Sturm Graz
SK Sturm Graz is an Austrian professional football club founded in 1909 and based in Graz. The club plays in the Austrian Football Bundesliga and calls the Merkur Arena home, which they share with local rivals Grazer AK. Throughout their history, Sturm Graz has achieved remarkable success, winning the Austrian championship five times (1998, 1999, 2011, 2024, and 2025) and participating multiple times in both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. The club's colors are black and white, earning them the nickname "the Blackies."
History
Overview
General information about the club
Sportklub Sturm Graz is an Austrian professional association football club based in Graz, competing in the Austrian Football Bundesliga. The club was established in 1909 by students, similar to their neighbors Grazer AK, who were founded in 1902. The team's traditional colors are black and white, and they have become one of Austria's most successful clubs outside of Vienna.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2023-24 season, Sturm Graz clinched their fourth league title with a 2-0 victory over Austria Klagenfurt on the final matchday. This triumph ended Red Bull Salzburg's decade-long dominance of Austrian football and secured a Champions League group stage berth for the first time since 2000-01. The club continued their success by winning their fifth championship in 2025.
History
Early years
SK Sturm Graz was founded in 1909 by students, establishing themselves as a prominent force in regional football. Between 1921 and 1949, the team enjoyed considerable success, winning the regional Styrian championship 11 times. The Anschluss in 1938 brought significant changes as Austria became part of the German Third Reich, and Austrian clubs were integrated into German football competition. Sturm played in the opening round of the 1940 Tschammerpokal and qualified for the Gauliga Ostmark in 1941, though they withdrew partway through the 1941-42 season. In 1949, Sturm made history by entering the Austrian national league as the first non-Vienna-based team.
Successful period
The club's first major breakthrough came under manager Otto Barić when they finished runners-up in the 1980-81 season. In 1983-84, Sturm reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, losing only to Nottingham Forest through a penalty in extra time. The most transformative period began in 1994 when Bosnian coach Ivica Osim took control. Osim built an effective team using young players supplemented by experienced leaders, achieving runners-up in 1995 and winning their first cup title in 1996. The pinnacle came in 1998 when Sturm won their first Austrian Bundesliga title with a record 81 points, finishing 19 points ahead of Rapid Wien. They retained the title in 1999, completing a treble (league, cup, and super cup). During this golden era, Sturm developed the famous "magic triangle" of Mario Haas, Hannes Reinmayr, and Ivica Vastić.
Crisis and recovery
Following their European success, Sturm faced financial difficulties when key players departed and weren't adequately replaced. The club filed for bankruptcy in 2006 due to mounting debts and was forced to rely on young players who were often sold to stabilize finances. Coaches Franco Foda and Gilbert Gress had brief, unsuccessful tenures before Mihailo Petrović took control in 2003, gradually introducing young talent and securing the team's top-flight status.
Current period
After 2009, Sturm began experiencing renewed success. They qualified for the UEFA Europa League group stage in 2009-10 and won the ÖFB-Cup in 2010. The 2010-11 season brought their third championship title, with highlights including a UEFA Europa League qualifying match against Juventus. Under various coaches including Peter Hyballa and Darko Milanič, the club continued to compete at European level while maintaining their position among Austria's elite clubs.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Sturm Graz has won the Austrian Bundesliga five times (1998, 1999, 2011, 2024, 2025) and has been runners-up on eight occasions (1980-81, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2017-18, 2021-22, 2022-23). In cup competitions, they have claimed the Austrian Cup three times (1996, 1997, 2010) and finished as runners-up four times (1947-48, 1974-75, 1997-98, 2001-02). The club has also won the Austrian Supercup twice (1996, 1998) and been runners-up twice (1997, 2002). Additionally, they won the Austrian Amateur Championship in 1934.
Continental and global competitions
In European competition, Sturm has participated in the UEFA Champions League four times (1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2024-25), reaching the second group stage in 2000-01 after sensationally winning their group against Galatasaray, Rangers, and Monaco. They have competed in the UEFA Cup/Europa League eleven times, with their best performance being a quarter-final appearance in 1983-84. The club also won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2008 as joint winners.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The source material does not provide specific information about the club's logo or its historical evolution.
Traditional home and away kits colors
Sturm Graz's traditional colors are black and white, which have been associated with the club since its founding in 1909. These colors have earned the team the nickname "the Blackies" among supporters.
