For 50th Anniversary: Rapid Unveils Special Jersey
Ahead of the match against Hearts of Midlothian, the Hütteldorfer unveil a new jersey, commemorating legend Gerhard Hanappi.
In the 2026/27 season, the opening of the Weststadion will mark its 50th anniversary.
On May 10, 1977, SK Rapid moved into its new home ground, which was named "Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadion" from 1981 onwards.
For the anniversary, SK Rapid is now dedicating its third jersey to this special place, thereby reviving a piece of green-white stadium history.
50 Years of Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadion
As was the case at the opening of the Weststadion on May 10, 1977, the jersey is predominantly white.
On the back of the neck, the lettering "50 Jahre Gerhard Hanappi-Stadion" is featured in precisely the same spelling with only one hyphen, as it once appeared on the stadium's facade and can be seen today in the Rapideum.
Managing Director of Business Daniela Bauer: "The Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadion is far more than a former venue. For decades, it was home to countless Rapid fans and the scene of great victories, special emotions, and unforgettable stories. For the 50th anniversary of its opening, we want to make these memories visible with our new third jersey. It connects the stadium's historical significance with elements of Rapid fan culture and with the stories of the players who shaped this place. With this, we carry a piece of club history into modern times."
Long-time Rapid player and later architect of the stadium, Gerhard Hanappi, passed away in August 1980 at the age of just 51.
Details with History
A special design element is the striped pattern in the four club colors: green, white, blue, and red. They extend across the collar and sleeves and are also found on the shorts and socks.
Thus, the jersey not only adopts the colors of the historic stadium but also commemorates a special development in Rapid fan culture: the atmospheric Block West emerged in the Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadion, and the characteristic striped pattern also became established.
Another historical detail also runs across the entire front of the jersey: the stylized motif of one of the four distinctive floodlight pylons of the former stadium. One of these pylons remains to this day and rises above the Allianz Stadion at the southeast corner. The design is complemented by the anniversary lettering "50 Jahre Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadion," which is subtly embossed into the fabric as a repeating, "pinstripe" like pattern.
SK Rapid CEO Steffen Hofmann says about the new 3rd jersey: "I am very pleased that with this beautiful jersey, we can particularly commemorate 'Sankt Hanappi,' where I, too, had the opportunity to experience unforgettable moments as a player."
