{{Short description|Austrian footballer (born 1945)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{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<ref name="nach"/> | 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<ref name="nasl">[http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/R/Rautmann.Walter.htm NASL Jerseys Profile]</ref> | goals10 = 0<ref name="nasl"/> | years11 = 1976 | clubs11 = SK Windhoek | managerclubs1 = AmaZulu | manageryears2 = | managerclubs2 = Rabali Blackpool | manageryears3 = | managerclubs3 = Moroka Swallows | manageryears4 = 2000–2001 | managerclubs4 = African Wanderers | manageryears5 = 2001–2002<ref>[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/rautmann-quits-classic-before-big-clash-507477 Rautmann quits Classic before big clash] Cape Argus</ref> | managerclubs5 = Tembisa Classic | manageryears6 = 2003<ref>[https://zoutpansberger.co.za/articles/sport/1072/2003-10-24/mixed-feelings-after-rautmanns-dismissal Mixed feelings after Rautmann's dismissal] Zoutpansberger</ref> | managerclubs6 = Black Leopards | manageryears7 = 2003–20xx | managerclubs7 = Thanda Royal Zulu | manageryears8 = 2006 | managerclubs8 = PJ Stars | manageryears9 = 2006–20xx | managerclubs9 = Garankuwa United | manageryears10 = 2008–2009<ref name="kickoff">[http://www.kickoff.com/news/7877/rautmann-cuts-ties-with-voda-league Rautmann cuts ties with Voda League] Kick Off</ref> | 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,<ref>[http://www.blackaces.co.za/index.cfm?fuse=5&action=9&thismenuitem=482 Hall of Fame] Black Aces</ref> Dangerous Darkies,<ref name="soccer"/> Real Rovers,<ref>[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</ref> Moroka Swallows,<ref>[https://mg.co.za/article/1999-04-30-swallows-coach-cries-foul Swallows coach cries foul] Mail & Guardian</ref><ref>[https://mg.co.za/article/1999-04-16-precious-victory-for-swallows Precious victory for Swallows] Mail & Guardian</ref> Rabali Blackpool,<ref name="soccer">[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</ref> AmaZulu,<ref name="iafrica"/> African Wanderers,<ref>[https://www.iol.co.za/sport/mr-fixit-starts-from-scratch-with-wanderers-344206 'Mr Fixit' starts from scratch with Wanderers]</ref> Tembisa Classic,<ref>[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/messiah-needs-a-miracle-at-classic-504995 'Messiah' needs a miracle at Classic] Cape Argus</ref><ref>[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</ref> Black Leopards,<ref>[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</ref> Zulu Royals,<ref name="iafrica">[http://sport.iafrica.com/soccer/sa/zulu_royals/40423.html Rautmann to restore Zulu royalty] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617220015/http://sport.iafrica.com/soccer/sa/zulu_royals/40423.html |date=17 June 2018 }} Iafrica.com</ref><ref>[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/rautmann-instils-fighting-spirit-in-usuthu-530634 Rautmann instils fighting spirit in Usuthu] Cape Argus</ref> PJ Stars,<ref name="soccer"/> Garankuwa United,<ref>[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</ref> Values Rockets,<ref name="kickoff"/> Mbabane Swallows,<ref name="sowetan"/> and amateur Klerksdorp City.<ref>[https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/kick-off/20160201/281767038228735 Rangers rejoice] Kick Off</ref>
==Career==
===In South Africa=== Before playing in South Africa he played in the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League in 1965 with Montreal Italica.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref name="at"/> before completing a switch to Moroka Swallows as player-coach which was the first black team he was in.<ref name="wiener"/> Since then, he coached only black teams<ref name="wiener"/> and was dubbed 'Mr Fitness',<ref name="soccer"/> 'Mr Fixit', the 'Lion of the North' for his preternatural ability to save clubs from relegation.<ref name="at"/> Also, Rautmann helped some South African footballers earn transfers to Austria, the first at the time.<ref name="at">[http://www.ballesterer.at/heft/thema/von-linz-nach-johannesburg.html Von Linz nach Johannesburg] Ballesterer Fußballmagazin</ref>
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.<ref name="soccer"/>
In 2015, Rautmann was moribund when his heart stopped beating for 20 seconds and had to be revived.<ref>[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</ref>
On South African football, he has stated that it is very corrupt.<ref name="wiener">[https://www.wienerzeitung.at/nachrichten/sport/fussball/41766_Der-Mann-den-sie-Soweto-nannten.html Der Mann, den sie Soweto nannten] Wiener Zeitung</ref>
===In Swaziland=== Summoned to take the helm of Mbabane Swallows of the Swazi Premier League near the end of 2009<ref name="sowetan">[https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2009-12-30-swazi-champs-call-mr-fixit/ Swazi champs call 'Mr Fixit'] Sowetan Live</ref> on a short-term agreement to assist Malian Alou Badara ahead of their CAF Champions League clash encountering SuperSport United,<ref>[http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=11564 SA coach Mr Fitness' coming to assist Birds'] Times of Swaziland</ref> Rautmann arrived in the country by January 2010.<ref>[http://www.times.co.sz/sports/11940-walter-rautmann-arrives-on-saturday.html Walter Rautmann arrives on Saturday!] Times of Swaziland</ref> However, he complained about the state of Swallows' training pitch upon arrival,<ref>[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</ref> blaming the state of the pitch for his team's cup loss to Amagaagasi as well.<ref>[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</ref> A month succeeding his appointment, he severed ties with the club, citing a poor relationship with Alou Badara as the reason for his resignation.<ref>[http://www.kickoff.com/news/13840/walter-rautmann-dumps-swazi-champions Walter Rautmann dumps Swazi champions] Kick Off</ref>
==Personal life== Marrying his wife Lynn in 1968, the Austrian mentor is fluent in English, Dutch, and Afrikaans.<ref name="nach">[http://www.nachrichten.at/sport/alt/wm2010/Linzer-im-Fussball-Sold-Suedafrikas;art56138,404903 Linzer im Fußball-Sold Südafrikas] Nachrichten.at</ref> He has a son, Michael, who was born in 1976.<ref name="nach"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== 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] * {{Worldfootball.net|walter-rautmann|new_id=pe369080}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rautmann, Walter}} 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 Category:Austrian expatriate sportspeople in West Germany Category:AmaZulu F.C. managers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Austrian men's footballers Category:Austrian football managers Category:Austrian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Expatriate football managers in Eswatini Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Namibia Category:Dallas Tornado players Category:Durban City F.C. (2024) managers Category:Austrian expatriate sportspeople in South Africa Category:Hertha BSC players Category:Moroka Swallows F.C. players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in West Germany Category:Garankuwa United F.C. players Category:Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League players Category:20th-century Austrian sportsmen