2020–21 Grasshopper Club Zürich season

The 2020–21 Grasshopper Club Zürich season is the club's second consecutive season in the Swiss Challenge League, having been relegated from the 2018–19 Swiss Super League one year earlier, after playing in the top tier for 67 years.[1] The season started on 18 September 2020 and is scheduled to end on 30 May 2021. Grasshopper Club Zürich also participate in the Swiss Cup. The first game was played on 12 September 2020.

Grasshopper Club Zürich
2020–21 season
ChairmanSky Sun
ManagerJoão Carlos Pereira
StadiumLetzigrund,
Zurich, Switzerland
Challenge League1st
Swiss CupRound of 16
Top goalscorerLeague:
Shkelqim Demhasaj (5)
All:
Shkelqim Demhasaj (6)
Biggest win3–0 vs Wil
3–0 vs Neuchâtel Xamax
Biggest defeat2–5 vs Kriens

Review and events

In April 2020 the club was bought by investors from China.[2] The new owners began to reform the club and renew the squad during the summer break, including the signing of several players from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The English Premier League club is also connected to the Chinese investors.[3] The first game of the season was played in late September 2020, a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland.

Squad

Players
As of 23 January 2021[4]
No. Name Nationality Position Date of birth (age) at GCZ since Signed from
Goalkeepers
1 Mirko Salvi GK (1994-02-14) 14 February 1994 07/2018 Basel
27 Mateo Matic GK (1996-01-07) 7 January 1996 01/2016 own youth
36 Marvin Keller GK (2002-07-03) 3 July 2002 07/2019 own youth
57 Matthias Minder GK (1993-02-03) 3 February 1993 09/2020 Neuchâtel Xamax
Defenders
2 Oskar Buur CB (1998-03-31) 31 March 1998 01/2021 Wolverhampton (on loan)
4 Miguel Nóbrega CB (2000-04-17) 17 April 2000 09/2020 Benfica (on loan)
5 Aleksandar Cvetković CB (1995-06-04) 4 June 1995 02/2018 Wohlen
20 Marcin Dickenmann CB (2000-08-14) 14 August 2000 06/2020 own youth
22 Nadjack CB (1994-02-06) 6 February 1994 08/2020 Rio Ave
24 Toti Gomes CB (1999-01-16) 16 January 1999 05/2020 Wolverhampton (on loan)
31 Dominik Schmid CB (1998-03-10) 10 March 1998 08/2020 Basel
34 Allan Arigoni CB (1998-11-04) 4 November 1998 07/2018 own youth
44 Elias Mesonero CB (2001-03-27) 27 March 2001 01/2020 own youth
89 Ermir Lenjani CB (1989-08-05) 5 August 1989 09/2020 Sion
Midfielders
8 André Santos MF (1989-03-02) 2 March 1989 08/2020 Belenenses
10 Petar Pusic MF (1999-01-25) 25 January 1999 02/2017 own youth
14 Connor Ronan MF (1998-03-06) 6 March 1998 08/2020 Wolverhampton (on loan)
21 Ming-yang Yang MF (1995-07-11) 11 July 1995 08/2017 Wolverhampton
23 Nikola Gjorgjev MF (1997-08-22) 22 August 1997 07/2015 own youth
29 Djibril Diani MF (1998-02-11) 11 February 1998 12/2018 own youth
30 Nuno Pina MF (1999-03-31) 31 March 1999 08/2020 ChievoVerona (on loan)
33 Giotto Morandi MF (1999-03-04) 4 March 1999 06/2019 own youth
47 Fabio Fehr MF (2000-01-15) 15 January 2000 02/2020 own youth
48 Robin Kalem MF (2002-07-14) 14 July 2002 06/2020 own youth
Forwards
3 Léo Bonatini FW (1994-03-28) 28 March 1994 09/2020 Wolverhampton (on loan)
7 Oscar Correia FW (1997-09-28) 28 September 1997 07/2020 Étoile Carouge
9 Shkelqim Demhasaj FW (1996-04-19) 19 April 1996 07/2020 Luzern
11 Renat Dadashov FW (1999-05-17) 17 May 1999 08/2020 Wolverhampton (on loan)
11 Hicham Acheffay FW (2000-08-10) 10 August 2000 01/2021 Utrecht
17 Cristian Ponde FW (1995-01-26) 26 January 1995 08/2020 Karpaty Lviv

Players in italic left the club during the season.

