MILAN – He was the first non-Italian to join Inter in 14 years. When Serie A opened its doors to foreign players again in 1980, the reigning champions used their one available spot for a 25-year-old Austrian called Herbert Prohaska. He was known as Schneckerl in his homeland due to his long curly locks but he also came with fantastic vision and cultured feet. And bags of international experience.
His father, a fan of First Vienna, took him to a football pitch to watch a game at the age of four. Just a few minutes later he was running after the ball. A clear sign of his destiny.
In April 1972 he was playing for Sportclub SC Ostbahn XI, the team of his local neighbourhood, Simmering, coached by his father, when he ran rings around the Austrian national team's defence. He hadn't yet turned 17. A few months later he found himself playing alongside and against some of those players when he was bought by Austria Vienna – ironic given that as a child he had supported Rapid and First. But the Violets' shirt would become a second skin for Prohaska, along with that of the national team.
At club level he won trophy upon trophy and reached the Cup Winners' Cup final in 1978, when Austria Vienna were beaten 4-0 by Anderlecht (a game Prohaska described as “the biggest disappointment of my entire career”).
He scored important goals for Austria and played at two World Cups. In the first of these, at Argentina '78, he helped the Austrians beat Germany (then West Germany) for the first time in 47 years, knocking them out of the competition in the process.
Herbert's refined talent attracted many of Europe's biggest clubs and Austria Vienna received a host of offers for him at the end of the '70s, mainly from England and the Netherlands. But he wanted something different: a better contract and a great club, like Inter.
With foreign transfers to Italy still officially prohibited, talks prior to the move were shrouded in secrecy – Prohaska recalls what seemed like clandestine meetings in hotel rooms – but an agreement was found quickly.
Big things were expected of Herbert, who was joined by former (and current) Hertha Berlin coach Nello Di Martino, a man who grew up in the Nerazzurri youth academy and knew both languages. It took him a while to adapt to a very different type of football, but he didn't disappoint.
Prohaska's idea of football was different to the vision of Inter boss Eugenio Bersellini, but they found a middle ground. The Austrian, with his sublime passing ability and elegance on the ball, was really in his element when building play. But with a coach known for his strict methods, he managed to improve his tackling and ball recovery skills too.
Together they helped guide Inter to the European Cup semi-final in 1981, when the Austrian was denied by the post in the return leg against Real Madrid – a chance that was long remembered by Nerazzurri fans.
Prohaska did, however, win the Coppa Italia with Inter in 1982 and he won over the fans – including Italian singer-songwriter Adriano Celentano, who one day asked the midfielder for his autograph when they met in a restaurant.
After the 1982 World Cup, Prohaska was sold to Nils Liedholm's Roma. There he would stay but a year but it was enough for him to make history at the club, as a Giallorossi team that included Paulo Roberto Falcao and Carlo Ancelotti won the Scudetto. He fell so in love with the Italian capital that he decided to move there with his wife Elisabeth at the end of his career, although he later changed his mind.
In 1983 he returned to Austria Vienna, where he remained until he hung up his boots, earning himself legendary status at Austria's most successful club.
He has often returned to Italy since and even faced the Azzurri at France '98 as Austria head coach. He lost 2-1 but had the chance to greet his old friend Giuseppe Bergomi, who was still turning out for Italy. Back on 10 January 1982, Prohaska set up an 18-year-old Bergomi for his first Serie A goal.
In 2004 Prohaska was recognised for his achievements when he was named Austrian Footballer of the Century. No one could disagree with that except his father. “Herbert, you're magnificent but Matthias Sindelar [an Austrian legend from the '20s and '30s] was definitely better than you.”
Prohaska smiled, as he always does. When he thinks back to his time at his Italian clubs and cities, he smiles. And when the fans remember his supreme elegance, they smile.
