7281 Days Later: The Last GAK Derby Win and What Happened Back Then

Almost exactly 20 years ago, the "Red Jackets" secured a 2-0 away victory against SK Sturm in the ninth Bundesliga round.

In a hard-fought match, set pieces ultimately made the difference. After a goalless first half, GAK coach Lars Söndergaard showed his famous golden touch. Following a corner kick from Martin Amerhauser, Alen Skoro, who had just been substituted in, scored the opening goal with a header from his second touch (66th minute).

The decisive goal followed in the closing stages – again from a corner. Zlatko Junuzović delivered a sharp cross and Samir Muratovic headed in his first goal of the season to secure the derby victory for the visitors (83rd minute).

With this success, GAK also simultaneously passed the "Red Lantern" to last year's champions Austria Wien.

In contrast to his counterpart, Franco Foda relied significantly more on experience. A perfect example: 39-year-old defensive leader Frank Verlaat. Alongside him, youth players like future national team player Ronald Gercaliu and former Blau-Weiß coach Mitja Mörec defended.

The "Blackies'" top scorer that season was striker Amadou Rabihou with seven goals, just ahead of Bojan Filipovic and Radoslaw Gilewicz with six each.

Today's Sturm coach Jürgen Säumel was also part of the squad back then, as were future national team player Sebastian Prödl, Johannes Ertl, and today's Liefering coach Daniel Beichler. However, none of the four were used in the derby.

Experience meets youth. While for players like Amerhauser it was already their last big dance, Junuzović was just at the beginning of a career that ultimately propelled him into the national team.

GAK coach Söndergaard relied significantly more on youth. Alongside Junuzović, Thomas Lechner and Ralph Spirk were also under 21 years old.

Although not used, recently retired sporting director Dieter Elsnegg and former Rapid center-back Mario Sonnleitner were nevertheless part of the squad.

But despite the great quality within the team, it was to be their last victory for a very long time. For it also marked the end of Grazer Athletik Klub in Austria's top flight. Due to license violations, 28 points were deducted, and the club was ultimately relegated with six points. Rival Sturm also had 13 points deducted and finished seventh.

It was a season defined less by sporting achievements than by scandals: Both Graz clubs received massive point deductions, both slipped into the relegation battle – and GAK ultimately disappeared completely from professional football.

There were also two other premieres. On the one hand, Red Bull Salzburg became champions for the first time, with a direct 19-point lead over runners-up SV Ried. On the other hand, SCR Altach, now a regular in the top league, celebrated their debut in the top flight. In the end, the Vorarlbergers finished eighth.

Additionally, SV Mattersburg (3rd) and FC Superfund (5th) were two teams still part of the league that also later faced financial struggles.

Alexander Zickler (Salzburg) was the undisputed top scorer with 22 goals, ahead of Leonardo (14 goals/Altach), as well as Mate Bilic (11/Rapid) and Christian Mayrleb (11/Pasching).

Final Standings of the 2006/07 Season:

Today, 7,281 days later, much is different: Sturm are Europa League participants, GAK have fought their way back after years in lower divisions, and Graz is once again experiencing its big Bundesliga derby.

Since the "Red Jackets'" resurgence, all four encounters have clearly gone to their rivals (2:1, 3:0, 2:1, and 5:2). Sturm also won twice in the Cup (3:2, 2:1).

And yet, such statistics in a city derby only count until kick-off.

Nevertheless, the question remains: Will GAK finally make derby history again, or will November 2006 continue to be the last red-and-white derby highlight?