Players out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF   SUI Marcin Dickenmann (at Wil until 30 June 2021)
No. Pos. Nation Player
4 DF   SUI Baba Souare (at Kriens until 30 June 2021)

Transfers

In
Date No. Pos Player Transferred from Fee/Notes Source
30 June 2020 30 MF Nuno Pina ChievoVerona Loan
1 July 2020 7 DF Oscar Correia Étoile Carouge Free [5]
1 July 2020 9 FW Shkelqim Demhasaj Luzern Free [6]
7 August 2020 31 DF Dominik Schmid Basel Free [7]
17 August 2020 21 MF Ming-yang Yang Wolverhampton Free [8]
23 August 2020 11 FW Renat Dadashov Wolverhampton Loan
23 August 2020 14 MF Connor Ronan Wolverhampton Loan [9]
25 August 2020 17 FW Cristian Ponde Karpaty Lviv Free [10]
28 August 2020 8 MF André Santos Belenenses Free [11]
29 August 2020 22 DF Nadjack Rio Ave [12]
31 August 2020 MF Nedim Bajrami Empoli Return from loan
4 September 2020 24 DF Toti Gomes Wolverhampton Loan [13]
11 September 2020 89 MF Ermir Lenjani Sion Free [14]
22 September 2020 3 FW Léo Bonatini Wolverhampton Loan [15]
30 September 2020 4 DF Miguel Nóbrega Benfica Loan [16]
31 December 2020 FW Amel Rustemoski Kriens Return from loan [17]
11 January 2021 2 MF Oskar Buur Wolverhampton Loan [18]
20 January 2021 11 FW Hicham Acheffay Utrecht [19]

Out
Date No. Pos Player Transferred to Fee/Notes Source
1 July 2020 20 FW Danijel Subotić unattached [20]
2 August 2020 28 DF Andreas Wittwer Winterthur [21]
11 August 2020 10 DF Vero Salatić Retirement Free
13 August 2020 13 FW Nassim Ben Khalifa Espérance Tunis [22]
23 August 2020 21 MF Mersim Asllani Lausanne-Ouchy
24 August 2020 4 DF Baba Souare Kriens Loan [23]
24 August 2020 17 MF Oliver Buff unattached [24]
24 August 2020 31 FW Amel Rustemoski Kriens Loan [25]
29 August 2020 45 DF Nando Pijnaker Rio Ave [26]
1 September 2020 9 FW Mychell Chagas Nantong Zhiyun Free [27]
1 September 2020 MF Nedim Bajrami Empoli €0.5 million
1 October 2020 11 FW Nikola Sukacev Metalac Free
8 October 2020 11 FW Renat Dadashov Wolverhampton Loan ended
14 January 2021 20 DF Marcin Dickenmann Wil Loan [28]

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 28 November 2020[29]
Position Name Since
Manager João Carlos Pereira2020
Assistant manager Gilberto Freitas2020
Assistant manager João Gião2020
Assistant manager Lino Godinho2020
Assistant manager Bruno Ferreira2020
Assistant manager Christoph Born2011

Competitions

Overview
Competition First match Last match Starting round Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Challenge League 18 September 2020 Matchday 1 17 10 3 4 29 19 +10 058.82
Swiss Cup 12 September 2020 2nd Round 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 100.00
Total 18 11 3 4 31 20 +11 061.11

