Austrian Football Gets a Boost: Expanded Rosters and Unified Funding on the Horizon
Austrian football is on the cusp of exciting changes, with major decisions made recently impacting both player rosters and financial strategies for the top two leagues.
More Substitutions, More Opportunities
Starting in the 2025/26 season, Bundesliga clubs will see a significant change in their match-day squads. Instead of the customary seven substitutes, teams will be allowed to name nine players on the bench. This means each club’s match-day roster will expand from 18 to a maximum of 20. This move is expected to give coaches more tactical flexibility and potentially create more opportunities for young players.
“In view of the increasing stress on players, especially in international competitions, and the comparison with other European leagues, we believe this change makes perfect sense. We also hope that it will provide more opportunities for the use of young players,” explained CEO Christian Ebenbauer in a statement.
This new rule also has implications for the “Austrian Pot,” a fund that supports Austrian players. Clubs nominating 19 or 20 players for a match and wishing to participate in the pot’s funding will need to field 13 Austrian players. Clubs fielding only 18 players will be required to have 12 Austrian players on the pitch.
UEFA Funds Extend to Second Division
In a move designed to further strengthen Austrian football, UEFA funds will now be extended to second division clubs. This year, these clubs will benefit from approximately €650,000 in UEFA distributions, a portion of the seven percent of revenue UEFA sets aside from its club competitions for teams that don’t qualify internationally.
The increased payments are attributed to the impressive performance of Austrian Bundesliga giants Sturm Graz and Red Bull Salzburg, both reaching the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. This solidarity payment will benefit all eight teams in the top division who are competing solely on a national level this year, as well as the clubs in the second division.
Unified Strategy Funding for a Stronger Future
Perhaps the most significant development is the implementation of a new funding strategy. This includes establishing a unified “strategy funding pot” specifically for the 28 top clubs in Austria. Money from the previous infrastructure pot and security fund will be reducted into this new pot and distributed with an 80:20 split between Leagues 1 and 2.
This new funding model also includes all club fines and surpluses from UEFA association fees. The funds will be used to support crucial areas such as training infrastructure, prevention measures, and inclusion initiatives, ultimately benefiting a wider range of clubs.
As Christian Ebenbauer points out, “more clubs will now benefit” from this unified approach to financial support.
How might changes to the “Austrian Pot” funding mechanism impact player development programs and academies in Austria?
## Austrian Football: On the Rise?
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re diving into the world of Austrian football, where some exciting changes are on the horizon. Joining me is Alex Reed, a football expert with deep knowledge of the Austrian game. Welcome to the show, Alex Reed.
**Alex Reed:** Thanks for having me. It’s great to be here.
**Host:** So, let’s talk about these new developments. Starting next season, Bundesliga clubs will be allowed to name nine substitutes instead of the usual seven. What are your thoughts on this rule change?
**Alex Reed:** I think it’s a really positive step for Austrian football. As you mentioned, it gives coaches more tactical flexibility during matches and opens up more opportunities for young players to get on the pitch. This can only be good for the development of Austrian talent. [[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_in_Austria)]
**Host:** Absolutely. We’ve seen in other European leagues how expanded rosters have benefited teams and players.
**Alex Reed:** Exactly. It’s keeping pace with what’s happening in other leagues and addressing the increasing demands placed on players, especially with international competitions.
**Host:** Now, there’s also talk about changes to the “Austrian Pot,” a fund that supports Austrian players. Can you tell us more about that?
**Alex Reed:** Yes,** the “Austrian Pot” is another interesting development. Clubs who name bigger squads will likely contribute more to this fund, which can provide valuable resources for player development programs and academies across the country. It’s a win-win situation.
**Host:** It sounds like Austrian football is heading in a very positive direction. Thanks so much for joining us, Alex Reed, and sharing your insights.
**Alex Reed:** My pleasure.
**Host:** And to our viewers, thanks for watching!
