Marko Arnautovic ends his ÖFB career after 0:3 defeat to Spain

Emotional words after the final whistle

The World Cup itself, Arnautovic emphasized repeatedly, was the absolute highlight of his career. „Die WM war das absolute Highlight in meiner Karriere", he said. He summarized the emotional core of the World Cup journey briefly and succinctly: „Das war natürlich das größte Highlight meiner Karriere, dass ich mit meinem Land, mit Österreich hier bei der WM spiele." For him, this closed a circle that had begun in autumn 2008.

Arnautovic made his debut for the Austrian national team on October 11, 2008. Over the roughly 18 years that followed, he played 137 international matches and scored 49 goals. This makes him one of the absolute record players of the ÖFB. Even before the tournament, he had announced that he would call it a day after the finals: „Ich höre nach der Endrunde auf!", he had declared in the run-up to the World Cup.

Career beginning in October 2008

Arnautovic assessed the sporting outcome of the match factually despite the disappointment: „Gratulation an Spanien, wir haben es versucht. Sie waren ein überragender Gegner." The Spaniards, who had come into the tournament as title holders from the European Championship, proved too high a hurdle for the Austrian team. The dream of advancing to the round of 16 had burst.

It became emotional above all with regard to another aspect: family. „meine zweite Familie", Arnautovic repeatedly called the national team. „Es trifft mich natürlich, dass ich jetzt meine zweite Familie nicht mehr am Platz sehen werde", he said with a choked voice. The tears he had previously shown live on TV were not only for the lost match, but above all for the farewell from the team, the coaching staff, and the association.

From the pitch into the second family

Already in the summer of 2025, Arnautovic had switched clubs and has since been playing for Red Star Belgrade, the Serbian record champions. His contract there runs until June 30, 2027. When it expires, he plans to move to his family in Bologna. It is thus foreseeable that Arnautovic will remain active at club level in the coming years, but that the international stage and the ÖFB jersey will henceforth be history.

At club level too, the 37-year-old, who was born and raised in Vienna, remains in demand. Belgrade, home of the Serbian record champions, lies at the confluence of the Danube and the Sava. There, Arnautovic will feature in the Serbian attack next season.

Club: Red Star Belgrade

In Austrian football, however, his name will remain inseparably linked to an era. Even before this final match, Arnautovic was regarded as one of the most colorful figures of the ÖFB, not least because of his nicknames "Arnie" and "Astronaut". Both originated in the stands and in the media and accompanied him for years.

Within the tournament itself, Arnautovic had fulfilled his role as leader and veteran. With his experience, he had carried the team through the group stage, before the round of 16 against the favorites from Spain brought the journey to an end. The fact that this top-class duel of all matches was his final appearance made the evening in Los Angeles so special for him.

In the end, it was not only the result that stood out, but above all a personal chapter. Arnautovic, who in many phases was regarded as an "ÖFB goal scorer" and figure of identification, closed out his national team career with his 137th appearance. A sober number, behind which stand 18 years, countless journeys, and a life under the sign of the red-white-red flag.

Already immediately after the final whistle, still on the pitch, Arnautovic was overwhelmed by emotion. Cameras captured how he could hardly tear himself away from teammates and staff. Anyone who had followed the Viennese for a long time knew in that moment: This is not simply a player saying goodbye, this is the end of a piece of Austrian football history.

The numbers of an era

For the ÖFB, the time after an era thus begins. The next generation, shaped by young players, must now master the transition. Arnautovic himself is likely to remain associated with the association in a different role. On the very evening of his farewell, he hinted that he wanted to stay connected to football.

What remains are the numbers: 137 international matches, 49 goals, a 2026 World Cup round of 16 in Los Angeles. And the image of a player who cried on the pitch and was embraced by his colleagues for minutes in the stadium. „Eine Katastrophe, weil es für mich das letzte Mal war" – the sentence of the evening.

For the fans in Austria, a bittersweet moment remains: pride in what was achieved, grief over the ending. Arnautovic brought the tournament, the match, and his farewell together in a single appearance. Rarely has the end of a career become as tangible as on that Thursday evening in Los Angeles.