Last updated: 7 February 2021

Source: Soccerway

Challenge League
Main article: 2020–21 Swiss Challenge League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Thun 19 11 4 4 34 19 +15 37 Promotion to 2021–22 Swiss Super League
2 Schaffhausen 19 9 6 4 33 23 +10 33 Qualification to promotion/relegation play-offs
3 Grasshoppers 17 10 3 4 29 19 +10 33
4 Lausanne-Ouchy 19 8 7 4 30 22 +8 31
5 Winterthur 18 8 4 6 30 23 +7 28
Updated to match(es) played on 6 February 2021. Source: Swiss Challenge League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Draw.[30]

Kickoff times are in CET

  Win   Draw   Loss

18 September 2020 (2020-09-18) 1 Grasshopper Club Zürich 3–2 Winterthur Zürich
20:00
Report
Stadium: Letzigrund
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Luca Piccolo
27 September 2020 (2020-09-27) 2 Chiasso 0–2 Grasshopper Club Zürich Chiasso
16:00
  • Hajrizi  48'
  • Silva  69'
 Report
Stadium: Stadio Comunale
Attendance: 500
Referee: Nico Gianforte
3 October 2020 (2020-10-03) 3 Grasshopper Club Zürich 3–0 Wil Zürich
19:00
Report
Stadium: Letzigrund
Attendance: 2,550
Referee: Mirel Turkes
16 October 2020 (2020-10-16) 4 Neuchâtel Xamax 1–0 Grasshopper Club Zürich Neuchâtel
20:00
Report
Stadium: Stade de la Maladière
Attendance: 2,870
Referee: Urs Schnyder
20 October 2020 (2020-10-20) 5 Kriens 5–2 Grasshopper Club Zürich Kriens
19:30
Report
Stadium: Stadion Kleinfeld
Attendance: 700
Referee: Johannes von Mandach
24 October 2020 (2020-10-24) 6 Grasshopper Club Zürich 2–1 Schaffhausen Zürich
19:00
Report
Stadium: Letzigrund
Attendance: 2,380
Referee: Fedayi San
29 October 2020 (2020-10-29) 7 Lausanne-Ouchy 1–2 Grasshopper Club Zürich Lausanne
20:00
  • Tavares  51' 53'
  • Lahiouel  40'  65'
  • Routis  87'
  • Ndongo  90'
 Report
Stadium: Stade Olympique de la Pontaise
Attendance: 50
Referee: David Huwiler
2 November 2020 (2020-11-02) 8 Grasshopper Club Zürich 1–1 Thun Zürich
20:00
Report
Stadium: Letzigrund
Attendance: 50
Referee: Adrien Jaccottet
6 November 2020 (2020-11-06) 9 Aarau Postponed Grasshopper Club Zürich Aarau
20:00 Report Stadium: Stadion Brügglifeld
Note: Called off due to COVID-19 cases in the FC Aarau squad.
20 November 2020 (2020-11-20) 10 Grasshopper Club Zürich Postponed Neuchâtel Xamax Zürich
20:00 Report Stadium: Letzigrund
Note: Called off due to COVID-19 cases in the Grasshoppers squad.
23 November 2020 (2020-11-23) 9 Aarau 0–1 Grasshopper Club Zürich Aarau
20:00
  • Balaj  72'
 Report
Stadium: Stadion Brügglifeld
Attendance: 50
Referee: Tobias Thies
27 November 2020 (2020-11-27) 11 Wil 1–1 Grasshopper Club Zürich Wil
20:00
Report
  •  33' Morandi
