Helmut Senekowitsch (22 October 1933 – 9 September 2007) was an Austrian football player and later a football manager.

Playing career

Club career

He played for several clubs, including SK Sturm Graz, Real Betis and FC Wacker Innsbruck.

International career

He played for the Austria national football team and was a participant at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He earned 18 caps, scoring 5 goals.

Coaching career

He later worked as a coach, one of his major achievements was helping Austria qualify for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, the first time Austria had qualified for the World Cup in twenty years. The Austrian team advanced to the second round in whose first match they fell 1–5 against Netherlands being coached by former international teammate Ernst Happel. Later he led them during the game dubbed The miracle of Córdoba, against arch-rivals West Germany, which the Austrians won 3–2. It was Austria's first victory against a German national side in 47 years, and its first victory over West Germany. He died in September 2007 after a long illness.