Aleksandar Dragović returns to Austria Wien

Austria Wien has signed Aleksandar Dragović, bringing the experienced centre-back back to Vienna after 13 years abroad. The 33-year-old has signed a contract until the summer of 2027 and will remain with the club beyond that.

Aleksandar Dragović: ‘I've been at Austria Wien since I was six years old and have played in all the youth teams. It was always my childhood dream to play for Austria at what was then the Horr Stadium. I had many wonderful moments here as a professional. I'm a true Violet, Vienna is the most beautiful city for me - that's why it was always my goal to hang up my football boots here one day, but I don't want to think that far ahead yet, now I want to help Austria. I try to be a role model every day - at home for my son and from now on also here at the club for our young players. I know how tough the football business is, I want to lead the way and show them how to deal with difficult situations.’

Sportdirektor Manuel Ortlechner: ‘Aleks Dragović is a child of Austria WIen and a figurehead of our academy to this day. As an Violet, he has made the leap into the big football world and can set an example for all young players of what it means to be a full professional. Drago' is a 100-time Austrian national team player - we don't need to talk about his quality. We are delighted that we have managed to bring him back home and keep him at the club beyond his career as an active footballer.’

Profile

Aleksandar Dragović began his footballing career at the tender age of six in the Violets' youth programme. It quickly became clear that little ‘Drago’ had talent and that something could be created. And indeed, he went through the entire youth department and later the academy, became champion twice in a row with the Violet U17s and celebrated his debut in the then Second Division with the Austria Amateurs on 9 May 2008 at the age of 17.

First title with the Violets in 2009

Just two months later, Dragović made his first appearance in the Bundesliga when he came on as a substitute for Mario Bazina in a 2-2 draw in Kapfenberg on 13 July 2008. This was followed by his first appearances in the ÖFB Cup and on the European stage, as well as six games in the First League until October. From November 2008, Dragović was a starter in the Violet squad under coach Karl Daxbacher, with whom he won his first Cup title in the final against Admira on 24 May 2009.

In 2009/10, ‘Drago’ made 32 appearances in Austria's top flight and nine games in the European Cup, including five in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, learning from Jacek Bąk and Manuel Ortlechner at his side. In the end, Austria Wien finished runners-up behind Salzburg by just one point. Over the course of the season, Dragović also earns a regular place in the Austrian national team; at the age of 18, he is a starter in the World Cup qualifiers under team boss Didi Constantini.

From Vienna through Europe

The following year, he remained an undisputed member of the violet-white defence, and the strong centre-back had long since attracted attention abroad. On 4 December 2010, Dragović scored his first and, to date, only goal for the Violet pros. In January 2011, after 93 games for the Violets, he joined FC Basel, where he also became a starter and won the championship straight away. In 2011/12, he won the Swiss double with the Red & Blues, and in 2012/13 he became champion again - as did the Violets in Austria - and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League with Basel.

In the summer of 2013, he moved to Dynamo Kiev, where he won another title at the first attempt and became cup winner. In 2014/15, the Viennese won the national double of championship and cup again, and a year later he celebrated the next championship title with the Ukrainian capital club, winning at least one title for the sixth year in a row. During the summer break in 2016, Dragović took part in the European Championship in France with Austria, but was unsuccessful.

From 2016 to 2021, ‘Drago’ is under contract with Bayer Leverkusen, although he is loaned out to Leicester City for the 2017/18 season. Dragović made 16 appearances for the Foxes and 106 for the Werkself in five years, just short of the 109 he made for Dynamo Kiev and the 112 for Basel. However, he has played most often for Red Star Belgrade, where he will move after the 2021 European Championship.

Back to his roots with 16 titles, married and as a father

The 33-year-old won the national double three times in a row with the Serbian top club, making 136 appearances and ultimately captaining Red Star. In March 2022, Dragović played his 100th international match for Austria, his last match for the Red-White-Red to date. A year later, at the end of March 2023, Christina and Aleksandar became parents to a son, and in May 2024 the couple married and moved to Austria.

Aleksandar Dragović now laces up his boots for Austria Wien again until the summer of 2027. The 94th game in the violet jersey is just waiting to be added to his long and successful career. The Austria family can hardly wait.