Jakob Pokorny: Red Bull Salzburg Signs Austrian U17 Captain

Jakob Pokorny, the captain of Austria’s U17 World Cup team, has signed a contract with FC Red Bull Salzburg, starting next season. The 18-year-old defender joins the Austrian Bundesliga champions from partner club FC Liefering, with his contract extending until June 30, 2028.

Rising Through the Ranks

Pokorny’s journey to Salzburg began in February 2022, when he joined the Red Bull Academy from his home region of Carinthia. He progressed through the U16 and U18 teams, as well as the U19 UEFA Youth League squad, before making six appearances for FC Liefering in the ADMIRAL 2nd League. He will continue to develop as a co-operation player with Liefering, aiming to earn opportunities with the Red Bull Salzburg first team.

International Success

The young defender recently received a call-up to Austria’s U18 national team, building on his impressive performances with the U17 squad. Pokorny captained the Austrian U17 team to a runner-up finish at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, where they were defeated by Portugal in the final. He also debuted for the U-17 team against Finland in September 2024. He previously represented Austria at the U15 and U16 levels, earning 6 and 8 caps respectively.

Club and Manager Perspectives

Marcus Mann, Sports Director of FC Red Bull Salzburg, expressed his delight at securing Pokorny’s signature. “We are pleased that we were able to bring the next successful U17 World Cup participant to us. Jakob hasn’t played many matches at professional level yet, but overall he has already shown that he is a very mature player. We know his qualities, but we will give him the necessary time to develop because it is important not to find the quickest possible time, but the right time for his next step.”

Pokorny himself is eager to begin his journey with Salzburg. “It’s a sizeable step for me and I’ll give everything I can to develop further here. I know there’s a lot of function ahead of me now, but that’s exactly what motivates me because I want to prove myself step by step and repay the trust that has been placed in me.”

Interest from Across Europe

Before finalizing his move to Salzburg, Pokorny attracted interest from several European clubs. Serie A side Como from Italy, and multiple clubs in the German Bundesliga were reportedly monitoring the captain of the U17 runners-up.

Jakob Pokorny – Profile

• Date of Birth: February 23, 2008
• Place of Birth: Klagenfurt, Austria
• Height: 1.82m
• Position: Defender
• Current Club: FC Liefering (on loan from FC Red Bull Salzburg)

Sources: FC Red Bull Salzburg, Yahoo Sports, Simple English Wikipedia