Austrian football mourns Leo Windtner

The former president of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) passed away on Friday morning. He would have turned 75 on 30 August.

Windtner served as Austrian FA President from 28 February 2009 to 17 October 2021 and was CEO of Energie AG Oberösterreich for 22 years. His tenure saw milestones such as Austria's historic qualification for UEFA EURO 2016, the women's national team reaching the EURO 2017 semi-finals, and the men's team advancing to the round of 16 at EURO 2020.

"It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of our dear Leo Windtner," said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. "Austrian football has lost one of its greatest champions, and European football has lost a true friend. He was a leader of rare vision and principle – a man who built bridges, strengthened the game, and carried its values with dignity on every stage. Under his leadership, Austrian football found renewed purpose and international respect, built on his belief that the game should inspire, connect, and elevate communities."

“Leo Windtner led the ÖFB and Austrian football for many years with great passion and focus,” said ÖFB president Josef Pröll. “He was a president close to the people who saw sport as a unifying force. His decades of dedication, his vision, and his charismatic personality will not be forgotten.”