๐ Another year of Swiss football is in the books.
A thread of the moments (good, bad and sad) that our wonderful league and teams offered in 2023...
A thread of the moments (good, bad and sad) that our wonderful league and teams offered in 2023...
As the league returned from its winter break, FC Basel's Fabian Frei set a personal milestone. The 34-year-old made his 400th appearance in the Super League.
Frei became only the second player, after Nelson Ferreira, to have achieved that feat.
Frei became only the second player, after Nelson Ferreira, to have achieved that feat.
A poignant moment. After the death of Karim Gazzetta in November, opposing players Jรฉrรฉmy Guillemenot and Zeki Amdouni both scored in the same match, taking the opportunity to honour their ex-teammate.
RIP Karim!
RIP Karim!
Fabienne Humm, Brighton Labeau, Fabian Rieder, Ramona Bachmann & Granit Xhaka cleaned up at the Swiss Football Night.
Rieder claimed both the Player & Young Player of the season, Bachmann took home the Female National Player award while Xhaka was the Male National Player winner.
Rieder claimed both the Player & Young Player of the season, Bachmann took home the Female National Player award while Xhaka was the Male National Player winner.
Chiasso declared bankruptcy in January with debts of over 3m. The team withdrew from the Swiss third-tier and only the junior arm of the club remains after 117 years.
The team, managed by Gianluca Zambrotta as recently as 2015, did eventually reform in the eighth tier.
The team, managed by Gianluca Zambrotta as recently as 2015, did eventually reform in the eighth tier.
An emotional game in Turkey during FC Basel's European campaign. They played away in Trabzon just ten days after a major earthquake devastated Tรผrkiye and Syria.
While the match was played, FCB lost 1-0, the scenes and support were the lasting impression on the night.
While the match was played, FCB lost 1-0, the scenes and support were the lasting impression on the night.
History was made in Lausanne in March as an all-female referee team led a match together in the SFL.
Esther Staubli along with AR Susanne Kรผng, Linda Schmid & 4th official Dรฉsirรฉe Grundbacher took charge of Thun's 3-1 win that day.
Esther Staubli along with AR Susanne Kรผng, Linda Schmid & 4th official Dรฉsirรฉe Grundbacher took charge of Thun's 3-1 win that day.
In April, Switzerland was announced as the host country of the Women's EUROs in 2025 with Basel, Bern, Zurich, Geneva, St. Gallen, Luzern, Sion and Thun as the host cities.
Here's a look at everything you can expect at a Swiss EUROs!
๐น @sfv_asf
Here's a look at everything you can expect at a Swiss EUROs!
๐น @sfv_asf
The cup match between Basel and Young Boys in April was a perfect showcase of the random absurdities that can occur in Swiss football.
@SuisseFoot
@SuisseFoot
Speaking of absurdity. Vaduz and Bellinzona offered up a classic case in the Challenge League. Vaduz won the game 6-1, held a 4-0 lead after twenty minutes, the match had four penalties and Bellinzona's striker ended the match as a goalkeeper.
๐ธ @emanuel_BP_
๐ธ @emanuel_BP_
FC Basel enjoyed a fantastic European run that spanned 20 games, 9 countries, featured many incredible late goals & brought them to a second European SF a decade after their last.
A heartbreaking end as Fiorentina won the tie in the 129th(!) minute but a run to be proud of.
A heartbreaking end as Fiorentina won the tie in the 129th(!) minute but a run to be proud of.
In April, @ServetteFCCF won the Women's Swiss Cup for the first time in their history after a 1-0 victory over St. Gallen at the Letzigrund.
A bizarre scene in May. Taulant Xhaka is given a 2nd
๐ก for violent conduct & leaves the field.
VAR recommends that it should've been a straight red, the ref has to wait, Xhaka thinks he's earned a reprieve... but is sent straight back off again!
๐น SRF
๐ก for violent conduct & leaves the field.
VAR recommends that it should've been a straight red, the ref has to wait, Xhaka thinks he's earned a reprieve... but is sent straight back off again!
๐น SRF
The final goal of Gaรซl Clichy's career came in a 5-0 derby win & it was recommended by a Servette fan.
Clichy said he took inspiration from the fan who told him via DM that Sion's GK had bad positioning and he should shoot from distance.
๐น @ServetteFC
bit.ly
Clichy said he took inspiration from the fan who told him via DM that Sion's GK had bad positioning and he should shoot from distance.
๐น @ServetteFC
bit.ly
Speaking of that derby win, it was bad news for Sion. At HT, Sion president Christian Constantin reportedly stormed into the dressing room, fired ex-Zidane assistant David Bettoni & challenged Sion player Dimitri Cavare to a fight.
Only one piece of chaos from Sion's season...
Only one piece of chaos from Sion's season...
Inevitably, Mario Balotelli took centre stage. He scored just 6 goals, partied, accidentally punched the president's son at the Sion carnival, his shirt was burned, he went MIA for the end of the season and turned up as a #UCL final pundit just four days after Sion's relegation.
Sion's 17-year stay in the Challenge League ended in the playoffs against Stade Lausanne-Ouchy.
For anyone keeping track, Sion had four managers in 2023, including the president and were relegated under Paolo Tramezzani, who they'd sacked for a third time in November 2022.
For anyone keeping track, Sion had four managers in 2023, including the president and were relegated under Paolo Tramezzani, who they'd sacked for a third time in November 2022.
Vaduz were 4-0 winners over Balzers in the Liechtenstein Cup in May. The result extended their world record for domestic cup wins to 49 and qualified them for the 23/24 #UECL.
