| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 August 1945 | ||
| Place of birth | Paul-Hahn-Straße, Linz, Austria [1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| LASK | |||
| 1965 | Montreal Italica | ||
| 1968 | Powerlines FC | ||
| 1971 | Berea Park | ||
| Highlands Park F.C. | |||
| 1972–1973 | Hertha BSC | ||
| 1973 | LBV Phönix | ||
| 1973 | Germiston Callies | ||
| Moroka Swallows | |||
| 1975 | Dallas Tornado | 9 [2] | (0 [2] ) |
| 1976 | SK Windhoek | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| AmaZulu | |||
| Rabali Blackpool | |||
| Moroka Swallows | |||
| 2000–2001 | African Wanderers | ||
| 2001–2002 [3] | Tembisa Classic | ||
| 2003 [4] | Black Leopards | ||
| 2003–20xx | Thanda Royal Zulu | ||
| 2006 | PJ Stars | ||
| 2006–20xx | Garankuwa United | ||
| 2008–2009 [5] | Values Rockets | ||
| 2009–2010 | Mbabane Swallows | ||
| 2016 | Klerksdorp City FC | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Walter Rautmann (born 30 August 1945) is an Austrian retired football coach and player. He has coached Mpumalanga Black Aces, [6] Dangerous Darkies, [7] Real Rovers, [8] Moroka Swallows, [9] [10] Rabali Blackpool, [7] AmaZulu, [11] African Wanderers, [12] Tembisa Classic, [13] [14] Black Leopards, [15] Zulu Royals, [11] [16] PJ Stars, [7] Garankuwa United, [17] Values Rockets, [5] Mbabane Swallows, [18] and amateur Klerksdorp City. [19]
Before playing in South Africa he played in the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League in 1965 with Montreal Italica. [20] Unable to secure a contract in the United States, the retired midfielder came to the whites-only South African league with some other Austrians in the 1960s, [21] before completing a switch to Moroka Swallows as player-coach which was the first black team he was in. [22] Since then, he coached only black teams [22] and was dubbed 'Mr Fitness', [7] 'Mr Fixit', the 'Lion of the North' for his preternatural ability to save clubs from relegation. [21] Also, Rautmann helped some South African footballers earn transfers to Austria, the first at the time. [21]
While in charge of Rabali Blackpool, the former footballer was kicked by Gora Ebrahim after he was chosen to be substituted and has not spoken to Ebrahim since. [7]
In 2015, Rautmann was moribund when his heart stopped beating for 20 seconds and had to be revived. [23]
On South African football, he has stated that it is very corrupt. [22]
Summoned to take the helm of Mbabane Swallows of the Swazi Premier League near the end of 2009 [18] on a short-term agreement to assist Malian Alou Badara ahead of their CAF Champions League clash encountering SuperSport United, [24] Rautmann arrived in the country by January 2010. [25] However, he complained about the state of Swallows' training pitch upon arrival, [26] blaming the state of the pitch for his team's cup loss to Amagaagasi as well. [27] A month succeeding his appointment, he severed ties with the club, citing a poor relationship with Alou Badara as the reason for his resignation. [28]
Marrying his wife Lynn in 1968, the Austrian mentor is fluent in English, Dutch, and Afrikaans. [1] He has a son, Michael, who was born in 1976. [1]