| Walter Rautmann | |
| Birth Date: | 30 August 1945 |
| Birth Place: | Paul-Hahn-Straße, Linz, Austria |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Clubs1: | LASK |
| Years2: | 1965 |
| Clubs2: | Montreal Italica |
| Years3: | 1968 |
| Clubs3: | Powerlines FC |
| Years4: | 1971 |
| Clubs4: | Berea Park |
| Clubs5: | Highlands Park F.C. |
| Years6: | 1972–1973 |
| Clubs6: | Hertha BSC |
| Years7: | 1973 |
| Clubs7: | LBV Phönix |
| Years8: | 1973 |
| Clubs8: | Germiston Callies |
| Clubs9: | Moroka Swallows |
| Years10: | 1975 |
| Clubs10: | Dallas Tornado |
| Caps10: | 9[1] |
| Goals10: | 0 |
| Years11: | 1976 |
| Clubs11: | SK Windhoek |
| Managerclubs1: | AmaZulu |
| Managerclubs2: | Rabali Blackpool |
| Managerclubs3: | Moroka Swallows |
| Manageryears4: | 2000–2001 |
| Managerclubs4: | African Wanderers |
| Manageryears5: | 2001–2002[2] |
| Managerclubs5: | Tembisa Classic |
| Manageryears6: | 2003[3] |
| Managerclubs6: | Black Leopards |
| Manageryears7: | 2003–20xx |
| Managerclubs7: | Thanda Royal Zulu |
| Manageryears8: | 2006 |
| Managerclubs8: | PJ Stars |
| Manageryears9: | 2006–20xx |
| Managerclubs9: | Garankuwa United |
| Manageryears10: | 2008–2009[4] |
| Managerclubs10: | Values Rockets |
| Manageryears11: | 2009–2010 |
| Managerclubs11: | Mbabane Swallows |
| Manageryears12: | 2016 |
| Managerclubs12: | Klerksdorp City FC |
Walter Rautmann (born 30 August 1945) is an Austrian retired football coach and player. He has coached Mpumalanga Black Aces,[5] Dangerous Darkies, Real Rovers,[6] Moroka Swallows,[7] [8] Rabali Blackpool,[9] AmaZulu, African Wanderers,[10] Tembisa Classic,[11] [12] Black Leopards,[13] Zulu Royals,[14] [15] PJ Stars,[9] Garankuwa United,[16] Values Rockets,[4] Mbabane Swallows, and amateur Klerksdorp City.[17]
Before playing in South Africa he played in the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League in 1965 with Montreal Italica.[18] Unable to secure a contract in the United States, the retired midfielder came to the whites-only South African league with some other Austrians in the 1960s, before completing a switch to Moroka Swallows as player-coach which was the first black team he was in. Since then, he coached only black teams and was dubbed 'Mr Fitness',[9] 'Mr Fixit', the 'Lion of the North' for his preternatural ability to save clubs from relegation. Also, Rautmann helped some South African footballers earn transfers to Austria, the first at the time.[19]
While in charge of Rabali Blackpool, the former footballer was kicked by Gora Ebrahim after he was chosen to be substituted and has not spoken to Ebrahim since.[9]
In 2015, Rautmann was moribund when his heart stopped beating for 20 seconds and had to be revived.[20]
On South African football, he has stated that it is very corrupt.[21]
Summoned to take the helm of Mbabane Swallows of the Swazi Premier League near the end of 2009[22] on a short-term agreement to assist Malian Alou Badara ahead of their CAF Champions League clash encountering SuperSport United,[23] Rautmann arrived in the country by January 2010.[24] However, he complained about the state of Swallows' training pitch upon arrival,[25] blaming the state of the pitch for his team's cup loss to Amagaagasi as well.[26] A month succeeding his appointment, he severed ties with the club, citing a poor relationship with Alou Badara as the reason for his resignation.[27]
Marrying his wife Lynn in 1968, the Austrian mentor is fluent in English, Dutch, and Afrikaans.[28] He has a son, Michael, who was born in 1976.[28]