Walter Rautmann

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Walter Rautmann

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|8|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Paul-Hahn-Straße, Linz, Austria

| position = Midfielder

| years1 =

| clubs1 = LASK

| years2 = 1965

| clubs2 = Montreal Italica

| years3 = 1968

| clubs3 = Powerlines FC

| years4 = 1971

| clubs4 = Berea Park

| clubs5 = Highlands Park F.C.

| years6 = 1972–1973

| clubs6 = Hertha BSC

| years7 = 1973

| clubs7 = LBV Phönix

| years8 = 1973

| clubs8 = Germiston Callies

| years9 =

| clubs9 = Moroka Swallows

| years10 = 1975

| clubs10 = Dallas Tornado

| caps10 = 9[http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/R/Rautmann.Walter.htm NASL Jerseys Profile]

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 1976

| clubs11 = SK Windhoek

| managerclubs1 = AmaZulu

| manageryears2 =

| managerclubs2 = Rabali Blackpool

| manageryears3 =

| managerclubs3 = Moroka Swallows

| manageryears4 = 2000–2001

| managerclubs4 = African Wanderers

| manageryears5 = 2001–2002[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/rautmann-quits-classic-before-big-clash-507477 Rautmann quits Classic before big clash] Cape Argus

| managerclubs5 = Tembisa Classic

| manageryears6 = 2003[https://zoutpansberger.co.za/articles/sport/1072/2003-10-24/mixed-feelings-after-rautmanns-dismissal Mixed feelings after Rautmann's dismissal] Zoutpansberger

| managerclubs6 = Black Leopards

| manageryears7 = 2003–20xx

| managerclubs7 = Thanda Royal Zulu

| manageryears8 = 2006

| managerclubs8 = PJ Stars

| manageryears9 = 2006–20xx

| managerclubs9 = Garankuwa United

| manageryears10 = 2008–2009[http://www.kickoff.com/news/7877/rautmann-cuts-ties-with-voda-league Rautmann cuts ties with Voda League] Kick Off

| managerclubs10 = Values Rockets

| manageryears11 = 2009–2010

| managerclubs11 = Mbabane Swallows

| manageryears12 = 2016

| managerclubs12 = Klerksdorp City FC

}}

Walter Rautmann (born 30 August 1945) is an Austrian retired football coach and player. He has coached Mpumalanga Black Aces,[http://www.blackaces.co.za/index.cfm?fuse=5&action=9&thismenuitem=482 Hall of Fame] Black Aces Dangerous Darkies, Real Rovers,[https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/gordon-s-legends-tavern-news/tavern-talk-with-walter-rautmann-part-2/202763 Tavern Talk with Walter Rautmann (Part 2)] Soccerladuma.co.za Moroka Swallows,[https://mg.co.za/article/1999-04-30-swallows-coach-cries-foul Swallows coach cries foul] Mail & Guardian[https://mg.co.za/article/1999-04-16-precious-victory-for-swallows Precious victory for Swallows] Mail & Guardian Rabali Blackpool,[https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/gordon-s-legends-tavern-news/tavern-talk-with-ex-psl-coach-walter-rautmann-part-1/202392 Tavern Talk with ex-PSL coach Walter Rautmann (Part 1)] Soccerladuma.co.za AmaZulu, African Wanderers,[https://www.iol.co.za/sport/mr-fixit-starts-from-scratch-with-wanderers-344206 'Mr Fixit' starts from scratch with Wanderers] Tembisa Classic,[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/messiah-needs-a-miracle-at-classic-504995 'Messiah' needs a miracle at Classic] Cape Argus[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/its-a-classic-case-of-we-were-robbed-506171 It's a Classic case of 'we were robbed'] Cape Argus Black Leopards,[https://www.zoutnet.co.za/articles/sport/2762/2003-02-21/rautman-to-come-to-leopards-rescue Rautman to come to Leopard's rescue] Zoutnet Zulu Royals,[http://sport.iafrica.com/soccer/sa/zulu_royals/40423.html Rautmann to restore Zulu royalty] Iafrica.com[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/rautmann-instils-fighting-spirit-in-usuthu-530634 Rautmann instils fighting spirit in Usuthu] Cape Argus PJ Stars, Garankuwa United,[https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/sunday-times/20061022/284210871109491 Mazolam puts his flabby butt on the line and it's just too much to bare] Sunday Times Values Rockets, Mbabane Swallows, and amateur Klerksdorp City.[https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/kick-off/20160201/281767038228735 Rangers rejoice] Kick Off

