1988/89:

Austria Salzburg needs two victories in the remaining two games before the Christmas break to reach the so-called promotion play-off places (1 to 4). In order to achieve this aim the club signs the legendary Hans Krankl who scores the decisive goal with his first touch against Kufstein. The final and crucial game against another promotion chasing team (Spittal) takes place in Lehen in front of 9000 spectators. Spittal takes the lead in the first half but Krankl scores the equaliser shortly after half time. Everything seems to be in vain, but Srecko Kurbasa manages to put the ball in the back of the net in injury-time. Football booms again in Salzburg and Krankl's contract is extended. Although Salzburg loses the match against leaders Sturm Graz in front of a record crowd of 17,000, the team finally wins promotion. Salzburg makes it to the semi-final of the Austrian Cup where they are knocked out by FC Tirol.
 

1989/90:

A newly formed team, without Krankl but with Heribert Weber and Gerry Willfurth (both signed from Rapid Vienna), avoids relegation and finishes 6th. Highlights of the season are victories against the big clubs from Vienna - 4:1 away at Rapid and 5:0 against Austria Vienna – and versus Innsbruck.
 

1990/91:

Without doubt it was the German, Oliver Bierhoff, who left his mark on this season. In his first appearance against St.Pölten the legendary no. 20 scored four times, and chalks up a total of 26 goals during the season, at the end which he leaves for Italy. Relegation is not an issue although poor performances in the second half of the season shatter the dream of European football.
 

1991/92:

Otto Baric takes over as coach and all 11 home games are won before the winter break. Despite 3 defeats in the first 3 games after the break, Austria Salzburg is still top of the table before the crucial final match against 2nd placed Austria Vienna. An unbelievable 10,000 supporters make their way to Vienna, but unfortunately Salzburg lose the game 2:1 and with it the title on goal difference.
 

1992/93:

Despite a comfortable 5 point lead the team manages to blow the title again. A draw against Admira Wacker and defeats against Austria Vienna and Rapid Vienna lead to the loss of the title, once again on goal difference. In the first round of the UEFA Cup the team is defeated by Ajax Amsterdam 0:3 at home and 1:3 away. In the winter break there serious consequences for all supporters as Salzburg’s ‘kop’, Austria's best and noisiest stand, is turned into virtually an all-seater stand and with it the unique and legendary atmosphere is gone.
 

1993/94:

Austria Salzburg's most successful season of all time. Outstanding performances lead to the club's first championship title and a place in the UEFA CUP final. After victories against Dunajska Streda (2:0, 2:0 ) and Royal Antwerp ( 1:0, 1:0), Salzburg is drawn against Sporting Lisbon. The first leg ends 2:0 for Sporting but the return leg is a real cracker. Being down to 10 men and only seconds to play Adi Hütter scores Salzburg’s second goal. Extra time is played and Martin Amerhauser scores the decisive 3:0 in probably the best game Lehen has ever seen. From now on, Salzburg is the best loved team in Austria and due to the limited capacity in the stadium in Lehen the club decides to move it’s European home games to Vienna to be played in front of sell-out crowds of 48,000. The first European game in Vienna is the quarter final against Eintracht Frankfurt and is won 1:0. In the return leg the team shows true fighting spirit. The game is decided on penalties despite an early sending off and a goal by Frankfurt’s Gaudino. Salzburg's keeper Otto Konrad becomes the hero of a nation when he saves two penalties and scores the decisive penalty himself. This is the first time an Austrian team has ever knocked out a German one in any European Cup competition. In the semi-final Salzburg plays again against another German team, this time Karlsruhe SC. The home leg is scoreless and in the return leg Salzburg takes the lead thanks to a goal by Hermann Stadler. The game ends 1:1 and thus Salzburg reaches the UEFA-CUP final because of the away goal rule.
 
Salzburg plays against Inter Milan in the finals and the home game is lost 1:0 under unfortunate circumstances. The return leg at the sold out Meazza stadium is a unique experience for the 7000 travelling supporters and also for the players. Salzburg shows another vintage performance and also hits the post; in fact Marquinho's shot hits the right post then the left but does not cross the line. Inter Milan wins 1:0 again and the UEFA CUP dream is over. The UEFA CUP run nevertheless helps the club to get rid of its financial worries.
 
Domestic action: Salzburg wins its first Austrian title. Runners-up Austria Vienna are thrashed 4-0 and 6-0. A scoreless draw at Rapid Vienna secures the deserved and long-awaited title one game before the end of the season.
 

1994/95:

Another magnificent season: Salzburg becomes the first Austrian team to manage to qualify for the Champions League. Salzburg is drawn in a group with Greece's AEK Athens and the finalists Ajax Amsterdam and AC Milan. The final group game against Milan turns out to be crucial due to the away win at AEK and two draws against Ajax. (0:0 and 1:1 away!!) . Unfortunately, Milan wins the game 1:0 in the sold out Prater stadium in Vienna. The so-called ‘scandal of the San Siro’ is also worth a mention as Salzburg's keeper Konrad was hit and injured by a bottle. Uefa thus decided to deduct the points from Milan's 3:0 victory, but allowed the goals to stand. At home, the second Austrian title is secured with victories over Austria Vienna (1:0 away, goal by Kocijan) and a comfortable 2:0 victory over Vorwaerts Steyr. 7000 supporters accompany the team to the final match in Innsbruck and have reason to celebrate despite a 2:0 defeat since Sturm Graz fail to thrash Steyr.
 

1995/96:

Starting the season as top favourites and the footballing benchmark the club is ultimately lucky to avoid relegation. Internationally Champions League qualification also proves to be out of reach. Instead Steaua Bucharest take our place with a 1:0 victory in the second leg (first leg 0:0). Coach Otto Baric resigns because of differences of opinion with some players. Hermann Stessl takes charge but is sacked after a 3:0 defeat at home against Ried to be followed by Heribert Weber.
 

1996/97:

Most of the top players such as Pfeifenberger, Jurcevic, Feiersinger, Mladenovic, Artner and others leave the club. Stadler and Fürstaller hang up their boots. Nevertheless the autumn is really promising and the team is second, just one point behind Rapid Vienna. Otto Konrad, the top class keeper, leaves during the winter break. After the break all home games apart from the unimportant final one are won and, surprisingly, the club wins his third title in four years. Unfortunately, the team loses the semi-final in the cup on penalties against second division Vienna.
 

1997/98:

Austria Salzburg is again favourite but once again fails to deliver despite the signing of a new striker (Valdas Ivanauskas). The entire season is a flop from start (a 2:0 defeat at newly promoted Lustenau) to finish. Again Austria Salzburg fails to qualify for the Champions League when Sparta Prague win 3:0 on aggregate, meaning the UEFA CUP is the most the club can hope for. In the first round the team is knocked out by Anderlecht despite leading by two goals at half-time in the return leg in Brussels - final score 4:2 for Anderlecht (4 goals in about 15 minutes; first leg 4:3 to Salzburg). Later on Heribert Weber resigns and takes over at Rapid Vienna. Living legend Hans Krankl is appointed as new coach and after a winning streak the club finishes at 4th place and qualifies for the UI CUP.