Karl LECHNER

Karl Lechner was an Austrian-born striker. He started his playing career during World War II with First Vienna. At the time, the Austrian club played in the German league. In 1942, he would finish second in the Bundesliga, and went on to win the German Cup in 1943. After the war, he exiled to France, signing for Girondins de Bordeaux in 1946. He would make precious few appearances in the First Division as a Bordeaux player, however. That same year, he married a French girl, and managed to become a naturalised French citizen through marriage. Looking for more game-time, he signed for Stade Rennais in 1947. But even at Rennes, he would only play in few matches, mainly owing to the fierce competitions for places, with the likes of Artigas, Prouff and Hauvespre the regulars in the starting eleven. He would thus make just ten first team appearances for Rennes, and left the club in October 1948, to join Béziers in the Second Division. He would end his playing career with Besançon, between 1951 and 1953, before moving back the Arcachon Basin, where - sadly - he passed away at the tender age of 62.