Hartberg were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in 2018 and have since established themselves in the top flight. In the 2019–20 season, they qualified for European competition for the first time, earning a place in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League qualifiers.
The club plays its home matches at the Profertil Arena Hartberg, a 4,500-capacity stadium, and traditionally wears blue and white.
History
Historical chart of Hartberg league performance
TSV Hartberg was established on 29 April 1946. After decades in the lower Styrian leagues, the club achieved promotion to the Styrian Landesliga in 1978, supported by sponsor Sparkasse Hartberg.
Throughout the 1980s, Hartberg gained a reputation as a strong cup competitor, often defeating higher-tier teams. In the 1986–87 Austrian Cup, the club reached the round of 16, notably eliminating Wiener Sport-Club. That team featured Hans Krankl, one of Austria's most prominent footballers, a former European Golden Shoe winner and star of Barcelona and the national team. In 1987–88, Hartberg won the Landesliga for the first time but failed to secure promotion after finishing second in the playoffs.
The club's most notable cup performance came in 1988–89, reaching the Austrian Cup quarter-finals as a fourth-tier side. Victories included top-flight SK Austria Klagenfurt and second-tier SV Spittal/Drau, before losing on penalties to SV Austria Salzburg after a 3–3 draw.
In 1989–90, Hartberg won the Landesliga again but was once more unsuccessful in the promotion playoffs. After several mid-table seasons, the club won the league a third time in 1994–95, earning promotion to the Regionalliga Mitte (third tier). That same season, Hartberg reached the Austrian Cup semi-finals, defeating three higher-division clubs before a 1–0 loss to DSV Leoben.
The following season, 1995–96, Hartberg won the Regionalliga Mitte and secured promotion to the Second Division (then known as the 2. Division). However, the club was relegated in 1997–98 following a league restructuring, despite avoiding relegation under the existing format. In 1998–99, Hartberg again won the Regionalliga Mitte but failed to return to the second tier after losing a two-legged promotion playoff to WSG Wattens.
In the 2005–06 season, the club captured its third Regionalliga Mitte title, earning promotion to the Second Division (at that time called the Erste Liga). The club was relegated after a single season and returned to the Regionalliga Mitte for the 2007–08 campaign, where it finished seventh.
In 2008–09, Hartberg won the Regionalliga Ost title on the final matchday, securing promotion to the Austrian Second Division (then known as the First League). In the 2010–11 season, the club finished last in the league but avoided relegation by winning the play-off. However, in 2014–15, after once again finishing in bottom place, Hartberg was relegated to the third tier.
TSV Hartberg were promoted to the Second Division after winning the 2016–17 Regionalliga Mitte. As no clubs from the Regionalliga West or Ost applied for promotion, Hartberg advanced without the need for play-offs.[1] In the 2017–18 Second Division season, Hartberg finished second and secured promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga for the first time in the club's history. Promotion was confirmed following a successful appeal for a top-flight license.[2] In the 2019–20 season, Hartberg finished fifth in the Austrian Bundesliga, qualifying for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase. The club was eliminated in the second qualifying round following a defeat to Polish side Piast Gliwice.[3]
Stadion Hartberg is based in the Styria Hartberg district capital. It is a multipurpose sports facility, both for football matches and it is also suitable for athletics events. In addition, the stadium for other events such as music concerts. In 2006, the stadium of TSV Hartberg was expanded to that it could seat both home and away visitors with a capacity of 6,000 increasing from 4,500.[4][5]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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