Prior to World War II, it produced several Olympic athletes and was notable for fielding an entirely Jewish association football team with players drawn from across Europe.

A pair of Austrian Zionists, cabaret librettist (Kabarettist) Fritz "Beda" Löhner and dentist Ignaz Herman Körner as well as some others founded the club in 1909.

In preparation for their visits, they sent promoters ahead of the team in order to generate buzz and attract Jewish fans.

[4] Hakoah was not new to the notion of global tours; the organization's other teams, like swimming and wrestling had already traveled around the world and won a collection of medals.

The club created an unconventional form of security, having the Hakoah wrestling team accompany them and act as their personal bodyguards.

The facilities included an athletics track, a sports stadium, football and handball pitches with seating for 25,000 spectators, tennis courts, a jumping pit, hockey field, cloakrooms and showers, a dining area, and groundkeeper's accommodation.

Many of the team's players, impressed by the relative lack of anti-Semitism they found, decided to stay in the United States, accepting offers to play for American clubs.

He wrote in the celebratory Festschrift (brochure) on the 25th anniversary of the club in 1934: "In the days of our forefathers, we Jews have completely forgotten the old and true words in the education of our children: Mens sana in corpore sano!

By the 1930s Hakoah Vienna was on the receiving end of hatred stirred up by Hitler, and had to travel to matches with their wrestlers as bodyguards.

The official dissolution of the sports club was administered in the political department IV Ac by the Liquidation Commissioner of the Nazi party.

On 16 November 1938, the Liquidation Commissioner sent an application to the Board of the Vienna Police Directorate for a raid on Hakoah Sports Club.

As of 2006, the club had about 400 members and its football team plays in Austria's minor leagues under the name SC Maccabi Wien.