Career

=In South Africa=

Before playing in South Africa he played in the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League in 1965 with Montreal Italica.{{Cite news|last=Marks|first=Jack|date=17 May 1965|title=Montreal Italica Jolts City and Sir Stanley 3-2: Greaf Knight for Soccer Sets Up One Goal|page=25|work=The Globe and Mail}} 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, before completing a switch to Moroka Swallows as player-coach which was the first black team he was in. Since then, he coached only black teams and was dubbed 'Mr Fitness', 'Mr Fixit', the 'Lion of the North' for his preternatural ability to save clubs from relegation. Also, Rautmann helped some South African footballers earn transfers to Austria, the first at the time.[http://www.ballesterer.at/heft/thema/von-linz-nach-johannesburg.html Von Linz nach Johannesburg] Ballesterer Fußballmagazin

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.

In 2015, Rautmann was moribund when his heart stopped beating for 20 seconds and had to be revived.[https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/south-africa/rautmann-s-death-defying-feat-after-his-heart-stops-beating-for-20-seconds/202294 Rautmann's Death Defying Feat After His Heart Stops Beating For 20 Seconds] Soccerladuma.co.za

On South African football, he has stated that it is very corrupt.[https://www.wienerzeitung.at/nachrichten/sport/fussball/41766_Der-Mann-den-sie-Soweto-nannten.html Der Mann, den sie Soweto nannten] Wiener Zeitung

=In Swaziland=

Summoned to take the helm of Mbabane Swallows of the Swazi Premier League near the end of 2009[https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2009-12-30-swazi-champs-call-mr-fixit/ Swazi champs call 'Mr Fixit'] Sowetan Live on a short-term agreement to assist Malian Alou Badara ahead of their CAF Champions League clash encountering SuperSport United,[http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=11564 SA coach Mr Fitness' coming to assist Birds'] Times of Swaziland Rautmann arrived in the country by January 2010.[http://www.times.co.sz/sports/11940-walter-rautmann-arrives-on-saturday.html Walter Rautmann arrives on Saturday!] Times of Swaziland However, he complained about the state of Swallows' training pitch upon arrival,[http://www.times.co.sz/sports/12540-prince-of-wales-sports-ground-is-diplorable.html Prince of Wales Sports ground is diplorable'] Times of Swaziland blaming the state of the pitch for his team's cup loss to Amagaagasi as well.[http://www.times.co.sz/sports/12786-badara-rautmann-blame-it-on-unplayable-pitch.html Badara, Rautmann blame it on unplayable pitch] Times of Swaziland A month succeeding his appointment, he severed ties with the club, citing a poor relationship with Alou Badara as the reason for his resignation.[http://www.kickoff.com/news/13840/walter-rautmann-dumps-swazi-champions Walter Rautmann dumps Swazi champions] Kick Off

Personal life

Marrying his wife Lynn in 1968, the Austrian mentor is fluent in English, Dutch, and Afrikaans.[http://www.nachrichten.at/sport/alt/wm2010/Linzer-im-Fussball-Sold-Suedafrikas;art56138,404903 Linzer im Fußball-Sold Südafrikas] Nachrichten.at He has a son, Michael, who was born in 1976.

References

External links

[https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/south-africa/walter-rautmann-advises-players-with-health-issues/198037 Walter Rautmann Advises Players With Health Issues]
[http://www.kickoff.com/news/2936/rautmann-turns-down-offer-to-join-nathi-lions Rautmann turns down offer to join Nathi Lions]
[http://www.times.co.sz/sports/22053-spoko-was-my-best-player-ever-rautmann.html Spoko' was my best player ever- Rautmann]
[https://www.zerozero.pt/player.php?id=435152 at ZeroZero]

Category:Living people

Category:1945 births

Category:Austrian expatriate men's footballers

Category:Austrian expatriate football managers

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States

Category:Expatriate soccer managers in South Africa

Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players

Category:Black Leopards F.C. managers

Category:Highlands Park F.C. players

Category:Moroka Swallows F.C. managers

Category:Austrian expatriate sportspeople in Canada