  •  83' Ponde
 Stadium: IGP Arena
Attendance: 50
Referee: Stefan Horisberger
4 December 2020 (2020-12-04) 12 Grasshopper Club Zürich 2–0 Kriens Zürich
20:00
Report Stadium: Letzigrund
Attendance: 50
Referee: Anojen Kanagasingam
7 December 2020 (2020-12-07) 10 Grasshopper Club Zürich 3–0 Neuchâtel Xamax Zürich
20:00
Report
Stadium: Letzigrund
Attendance: 50
Referee: Luca Cibelli
11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) 13 Thun 3–1 Grasshopper Club Zürich Thun
20:00
Report
Stadium: Stockhorn Arena
Attendance: 15
Referee: Sven Wolfensberger
15 December 2020 (2020-12-15) 14 Grasshopper Club Zürich 2–1 Chiasso Zürich
20:00
Report
  •  2' Pasquarelli
  •  55' Almeida
  •  80' Malula
 Stadium: Letzigrund
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mirel Turkes
18 December 2020 (2020-12-18) 15 Schaffhausen 2–1 Grasshopper Club Zürich Schaffhausen
20:00
Report
Stadium: LIPO Park
Attendance: 5
Referee: Esther Staubli
22 January 2021 (2021-01-22) 16 Grasshopper Club Zürich 2–0 Lausanne-Ouchy Zürich
20:00
Report
Stadium: Letzigrund
Attendance: 5
Referee: Alessandro Dudic
29 January 2021 (2021-01-29) 17 Grasshopper Club Zürich postponed Aarau Zürich
20:00 Report Stadium: Letzigrund
Note: Called off due to unplayable pitch caused by heavy rain.
2 February 2021 (2021-02-02) 18 Winterthur postponed Grasshopper Club Zürich Winterthur
20:00 Report Stadium: Stadion Schützenwiese
Note: Called off due to unplayable pitch caused by heavy rain.
6 February 2021 (2021-02-06) 19 Grasshopper Club Zürich 1–1 Chiasso Zürich
18:15
Report
  •  1' Hajrizi
  •  28' Bahloul
  •  55' Conus
  •  78' (o.g.) Schmid
 Stadium: Letzigrund
Attendance: 5
Referee: Nico Gianforte
9 February 2021 (2021-02-09) 18 Winterthur v Grasshopper Club Zürich Winterthur
20:00 Stadium: Stadion Schützenwiese
12 February 2021 (2021-02-12) 20 Thun v Grasshopper Club Zürich Thun
20:00 Stadium: Stockhorn Arena
16 February 2021 (2021-02-16) 17 Grasshopper Club Zürich v Aarau Zürich
18:00 Stadium: Letzigrund
19 February 2021 (2021-02-19) 21 Wil v Grasshopper Club Zürich Wil
20:00 Stadium: IGP Arena
27 February 2021 (2021-02-27) 22 Grasshopper Club Zürich v Schaffhausen Zürich
18:15 Stadium: Letzigrund
2 March 2021 (2021-03-02) 23 Lausanne-Ouchy v Grasshopper Club Zürich Lausanne
20:00 Stadium: Stade Olympique de la Pontaise
5 March 2021 (2021-03-05) 24 Grasshopper Club Zürich v Winterthur Zürich
20:00 Stadium: Letzigrund
12 March 2021 (2021-03-12) 25 Kriens v Grasshopper Club Zürich Kriens
20:00 Stadium: Stadion Kleinfeld
19 March 2021 (2021-03-19) 26 Grasshopper Club Zürich v Aarau Zürich
20:00 Stadium: Letzigrund

