Christian Fuchs (born April 7, 1986) is an Austrian professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for SV Mattersburg.

A left-sided wing-back considered one of the best prospects in Austria, Fuchs is a thoughtful user of the ball, he plays with high energy and great application.

He was a key member of the Austrian under-17 side which came a very creditable third at the European Championships in Portugal in 2003. Three years later he won his first cap against Croatia and a star showing at Euro 2008 should promote his career to a new level.

What the papers say: He is tipped to sign for German Bundesliga side Bochum.

Emanuel Pogatetz (born January 16, 1983 in Graz, Austria) is an Austrian football player who currently plays for Middlesbrough as a defender.

His career started at SK Sturm Graz, before going to FC Kärnten and later to Bayer Leverkusen. After a short loan spell at FC Aarau, Grazer AK and Spartak Moscow, he attempted to sign for Middlesbrough.

He had also been tracked by Fulham, but during his final game on loan at Spartak Moscow, he tackled Yaroslav Kharitonskiy, leaving the Russian with a double leg fracture. He was banned for twenty-four weeks by the Russian Football Association.

Pogatetz is a regular Austrian international, having played twenty-five times, and scored one goal. As a left-back, he was bought by Middlesbrough so as to compete with Franck Queudrue for a starting place in league games. Pogatetz is also aptly comfortable at centre back having commanded this position at both club and international level.

Pogatetz broke his nose, jaw and cheekbone in an accidental clash of heads with Basel’s Mladen Petric during the first leg of Boro’s UEFA Cup quarter-final. Pogatetz was warned against returning to full training for three months for fear of risking his eyesight. He underwent successful surgery to have the fractures reset. Dr. Douglas Bryan declared himself "delighted" with the Austrian’s progress.

Pogatetz was ordered to take no physical exercise for a month and to stay away from full football training for three months as of April 12, 2006. "It is anticipated he will make a full recovery and be back with his team-mates for pre-season training," said Boro’s head physio Grant Downie. "The only disappointing thing for Manny is he won’t be able to play football, and he was desperate to get back involved." Downie added "But another blow to his face would risk severe trauma and a potentially eyesight-threatening injury."^A

Emanuel suffered from a hernia, for which he received corrective surgery in Munich on April 24, 2006.

Pogatetz is known as "The Pog" by some of the Riverside Stadium faithful. Due to the Austrian’s 110% commitment and notorious ‘nutcase/hardman’ image, Pogatetz is also commonly referred to by fans and team mates alike as "Mad Dog". Another amusing nickname that he has acquired is "Emanuel Smogatetz", which cleverly combines his real name with one of the nicknames of his club: "The Smoggies".

On the 4th of July 2006, Emanuel returned to training following successful surgery on his hernia and cheek.

In September 2006, Pogatetz was banned from playing for his country after he criticised the coach Josef Hickersberger and captain Andreas Ivanschitz after Austria drew with Costa Rica and lost to Venezuela in an international tournament played earlier in the month.

In the 2006-07 season, Pogatetz was forced into the centre of defence, due to an injury to Chris Riggott. He has since formed impressive partnerships at the back with both Robert Huth and Jonathan Woodgate. Pogatetz is expected by Boro fans to keep his place, even upon the returns of Woodgate and Riggott.

Pogatetz is a firm fan favourite with the Middlesbrough faithful; many would agree, although he is not the best technical player, he plays with all his heart and impresses doing so. Former England and Middlesbrough coach Steve McClaren recently stated "He never, ever, gives less than 300% in performance".

He has recently won the Middlesbrough player of the year award, voted for by the fans. The fans have even started a unique chant of "Poggy Poggy Poggy, Oi Oi Oi!".

At the close of the 2007/08 season it was announced by Boro boss, Gareth Southgate, that Emanuel was to be given the captain’s armband on a full-time basis following his taking up of the role towards the end of the season.

Alexander Manninger (born 4 June 1977 in Salzburg) is an Austrian football goalkeeper. He currently plays for A.C. Siena.

Manninger first played as a youth for SV Austria Salzburg. In the 1995–96 season he was sent on loan at Vorwärts Steyr, and played his first top-level game away against Grazer AK. After a strong performance in goal, Grazer decided to sign him as backup goalkeeper in summer 1996. Manninger’s first match was a baptism of fire; after first-choice goalkeeper Franz Almer fell ill before a UEFA Cup second round game against Internazionale in autumn 1996, Manninger found himself making his debut in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. He put in a strong performance and pulled off several high-quality saves as GAK narrowly lost 1–0. In the return leg, GAK won 1–0 to level the aggregate score at 1–1, but lost in the resulting penalty shoot-out.

After that, he remained first-choice for the rest of the 1996–97 season and was signed by Arsenal in June 1997 as cover for David Seaman. During the 1997–98 season Seaman suffered a long spell out injured and Manninger ably covered for him, enjoying a spell of six clean sheets in a row in the league, a joint-club record with Jimmy Ashcroft. The last of these was against Manchester United at Old Trafford, where Arsenal won 1–0, a result which helped them beat United to the 1997–98 FA Premier League title, thereby winning the player of the month award, a first for an understudy goalkeeper in the Premier League. However, Manninger had to make way for Seaman once the Englishman returned from injury.

Manninger continued to deputise for Seaman for the next three seasons, but without a consistent run in the side he was unable to maximise his potential. In all he made only 64 appearances over four seasons for Arsenal. After the Gunners bought Richard Wright in 2001, Manninger became number three at Arsenal, and was loaned out to Fiorentina for a year (where he made 24 appearances), and then made a permanent move to RCD Espanyol in the summer of 2002. However, he was unable to gain a first-team place there and left on a free transfer five months later. Spells followed at Torino, Brescia and Siena, before he rejoined Red Bull Salzburg (as they are now known) in 2005. In 2006-07 he returned to Siena, where he is currently first-choice goalkeeper.

Manninger also plays for Austria, since 1999, and is currently one of the three elected goalkeepers for Euro 2008’s joint host nation.

Watch Alex Manninger’s penalty save: