Ever since Arnold Schwarzenegger forbade the Sturm Graz stadium to continue to bear his name, the football club’s European successes suddenly seemed over. Without the Hollywood touch, international glamor is a bit lacking.

Against Feyenoord, Austria’s runners-up can again secure the European overwintering for the first time since the Schwarzenegger years (1997-2005).

Airplane from Batman

They seemed made for each other, the world-famous film star and the up-and-coming football club from his home region. A wedding of sorts took place in the summer of 1997, when Schwarzenegger stepped off Batman’s plane to great interest for the official ceremony.

“Great,” thought the actor. “Because stadiums are usually only named after people who are no longer alive.”

To promote the film “Batman and Robin”, Schwarzenegger’s tour was accompanied by bombastic music. As well as the brand new stadium named after him, he also visited his own museum, which featured the hanging of the dumbbells that formed the basis of his impressive muscle mass.

Schwarzenegger gave everything that had to do with Styria an international face. And the football club a powerful performance.

Winter in the Champions League

In the years under coach Ivica Osim, local heroes like Ivica Vastic, Günther Neukirchner and Markus Schopp even wintered in the Champions League. Big clubs like Glasgow Rangers, AS Monaco and Galatasaray were killed in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium.

And Feyenoord was once again the loser in the last preliminary round of the million ball.

Around the turn of the century, Sturm Graz was a regular at the highest European level until the club and Austrian football went under.

Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger’s political career hurt his status. When he, as governor of California, rejected the latest request for a pardon from inmate Tookie Williams, who was sentenced to death, even politicians from Austria got involved.

Schwarzenegger was done with all the criticism. The stadium of Sturm Graz (and Grazer AK) was no longer allowed to bear his name.

Much discussed politician

He kept the honor to himself, because he also lost popularity with the supporters of the football club. Whether the stadium of regional pride should still bear the name of a much-discussed politician was increasingly questioned.

Schwarzenegger (75) is now just an actor again, his filmography is much longer and more impressive than the list of awards that Sturm Graz has won.

Schwarzenegger is still a big football fan, but especially of the Liverpool club. Sturm Graz is the club of Styria again and plays its home games in a stadium with the unusual name Merkur Arena.

Of course with a little wink to the actor every now and then, with an atmospheric action or a link to one of his well-known statements as a terminator. When the local heroes of Sturm Graz are asked for a little more and they could secretly use a little Schwarzenegger.