He played in Austria for Floridsdorfer AC, Admira and Austria Klagenfurt. From 1969 to 1971 Pirkner played for FC Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga. He scored eight goals in 47 games. Because Pirkner was involved in the Bundesliga scandal he was banned by the German Football Association. The Austrian Football Association, which had banned Pirkner for two years, pardoned him 1973. [1]
When he came back to Austria he played for Alpine Donawitz. From 1974 till 1978n he was a member of the legendary Austria team around Herbert Prohaska, Robert and Josef Sara, Felix Gasselich, Karl Daxbacher and Hubert Baumgartner. The team won the Austrian championship in 1978 and made it to the final of the European Cup winner Cup. Together with Thomas Parits and Julio Cesar Morales, he formed the so-called 100-year storm.
Although he played a major role for Austria Wien, he left in the summer of 1978. His last team as a professional footballer was First Vienna FC. 1980 he ended his career as professional footballer.
International
Pirkner played 20 matches and scored four goals for the Austrian national team. He made his debut on 21 September 1969 in a friendly match in a 1-1 draw against the Germany .
He was in the Austrian squad at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Wearing the number 19 jersey, he made two appearances against Spain (2:1) and Italy (0:1), when he came on as a substitute for Walter Schachner. The match versus Italy was his last in the team [2]
Honours
2 × Austrian champion with Austria Wien (1975/76, 1977/78)
