Start of the Second Half of the Season Against the League Leaders
The ADMIRAL 2. Liga is back! In the top match of the round, First Vienna FC 1894 host league leaders SKN St. Pölten at home. Kick-off at the Naturarena Hohe Warte is on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 8:30 PM. Tickets are available in advance at www.1894.at/tickets.
Entering the Spring with a Reshaped Squad
Winter brought several changes for Vienna: Bamba Susso, Marco Djuricin, Louis Birkhahn, Aris Stogiannidis, Dean Titkov and Patrick Schmidt all left the club. In return, the squad was strengthened in a targeted manner. For the defense, experienced player Marco Gantschnig joined from Austria Klagenfurt. Max Mergner (previously FC Bayern München II) and Florian Prohart (previously KSV 1919) added talent and depth to the midfield. In attacking midfield, Meguru Odagaki (previously FCM Traiskirchen) was signed, bringing technical quality and finishing strength.
There were also changes in St. Pölten during the winter break. David Riegler, Furkan Dursun and Can Kurt left the club. New arrivals included Marco Djuricin, Filip Perovic, Alexander Borkovic and Nemanja Celic. In addition, youth internationals Julian Halmich and Paul Scharner were promoted from the St. Pölten academy to the professional squad.
Preparation Inspires Confidence
Vienna can look back on a positive preparation period. The newly assembled squad used the past weeks to grow together as a team. Several adjustments were made on the training ground to ensure the team is perfectly prepared for the spring season.
Head coach Hans Kleer summed it up: “The focus was on our play without the ball, particularly pressing, tackling behavior and counter-pressing. We also worked intensively on set pieces. In possession, we concentrated on build-up play and our actions in the final third. Another important aspect was integrating the new players and developing the team spirit—the training camp in Belek was extremely valuable for that.”
St. Pölten enjoyed an almost perfect autumn campaign. With 32 points, the team coached by Cem Sekerlioglu sits at the top of the table. However, the race is extremely tight, with only three points separating first place from fifth.
Into the Spring with New Energy
After a difficult autumn, Vienna finished the first half of the season in ninth place with 17 points. In the new year, the team aims to show a different face. The first half of the season has been thoroughly reviewed and the right conclusions drawn. The goal is to pull off the first surprise against St. Pölten—with strong support from the home fans.
“The anticipation for this top match is huge. It’s always something special to play in front of our own fans again. I hope for great support, even in cold temperatures. Of course, we want to show that we can implement what we worked on during winter preparation in competitive matches. Our goal is to turn Hohe Warte into a real fortress again,” said head coach Hans Kleer.
NIKE Spring Sale in the Vienna Fan Shop
Starting now, all NIKE items in the Vienna fan shop are available at 50% off (excluding home and away jerseys). In addition, customers who spend €50 or more will receive two free match ticket vouchers (available only in the on-site shop at Hohe Warte).
The sale makes room for new products. Offers are valid while stocks last—either in-store or online at www.1894.at/shop.
First Vienna FC 1894 vs. SKN St. Pölten
ADMIRAL 2. Liga – Round 18
Friday, February 20, 2026, 8:30 PM
Naturarena Hohe Warte
