"Tailor-made for our style of play" - Youngster set for ÖFB debut

Vasilije Markovic is considered one of the brightest prospects in Austrian football, while the 18-year-old would also be eligible to play for Serbia due to his roots.

It's no wonder, then, that ÖFB Head Coach Ralf Rangnick nominated the U17 World Championship runner-up 2025 for the current Nations League training camp, marking his first call-up to the Austrian national team.

Debut imminent

In the opener against Israel (Match report>>>), Markovic was not yet able to make his debut for Austria. Like Christian Zawieschitzky, Felix Bacher, and Max Wöber, he wasn't even included in the matchday squad due to the maximum roster limit.

On Sunday, in the home match against Kosovo, that could change. "He will almost certainly be in the squad on Sunday and, if at all possible, I would like to bring him on," Rangnick said, hinting at an imminent debut for the FAK shooting star.

Rangnick raves

Markovic is "especially in his play off the ball, tailor-made for our style of play," the German enthuses about the high-energy and strong-pressing teenager.

In his play with the ball, there is certainly still room for improvement, "but the boy is 18. Based on the experience I've gathered in the last 25 years as a coach, such players, if their attitude, readiness, and mentality are right, can still learn these things."

From his first competitive international match, Markovic would not be eligible to play for any other nation for three years. After his fourth senior international match, a nationality switch would be completely ruled out.