Name:
Werner Kriess
Country:
AustriaClub:
FC Wacker InnsbruckPosition:
★SB,
CBSide:
RF/BSAge:
26-31 years (06/09/1947)
Height:
182 cmWeight:
78 kgAttack:
67Defence:
76Balance:
84Stamina:
82Top Speed:
76Acceleration:
75Response:
80Agility:
73Dribble Accuracy:
72Dribble Speed:
72Short Pass Accuracy:
72Short Pass Speed:
71Long Pass Accuracy:
72Long Pass Speed:
71Shot Accuracy:
65Shot Power:
79Shot Technique:
65Free Kick Accuracy:
60Curling:
64Header:
81Jump:
82Technique:
73Aggression:
64Mentality:
81Goalkeeper Skills:
50Team Work:
74Injury Tolerance:
BCondition:
6Weak Foot Accuracy:
5Weak Foot Frequency:
4Consistency:
6Growth Type:
Standard/LastingCARDS:S08 - Slide Tackle
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Sliding
Attack/Defence Awareness:
Defence MindedINFO:A fullback who could equally well play right and left back, he was occasionally employed as a central defender too. Very tough and tough tackler, however not too and with pretty slow reactions. Mostly a defensive player, due to his good leap, Kriess was dangerous on corner kicks and free kicks from side, scoring 25 goals in 279 matches for FC Wacker.
In 1967, Werner Kriess moved from Klagenfurt to Vienna. But after just one year, Branko Elsner caught up with him Innsbruck. He built the great Innsbruck team of the 70s with Kriess on. That's how he was in the memorable victory in Madrid against Real in 1970. In 1971 he also came to his debut in the national team. From 1970 to 1973 he won with the Innsbruck team 3 championship titles and 2 cup victories.
He was also part of the team when it unfortunately failed, in the 1973 decider against Sweden for the 74 World Cup qualifier. After breaking his leg in Wales in 1975, he retired as captain of the national team. In the '78 World Cup qualifiers he was still part of the squad, but did not play again. He managed to gather 15 appearances in a 4 year span.
In the championship he won 2 more titles, in 1975 and 1977. This is also the case with the great international successes in 1977/78 under coach Kessler he was one of the top performers in the Innsbruck team. But also he could not prevent the great decade in the Innsbruck football was coming to an end. In the 1978–79 season, after only 7 appearances, his Bundesliga career with Innsbruck ended, as they were relegated this season.
After a one-year break, he played in the 2nd division at the IG Bregenz/Dornbirn making a comeback.
In 2015, he admitted to using Captagon during his time in Innsbruck. The use was common in football and he had never been subjected to a doping test.