VIENNA – Florian Wiegele stands on the cusp of history, potentially becoming the tallest player to ever represent the Austrian national team. A runout in either Friday’s friendly against Ghana at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna (kick-off 18:00 local time, 16:00 UTC) or Tuesday’s match against South Korea could see the Viktoria Pilsen goalkeeper surpass former striker Stefan Maierhofer’s height of 2.02 meters. The 25-year-old’s inclusion in Ralf Rangnick’s squad signals a growing confidence in his abilities and a recognition of the increasing importance of physical presence in modern goalkeeping.
Wiegele’s “interesting profile,” as described by Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick, and his recent performances for Viktoria Pilsen have positioned him as a strong contender for a regular spot in the national team setup. The modern game increasingly favors taller goalkeepers, a trend Wiegele acknowledges. “If you appear at the top clubs, goalkeepers are generally getting taller rather than shorter,” he noted during the team’s training camp in Marbella.
First Impressions “Very Positive”
Rangnick included Wiegele in the ÖFB squad for the first time, and the towering goalkeeper spoke positively about his initial experiences with the national team and the training sessions. The call-up represents a significant step in Wiegele’s career, offering a chance to showcase his talent on the international stage.
His height provides a clear advantage in dealing with crosses and set pieces. However, Wiegele has also impressed with his distribution skills during the Marbella camp. “You can find weaknesses everywhere, that’s why you train,” the Graz native said. “I hope I’m not too bad with my feet.” A potential drawback for taller goalkeepers is the time it takes to react to low shots, but Wiegele insists he’s working to improve his explosiveness.
A Late Growth Spurt
Wiegele has been a goalkeeper since the age of six, but his significant growth spurt didn’t occur until he was between 16 and 18 years old, while playing in the youth system at Sturm Graz. This period was also marked by injuries. “At that time, I was often injured, I had three hairline fractures in my ankle, which meant I was practically unable to play for two years,” he explained. “Over time, I had to relearn all the movement patterns.”
He honed his skills in the Landesliga with Lebring and the Regionalliga with Gleisdorf before breaking into professional football with DSV Leoben in 2023 at the age of 22. A move to Pilsen followed in the summer of 2024. He spent the spring of 2025 on loan at GAK before establishing himself as the first-choice goalkeeper for the Czech side in November. His contract with the Czech runners-up runs until 2027. His European campaign ended in the intermediate round of the Europa League against Panathinaikos Athens.
Currently, the Czech League is considered by Wiegele to be a step ahead of the Austrian Bundesliga. “There’s simply more pace, more duels, it’s simply harder.” He acknowledges the difference isn’t massive. “If you look at how the teams perform internationally, I think the Czech league is now ahead.” Slavia Prague played in the Champions League, while Sparta Prague reached the Conference League round of 16.
“World Cup Maybe a Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance”
Wiegele’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed by the ÖFB. Goalkeeping coach Michael Gspurning first contacted him last year. The former goalkeeper also informed him of his first call-up a week and a half ago. Now, Wiegele, who cites German World Cup winner Manuel Neuer as his role model, is determined to fight for his chance at the World Cup. “Being part of the national team is already a huge thing, but being at a World Cup is even more so.” He believes that as an Austrian, these opportunities are rare. “We’re not there every four years. Maybe a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”
The Austrian national team is an “extremely close-knit group,” Wiegele observed after experiencing the atmosphere in Marbella. “But they are very open with new players.” He previously played alongside Romano Schmid in the Sturm Graz youth system. Schmid, currently playing for Werder Bremen, is the shortest player in the ÖFB squad at 1.68 meters – a 37-centimeter difference.
The upcoming friendlies against Ghana and South Korea represent a crucial opportunity for Wiegele to impress Rangnick and stake his claim for a place in the squad. The matches will provide valuable preparation for Austria as they continue their journey towards future international tournaments. Fans can watch the match against Ghana live on ORF1 starting at 17:15 local time (16:15 UTC) on Friday.
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