Founded in 1908 as Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub, LASK initially used an elegant monogram crest featuring the intertwined letters “LASK” inside a simple shield. The design reflected the visual style of early twentieth-century sporting clubs and established the black-and-white identity that would remain closely associated with the club throughout its history.
After many decades in which several variations were used, LASK adopted a more modern crest around 2000. The new badge combined the club name with bold black-and-white vertical stripes, while a small circular emblem above the lettering retained a link to the club’s traditional identity. The shield shape gave the crest a stronger football character and created a more recognisable image for the modern era.
In 2017, the crest was refined rather than completely redesigned. The shield became cleaner and more balanced, the lettering was adjusted, and the small circular emblem was presented more clearly. The black-and-white stripes remained the dominant feature, preserving the historic colours while giving the badge a sharper and more contemporary appearance.
A major simplification followed in 2023. LASK removed the circular emblem and the word “Linz”, leaving only the club name “LASK” above four bold black stripes inside a clean white shield. The new design focused entirely on the club’s most recognisable visual elements and was created to work more effectively across kits, merchandise and digital media.
LASK Linz Club History
Founded in 1908, Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub (LASK) is one of Austria's oldest and most successful football clubs. Established in the city of Linz, the club quickly developed into the leading football team in Upper Austria and adopted the distinctive black-and-white colours that remain its trademark today.
LASK enjoyed its first major successes during the 1950s and 1960s, regularly competing among Austria's top clubs. The club reached its greatest milestone in 1965, when it became the first club from outside Vienna to win the Austrian Bundesliga, ending the long-standing dominance of the capital's teams. In the same season, LASK also lifted the Austrian Cup, completing a historic domestic double that remains one of the club's greatest achievements.
During the 1990s, LASK experienced a period of inconsistency, alternating between the Austrian Bundesliga and the second division. Financial difficulties and sporting setbacks prevented the club from challenging for major honours, but strong local support ensured that LASK remained one of Austria's best-supported provincial clubs.
A new chapter began in 2013, when entrepreneur Siegmund Gruber became president and initiated a long-term rebuilding project. Under coach Oliver Glasner, LASK returned to the Austrian Bundesliga in 2017 and quickly re-established itself among the country's elite. The club finished runner-up in the Bundesliga during the 2018–19 season and qualified for European competition, earning impressive victories against clubs such as Sporting CP, AZ Alkmaar, Basel and Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League.
In 2023, LASK opened the modern Raiffeisen Arena, replacing the historic Linzer Stadion as its permanent home. The state-of-the-art stadium symbolised the club's continued growth and its ambition to compete consistently at both domestic and European level.
LASK's fiercest rivalry is the Oberösterreich Derby against FC Blau-Weiß Linz, a fixture that divides the city of Linz and is considered one of Austria's most passionate local derbies. Matches against Red Bull Salzburg, Rapid Wien and Austria Wien have also become important due to their significance in the battle for league positions and European qualification.