Traditional club anthem
The source material does not contain information about a specific club anthem.
Traditional Rivals
Grazer AK
Sturm Graz shares their biggest rivalry with cross-town neighbors Grazer AK, with whom they contest the Graz Derby. The two clubs share the Merkur Arena, adding extra intensity to their encounters. Since 1920, excluding friendly matches, 199 matches have been played between the two clubs, including 185 league encounters and additional matches in various cup competitions. The first derby took place in 1911, with the most recent occurring on November 2, 2023. Sturm has won more derby matches than their rivals. In 1974, there was significant opposition from both sets of fans against a proposed merger to create "FC Graz."
Austria Wien and Rapid Wien
Sturm maintains rivalries with the two major Vienna clubs, Austria Wien and Rapid Wien, stemming from their historical competition for trophies and the traditional rivalry between Vienna-based and provincial Austrian clubs.
Red Bull Salzburg
Like most Austrian clubs with traditional fan bases, Sturm supporters have developed a strong dislike for Red Bull Salzburg, opposing the energy drink company's acquisition of Austria Salzburg and their subsequent dominance of Austrian football.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
From February 2006, the stadium was called UPC-Arena. In July 2016, Merkur Insurance won the sponsoring rights for the stadium, which is now called the Merkur Arena.
Nicknames
Sturm Graz is commonly known as "the Blackies" due to their traditional black and white colors.
Ownership and finances
In December 1992, Hannes Kartnig was installed as president, appointing his close friend Heinz Schilcher as manager. At that time, Sturm was struggling with enormous debts. Since 2005, the club has faced ongoing financial problems, leading to a bankruptcy petition filed by tax authorities on September 1, 2006. These financial difficulties forced the club to rely heavily on young players who were often sold to consolidate finances.
Traditions and culture
A 2008 study by German market research institute Sport + Markt showed that Sturm has around 360,000 fans across Austria, second only to Rapid Wien supporters. In Europe, there are an estimated 410,000 fans, ranking them as the 117th-most supported club. Several organized fan groups exist, with the biggest being Jewels Sturm and Brigata Graz (both founded in 1994) and Grazer Sturmflut (founded in 1996). Sturm fans maintain strong friendships with supporters of German club Karlsruhe and have contacts with fans of Werder Bremen, Italian clubs Pisa and Carrara, and Maribor ultras.
Stadium
The club's traditional home for many years was the Gruabn, which held over 12,000 people in predominantly standing areas and was characterized by its narrow playing field and close proximity between fans and players. From 1997 to 2005, Gruabn was used only as a training ground for youth and amateur matches before being sold to the city of Graz in 2005 to alleviate financial difficulties. In 1997, the club moved to the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium, shared with local rivals Grazer AK. The venue underwent several name changes, becoming the UPC-Arena in February 2006 and finally the Merkur Arena in July 2016 when Merkur Insurance acquired the naming rights.
Sturm Graz
Club Information
Official Name
Sturm Graz
Short Name
STU
Founding Year
1909
Tactical Formation
4-3-3
Stadium Information
Stadium Name
Merkur Arena
Capacity
32.000
Address
Stadionplatz 1 A
City
Graz, Áo
Surface
grass
Key Personnel
Captain
Stefan Hierländer
Captain's Stats
180cm, 73kg
Head Coach
Fabio Ingolitsch
Head Coach Age
34 Age
Coach Nationality
AT
Recent Honours
| Season | Competition | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | VĐQG Áo | 🏆 2 |
| 2024-2025 | VĐQG Áo | 🏆 1 |
| 2023-2024 | VĐQG Áo | 🏆 1 |
| 2023-2024 | VĐQG Áo | 🏆 2 |
| 2023-2024 | Cúp Quốc Gia Áo | 🏆 1 |
Current Season Stats
| Competition | Rank | Matches | W-D-L | Points |
|---|
Goal Statistics
Admiral Bundesliga (AUT)
0 Scored - 0 Conceded
Admiral Bundesliga (AUT)
18 Scored - 9 Conceded
Admiral Bundesliga (AUT)
33 Scored - 26 Conceded
Europa League (UEFA)
5 Scored - 11 Conceded
Austrian Cup
4 Scored - 0 Conceded