Carinthia's football star Bernd Leitsoni honored in the Hall of Fame!

Carinthia's football star Bernd Leitsoni honored in the Hall of Fame!

Last Saturday, July 26th, a significant honor in Austrian football was awarded. Bernd Leitsoni, 40-year-old from Klagenfurt, was the first Carinthian football player to be inducted into the AFBÖ Hall of Fame. This special award took place as part of the Austrian Bowl final in the NV Arena in St. Pölten and paid tribute to Leitsoni for his outstanding achievements in football. During the ceremony, the late Martina König, who played an important role in referee training, was also honored posthumously.

Bernd Leitsoni has had an impressive career. His career began in 2002 with the Carinthian Falcons and led him to the junior national team in 2004. A year later he received a scholarship to Norwich University in the USA, where he gained valuable experience. In 2008 he was one of the few European players to take part in the NFL Combine in London. Leitsoni's commitment to the sport was not only evident on the field: from 2011 to 2017 he was active as a junior coach and offensive coordinator, where he passed on his knowledge to the next generation. Another highlight of his career was winning the Silver Bowl with the Carinthian Black Lions in 2011 and taking part in the World Cup in Vienna in the same year.

Honors for the Austrian Bowl

The Austrian Bowl XL promised to be an exciting event, and the schedule was well-filled with activities for football fans. The pre-game area opened at 12 p.m., followed by the box office at 1 p.m. Admission was at 2 p.m. and the Ladies Bowl XXVI began at 3 p.m. with the subsequent honoring of the new Hall of Fame members, which took place from 6:15 p.m. The kickoff of the Austrian Bowl XL took place at 7 p.m., followed by the award ceremony at around 10 p.m.

Martina König will be remembered for her extraordinary achievements. She has been a referee at numerous championships, including the 2004 European Junior Championships, the 2007 EFAF European Championships and the 2011 World Cup. Her passion for the sport is also reflected in her role as a referee trainer. Tragically, she died in January 2013 after a long illness. Her posthumous induction into the Hall of Fame is a worthy recognition of her commitment and achievements in Austrian football.

For more information about the Hall of Fame and the honors, we recommend visiting the pages of football-austria.com and football.at, which provide a comprehensive overview of historical achievements in Austrian football.