Moritz Häusler
Encyclopedia
Moses “Moritz” or “Moschkatz” Häusler (born July 20, 1901 in Austria
; died December 24, 1952 in Austria
) was an early twentieth century Austrian football
inside forward
who played professionally in Austria and the United States. He also earned seven caps with the Austrian national team
between 1923 and 1925.
. In the fall of 1926, Häusler signed with the New York Giants
. In 1928, the ASL and the United States Soccer Federation
began a struggle for supremacy in U.S. soccer. Known as the “Soccer War”, it led to the USFA declaring the ASL an “outlaw league” in the fall of 1928. At that time, Häusler had already played six games with the Giants. Declining to play with an “outlaw team” Häusler jumped to the competing, and legal, Eastern Professional Soccer League where he signed with New York Hakoah
. New York Hakoah took second place in the ESL and won the 1929 National Challenge Cup
with Häusler scoring a goal in Hakoah’s 3-0 victory over St. Louis Madison Kennel
. At the end of 1929, the ASL made peace with USFA which brought about the merger of the ASL and ESL and the merger of the ESL New York Hakoah
with the ASL Brooklyn Hakoah
to form the Hakoah All-Stars
. Häusler joined the new team and remained with it until 1931. That year, he signed with the New York Americans
as the ASL began to collapse. In 1933, the Americans lost in the 1933 National Challenge Cup
championship series. Following that loss, Häusler returned to Austria where he rejoined Hakoah Vienna for the 1933-1934 season. He retired and became a coach, but returned to Hakoah Vienna at the end of the 1935-1936 season.
. His first came in an August 1923 victory over Finland
. He scored in his second game with the national team, a win over Romania
. His last game was a November 1925 game with Switzerland
.
. He later coached in northern Europe and Luxembourg.
In 1950, he returned to Vienna where he owned a coffee house until his death in 1952.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
; died December 24, 1952 in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
) was an early twentieth century Austrian football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
inside forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played professionally in Austria and the United States. He also earned seven caps with the Austrian national team
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
between 1923 and 1925.
Professional
Häusler began his career with youth teams in Romania and Armenia. In 1918, he signed with Hakoah Vienna in Austria, but did not break into the first team until the 1919-1920 season. However, he remained a minor role player until the 1922-1923 season. In 1926, Hakoah Vienna toured the United States. Impressed by the high pay and low level of anti-Semitism compared to Europe, Häusler and several of his team mates decided to return to the United States to play in the American Soccer LeagueAmerican Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. In the fall of 1926, Häusler signed with the New York Giants
New York Giants (soccer)
New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...
. In 1928, the ASL and the United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
began a struggle for supremacy in U.S. soccer. Known as the “Soccer War”, it led to the USFA declaring the ASL an “outlaw league” in the fall of 1928. At that time, Häusler had already played six games with the Giants. Declining to play with an “outlaw team” Häusler jumped to the competing, and legal, Eastern Professional Soccer League where he signed with New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah is a former United States soccer club based in New York City.-New York Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players from SC Hakoah Wien, including among others Béla Guttmann and Rudolph Nickolsburger, they initially played in the Eastern Soccer League in the fall of 1928. In 1929...
. New York Hakoah took second place in the ESL and won the 1929 National Challenge Cup
1929 National Challenge Cup
The 1928–29 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. This edition of the soccer tournament featured 100 entrants...
with Häusler scoring a goal in Hakoah’s 3-0 victory over St. Louis Madison Kennel
St. Louis Madison Kennel
St. Louis Madison Kennel was a U.S. soccer team established in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. The team played in the St. Louis Soccer League for two seasons. Madison Kennel reached the final of the 1929 National Challenge Cup where they lost 5-0 on aggregate to New York Hakoah in a two game, home...
. At the end of 1929, the ASL made peace with USFA which brought about the merger of the ASL and ESL and the merger of the ESL New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah is a former United States soccer club based in New York City.-New York Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players from SC Hakoah Wien, including among others Béla Guttmann and Rudolph Nickolsburger, they initially played in the Eastern Soccer League in the fall of 1928. In 1929...
with the ASL Brooklyn Hakoah
Brooklyn Hakoah
Brooklyn Hakoah is a former United States soccer team club based in Brooklyn, New York that played in the American Soccer League.-Brooklyn Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players of SC Hakoah Wien, they played in the American Soccer League in 1929...
to form the Hakoah All-Stars
Hakoah All-Stars
Hakoah All-Stars is a former United States football club that played in the American Soccer League between 1930 and 1932. The club was formed after the merger of Brooklyn Hakoah of the ASL and New York Hakoah of the Eastern Soccer League...
. Häusler joined the new team and remained with it until 1931. That year, he signed with the New York Americans
New York Americans (soccer)
The New York Americans were an American soccer club founded in 1931. Based in New York, New York, it played in both the first and second American Soccer Leagues.-History:...
as the ASL began to collapse. In 1933, the Americans lost in the 1933 National Challenge Cup
1933 National Challenge Cup
The 1933 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. As in 1931, the ASL teams played a round robin format instead of direct knockout games. The five New York team formed the Metropolitan group...
championship series. Following that loss, Häusler returned to Austria where he rejoined Hakoah Vienna for the 1933-1934 season. He retired and became a coach, but returned to Hakoah Vienna at the end of the 1935-1936 season.
National team
Häusler earned seven caps, scoring two goals, with the Austria national teamAustria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
. His first came in an August 1923 victory over Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
. He scored in his second game with the national team, a win over Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
. His last game was a November 1925 game with Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
.
Coach
Following his retirement in 1934, Häusler moved to Poland to coach Garbarnia KrakówGarbarnia Kraków
RKS Garbarnia Kraków is a Polish football and sports club from Ludwinow - a historical district of the city of Kraków. The club’s unusual name comes from the nearby tannery of the Dluzynski brothers, which was the original club sponsor...
. He later coached in northern Europe and Luxembourg.
In 1950, he returned to Vienna where he owned a coffee house until his death in 1952.