Wilhelm Possak, also known as Vilmos Possák (9 August 1906 â 4 April 1988) was a Romanian football player and coach.
Possak was born on 9 August 1906 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, but grew up in TimiÃÂoara. He began playing football in 1920 at Hungarian side Vasas. One year later he went to Kalaposok for two years. In 1923, Possak returned to his childhood town, joining CA TimiÃÂoara for a five-year spell.
Subsequently, he went back to Hungary, signing with Bástya Szegedi where he made his Nemzeti Bajnokság I debut on 11 November 1928 under coach Weiglhoffer Karl in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Kispest in which Possak scored once. One week later he netted a brace in a 6âÂÂ1 victory against Budai 33. He scored a total of 10 goals until the end of the season, including another two doubles in a 3âÂÂ3 draw against Vasas and a 3âÂÂ0 win over Kispest. Possak started the next season by scoring four goals in a 5âÂÂ0 success against Bocskai, totaling 13 goals in the season. In the middle of the 1930âÂÂ31 season, he left Bástya to go play for ÃÂjpest. There, he scored two doubles in his first two matches which were wins over Vasas and Kispest, with those four goals being the only ones scored in the four matches played as the club won the title. Afterwards, Possak made a comeback to Vasas, where in his first match he scored a brace in a 3âÂÂ1 victory against Sabaria. He made his last Nemzeti Bajnokság I appearance on 10 June 1932, as Vasas earned a 5âÂÂ3 win over Attila, totaling 64 matches with 45 goals in the competition.
In 1932, Possak went for one year for Swiss side Biel. Then he made a comeback to CA TimiÃÂoara. For the 1934âÂÂ35 season, he returned to Switzerland, playing nine league games with three goals scored for Nordstern Basel.
Possak was appointed as a player-coach by Sporting CP in October 1935. He made his Campeonato da Liga debut on 12 January 1936 in a 3âÂÂ2 win over rivals Porto. On 2 February he netted his first goal in a 6âÂÂ1 victory against Académica de Coimbra. Possak scored his second league goal on 2 March in a 10âÂÂ1 loss to Porto. He finished the season by winning the Campeonato de Lisboa and Campeonato de Portugal (Taça de Portugal). In the following season, he played only a single match, winning the Campeonato de Lisboa once again. He left the club in February 1937, having a total of 15 matches played with seven goals scored for Sporting across all competitions, of which six games and two goals were in the Campeonato da Liga. His following spell was in Slovakia at Piestany.
In 1938, Possak went as a player-coach at CAM TimiÃÂoara in Divizia B, helping them earn promotion to the first league at the end of the season. Subsequently, he made his Divizia A debut on 5 November 1939 in a 3âÂÂ2 home victory against Phoenix Baia Mare. He scored his only goal in the first league on 3 December in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Ripensia TimiÃÂoara. His third and last Divizia A appearance took place on 17 March 1940 in a 6âÂÂ1 loss to Vagonul Arad.
Possak earned two caps for Romania, making his debut on 15 April 1928 when coach Teofil Morariu sent him at halftime to replace Aurel Guga in a 4âÂÂ2 friendly victory against Turkey. He scored his only goal for the national team in his second game, a 3âÂÂ1 loss to Yugoslavia in the friendly 1928 King Alexander's Cup.
Possak was appointed as a player-coach by Sporting CP in October 1935 to replace Filipe dos Santos who lost 4âÂÂ0 in a Campeonato de Lisboa derby against Benfica. The team eventually won the Campeonato de Lisboa after defeating Benfica 4âÂÂ1 in the last round. He won his second trophy, the Campeonato de Portugal (Taça de Portugal), after a 3âÂÂ1 victory against Belenenses in the final. They also finished third in the Campeonato da Liga where The Lions suffered a 10âÂÂ1 loss to rivals Porto. In the following season the team won another Campeonato de Lisboa. However, Possak was dismissed in February 1937 after some poor results in the championship which included a 4âÂÂ1 loss to Benfica. During his tenure, the first three Brazilians in the club's history, namely Jaguaré, Vianinha and Fernando Giudicelli, made their debut for the team. He led Sporting in 46 matches as a coach, consisting of 32 victories, six draws and eight losses.
Possak went as a player-coach at CAM TimiÃÂoara in Divizia B, and helped them earn promotion to the first league at the end of the 1938âÂÂ39 season. Subsequently, in the 1939âÂÂ40 Divizia A season, the team finished in fifth place.
Possak died on 4 April 1988 at age 81 in his native Vienna.
Sporting CP
CAM TimiÃÂoara
Sporting CP
CAM TimiÃÂoara