1956/57:
For the first time in its history the club comes across the word relegation. After finishing 9th in the autumn half of the season the club finishes at the 13th out of 14 teams and is relegated to the ‘Tauern League’.
1957/58:
As Tauern League champions they are knocked out by WSV Donawitz in the promotion play-offs.
1958/59:
Promotion after victories over Radenthein, FC Lustenau (making Austria Salzburg champions of western Austria) and a 4:2 aggregate win against Stadlau.
1959/60:
After a miserable start to the new season chairman Karl Sachs decides to strengthen the young team with an outstanding player. Erich Probst from FC Zurich is signed for a record fee of 90,000 Austrian shillings. Probst scores 15 goals and helps to secure league status.
1960-1967:
During Salzburg’s up and down years the team proves to be too strong for the newly-founded Westliga but too weak for the Staatsliga (later also known as Nationalliga) being relegated 3 times and promoted 3 times. On an international stage the club achieves some remarkable results. In 1961 Salzburg beats Ferencvaros 3:2 and Altay Izmir by 3 - 0. German’s champions Nuremberg are held to a goalless draw. In 1964 Salzburg is beaten by just two goals at home to Espanyol Barcelona whose team included such outstanding players as Alfredo di Stefano and Ladislav Kubala. Left winger Adi Macek becomes the first native Salzburg player to appear in Austria’s national team in a legendary 3:2 win over England at Wembley.
1967 - 1972:
Salzburg makes it to the top
1967/68:
In 1967 Salzburg is promoted and the basis for a top club is created. Team manager Günter Praschak signs Horst Hirnschrodt (capped 19 times) from Austria Vienna and Karl Kodat, who is notorious for causing trouble. The newly-founded team struggles during the season and finishes a disappointing 12th.
1968/69:
Further signings strengthen the side and Salzburg finishes in 6th position. The success has an impact and consequently a new stadium is built in Lehen. Sepp Weißkind, Austria Salzburg’s new chairman, is responsible for realising the new stadium. The 1968/69 season is also the first with a real kit sponsor!
1969/70:
In the summer of ‘69 Salzburg is able to sign top player Peter Grosser from 1860 Munich for free! Further signings (Blutsch, Filzmoser) mean that for the first time in its history it is believed the club can finish top. Unfortunately, the club has to move to the Itzling area of the city because of ongoing construction work in Lehen. The team does not meet expectations and Günter Praschak is forced to step down. Karl Schlechta becomes his successor. After a run of remarkable results the club finishes 8th.
1970/71:
Salzburg’s best season due to further signings. The club wins its group in the Intertotocup despite tough competition from clubs like Germany’s Kaiserslautern. A 1:0 away victory at Wattens allows Austria Salzburg to go into the winter break at the top of the table. After the break, Salzburg thrash Austria Vienna 6:0 (goals by Kodat (4), Ritter and Weidinger), Salzburg’s biggest win so far. The crucial title game takes place at Innsbruck’s Tivoli ground and 7000 Salzburg fans make their way to Tyrol. A questionable line-up costs the club the title and they finish just one point short of the first title in the club’s history. After victories over Vasas Budapest, Lanerossi Vicenza and Csepel Budapest the club reaches the Mitropa Cup Final but loses 1:3 to Bosnia’s Celik Zenica.
1971/72:
Salzburg’s first UEFA Cup appearance is the highlight of the season but the club is unlucky. A 3:1 home win is not enough to make it to the second round because of a 1:4 away defeat against Romania’s UT Arad. The home leg against Arad was played at the SAK ground and was the last to be played there before Austria Salzburg’s return to Lehen. The opening game at Lehen against Tunisia’s national team (Salzburg win 3:2) in front of 12,000 spectators is marred by a brawl between Peter Grosser and a Tunisian player. Both players are red-carded. After Karl Kodat’s tranfer to Royal Antwerp the club finishes fourth under coach Erich Hof.
