Sabitzer Steps Away: Austria Midfielder Pauses National Team Career
Marcel Sabitzer, one of the pillars of Austrian football over the past decade, is stepping away from the national team — at least for now.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has informed the Austrian Football Association that he will not be available for this year’s UEFA Nations League group-stage fixtures, Channel NewsAsia reports. At 32, with 102 caps and 27 international goals behind him, he is pressing pause at a time when Austria are trying to build on the momentum of recent tournaments.
Exhausted by a Relentless Calendar
Sabitzer’s decision is rooted in workload, not in conflict. He pointed to the punishing schedule of the last two years, explaining that the stretch after Euro 2024 effectively felt like three seasons rolled into one. The Club World Cup and the World Cup stacked on top of his club commitments, and the strain has not eased.
This season brings another full slate: Bundesliga, German Cup, Champions League. The margins for rest have vanished. For a player who has carried heavy minutes for both club and country, something had to give.
So he chose the national team — temporarily.
Sabitzer has agreed with Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick to take a break from international duty. Both sides will revisit the situation early next year, when the focus will turn to qualifying for Euro 2028, which begins in March. Only then will Sabitzer decide whether to return and push toward another major tournament with Austria.
Rangnick Regrets Absence, Accepts Reasoning
Rangnick did not try to disguise his disappointment. Losing a leader with Sabitzer’s experience and influence is a blow. But he acknowledged the midfielder’s arguments and accepted the need for a pause.
The head coach has made it clear that a final call on Sabitzer’s longer-term involvement will be taken before Euro 2028 qualifying kicks off. Until then, the door stays open.
In the short term, Rangnick must move on without him. He is preparing to name his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures: Israel in Linz on September 24 and Kosovo in Vienna on September 29. October brings two more tests on the road, away to Ireland in Dublin and Kosovo in Pristina.
Those matches will offer a glimpse of what Austria look like without their seasoned midfield general. The real question hangs over next March: when Euro 2028 qualifying begins, will Sabitzer be back in red and white, or will Austria be forced to redraw their long-term plans without him?
