200010Total9544
Managerial
+ Managerial record by club and tenureTeamFromToRecordGWDLGFGAGDWin % LASK (A) 4 January 2010 29 November 2010 SC Wiener Viktoria 1 July 2011 17 June 2013 Admira Wacker Mödling 17 June 2013 9 August 2013 SC Wiener Viktoria 13 January 2014 Present Total 1.Only 2010–11 season matches are included. Matches before 4 January 2010 – 6 August 2010 not included. 2.Only 2012–13 season matches are included. Matches from the 2011–12 season not included.
Honours Austria Wien Austrian Football Bundesliga: 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86 Austrian Cup: 1985–86
Individual Austrian Football Bundesliga Top scorer: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 Austrian Footballer of the Year: 1985–86, 1996–97 European Golden Shoe: 1986–87 Kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1993-94
References
External links
Toni Polster at Austria Archive