Nine consecutive triumphs and 23 out of the last 24 for the side playing in the Swiss second-tier.
Nine consecutive triumphs and 23 out of the last 24 for the side playing in the Swiss second-tier.
Manuel Akanji became the first Swiss player to score in a European Cup/Champions League semi-final since Peter Risi in 1977.
Akanji sweeped the board with City in 2023 and also became only the fourth Swiss player to win the Champions League.
Akanji sweeped the board with City in 2023 and also became only the fourth Swiss player to win the Champions League.
After disappointment last season, YB comfortably reclaimed the Swiss title in April after a 5-1 win over Luzern.
Trophy day and a truck(!) parade soon followed. YB would also clinch their third league & cup double after beating Lugano in the final.
Trophy day and a truck(!) parade soon followed. YB would also clinch their third league & cup double after beating Lugano in the final.
FC Zurich claimed the @AXA Women's Super League trophy for a second consecutive year after a 3-0 victory over Servette in the play-off final at kybunpark.
After 492 games, Raphaรซl Nuzzolo signed off at Neuchatel Xamax after a 3-0 home win over Rapperswil to maintain their Challenge League status.
Nuzzolo scored 137 goals and managed 82 assists during his time at the club.
Nuzzolo scored 137 goals and managed 82 assists during his time at the club.
In her fifth final, Ana Maria Crnogorฤeviฤ claimed her third UEFA Women's Champions League in June after Barcelona's comeback win over Wolfsburg.
She also became only the second Swiss player to play in three consecutive finals.
She also became only the second Swiss player to play in three consecutive finals.
Switzerland played in their fourth major tournament at the Women's World Cup. The team topped their group before a heavy defeat to Spain.
Ramona Bachmann joined Xherdan Shaqiri as the only Swiss players to score at four major international tournaments. All consecutively too.
Ramona Bachmann joined Xherdan Shaqiri as the only Swiss players to score at four major international tournaments. All consecutively too.
After the World Cup, @GagaThalmann retired from the game, ending her 17-year spell with the Nati!
Fabienne Humm (fastest World Cup hat-trick!), Admir Mehmedi (that penalty vs. France!) & Mario Gavranovic (that goal vs. France!) also ended their Nati careers.
Fabienne Humm (fastest World Cup hat-trick!), Admir Mehmedi (that penalty vs. France!) & Mario Gavranovic (that goal vs. France!) also ended their Nati careers.
Despite promotion, Yverdon's stadium wasn't quite up to scratch yet. The first fixtures were played in Neuchatel instead with zero fans.
YB fans protested the decision by travelling to Yverdon's stadium instead and filling the stand!
๐น @guillemintim
YB fans protested the decision by travelling to Yverdon's stadium instead and filling the stand!
๐น @guillemintim
Just 77 days after their European semi-final defeat to Fiorentina, FC Basel were humiliatingly eliminated from the #UECL qualifiers by Kazakh side FC Tobol.
Despite winning 2-1 in the second leg, a shocking 3-1 home loss in the first leg brought an early exit.
Despite winning 2-1 in the second leg, a shocking 3-1 home loss in the first leg brought an early exit.
Servette fans left their mark on this policeman ahead of their first leg Champions League qualifier with Rangers in Glasgow.
YB also brought success on the European front. The Swiss champions, faced with a difficult Champions League group containing Man City, Leipzig and Red Star, secured four points against the Serbian outfit to claim Europa League football.
And while Lugano ultimately finished bottom of their group, they achieved a massive victory in the #UECL by winning 3-2 away to Besiktas.
The result was also the first time Besiktas had lost after leading 2-0 at home since 1965 against Galatasaray!
The result was also the first time Besiktas had lost after leading 2-0 at home since 1965 against Galatasaray!
In August, Lake Thun & Lake Geneva were traversed by Thun & Lausanne fans on short away days to Frutigen and Vevey in the cup!
Better than taking the car and both teams came out with resounding wins over the lower-league sides.
Better than taking the car and both teams came out with resounding wins over the lower-league sides.
Third-tier SR Delรฉmont embarked on a cup run to remember in 2023 as they eliminated Super League sides St. Gallen and Luzern in consecutive rounds.
Their first quarter-final since 1999 awaits later this year.
Their first quarter-final since 1999 awaits later this year.
In October, Servette piled on the misery for Basel with their first victory at St. Jakob-Park in twenty-four years. A fact that Servette and their staff were all too aware of, marking down the date of that last triumph. The motivation worked.
In November, YB trounced Luzern by a 6-1 scoreline at the Wankdorf. A fantastic result for the league leaders.
As for Luzern, it was the first time they'd conceded six away from home since a 6-1 defeat in 2008 to... you guessed it, YB. History repeats itself.
As for Luzern, it was the first time they'd conceded six away from home since a 6-1 defeat in 2008 to... you guessed it, YB. History repeats itself.
By appearing in the match against Israel in November and gaining his 119th cap, Granit Xhaka surpassed Heinz Hermann as the most-capped Switzerland men's player of all time.
Xhaka made his Nati debut at Wembley back in 2011 against England.
Xhaka made his Nati debut at Wembley back in 2011 against England.
Switzerland qualified for their sixth major tournament in a row after a 1-1 home draw with Kosovo in November.
An underwhelming campaign it was but an impressive feat.that only Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, England, Spain, Germany, France & Croatia have achieved.
An underwhelming campaign it was but an impressive feat.that only Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, England, Spain, Germany, France & Croatia have achieved.
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