Swiss Cup
Main article: 2020–21 Swiss Cup

Kickoff times are in CET

  Win   Draw   Loss

12 September 2020 (2020-09-12) 2nd Round Lausanne-Ouchy 1–2 Grasshopper Club Zürich Lausanne
16:30
  • Ndongo  65'
 Report
Stadium: Stade Juan-Antonio-Samaranch
Attendance: 800
24 February 2021 (2021-02-24) Round of 16 Grasshopper Club Zürich v Lausanne-Sport Zürich
17:30 Stadium: Letzigrund

Pre-season and friendlies

  Win   Draw   Loss

25 August 2020 (2020-08-25) Türkgücü München 1–0 Grasshopper Club Zürich Weingarten, Germany
19:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report Stadium: Lindenhofstadion
Attendance: 0
29 August 2020 (2020-08-29) Grasshopper Club Zürich 1–1 Luzern Niederhasli, Switzerland
18:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: GC/Campus
Attendance: 300
5 September 2020 (2020-09-05) Servette FC cancelled Grasshopper Club Zürich Montreux, Switzerland
16:00 CEST (UTC+2) Report Stadium: Stade Eugéne Parlier
Attendance: 0
Note: Called off due to COVID-19 cases in the Grasshoppers squad.
9 October 2020 (2020-10-09) Grasshopper Club Zürich 1–2 Lausanne-Sport Niederhasli, Switzerland
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: GC/Campus
Attendance: 0
9 January 2021 (2021-01-09) Servette FC cancelled Grasshopper Club Zürich Fribourg, Switzerland
15:00 CET (UTC+1) Report Stadium: Stade Universitaire Saint-Léonard
Note: Called off due to frozen pitch.
13 January 2021 (2021-01-13) Luzern cancelled Grasshopper Club Zürich Kriens, Switzerland
14:00 CET (UTC+1) Report Stadium: Stadion Kleinfeld
Note: Called off due to four COVID-19 cases in the FC Luzern squad.
16 January 2021 (2021-01-16) Schaffhausen 0–1 Grasshopper Club Zürich Schaffhausen, Switzerland
15:00 CET (UTC+1) Report
Stadium: LIPO Park
Attendance: 0
16 January 2021 (2021-01-16) Grasshopper Club Zürich 3–2 Austria Lustenau Niederhasli, Switzerland
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
  • Filipe Carvalho  28', 70'
  • Correia  61'
 Report
Stadium: GC/Campus
Attendance: 0

Statistics

Goalscorers
Rank No. Pos Nat Name Challenge League Swiss Cup Total
1 9 FW Shkelqim Demhasaj 5 1 6
2 10 MF Petar Pusic 4 0 4
17 FW Cristian Ponde 4 0 4
23 MF Nikola Gjorgjev 4 0 4
5 30 MF Nuno Pina 3 0 3
6 3 FW Léo Bonatini 2 0 2
8 MF André Santos 2 0 2
33 MF Giotto Morandi 2 0 2
9 14 MF Connor Ronan 1 0 1
24 DF Toti Gomes 1 0 1
31 DF Dominik Schmid 1 0 1
48 MF Robin Kalem 0 1 1
Own goals 0 0 0
Totals 29 2 31

Last updated: 6 February 2021
Source: Competitions

References
  1. SRF. "Nach 67 Jahren im Oberhaus: Chaoten besiegeln den GC-Abstieg". srf.ch. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. Thomas Schifferle. "Chinesen übernehmen GC". 20min.ch. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  3. SDA. "GC gegen den Rest: Sind die Zürcher konkurrenzlos?". bluewin.ch. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  4. "Kader" [Squad]. gcz.ch (in German). Grasshopper Fussball AG. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. "GC rüstet auf – Offensiv-Duo wechselt zu den Zürchern". bluewin.ch. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  6. "GC rüstet auf – Offensiv-Duo wechselt zu den Zürchern". bluewin.ch. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  7. "Nächster Neuzugang bei GC: Dominik Schmid ist da". 4-4-2.com. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  8. "Yang Ming-Yang zu den Grasshoppers". bote.ch. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  9. "Wolves' Conor Ronan loaned to Grasshoppers". expressandstar.com. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  10. "Grasshoppers verpflichten Portugiesen Ponde". aargauerzeitung.ch. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  11. "André Santos reforça suíços do Grasshopper". record.pt. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  12. "GC holt Verteidiger Nadjack von Rio Ave". nau.ch. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  13. "Gomes verpflichtet – nächster Portugiese für GC". 4-4-2.com. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  14. "Ermir Lenjani kehrt zu GC zurück". suedostschweiz.ch. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  15. "Fix: Wolves-Brasilianer Léo Bonatini wechselt zu GC". 4-4-2.com. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  16. "Miguel Nóbrega ruma ao Grasshoppers". record.pt. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  17. "SC Kriens: Neuer Assistenztrainer und ein Abgang". regiofussball.ch. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  18. "Oskar Buur zu GC". gcz.ch. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  19. "GC verpflichtet Stürmer Acheffay". gcz.ch. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  20. "Fix: Danijel Subotic verlässt GC". 4-4-2.com. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  21. "GC verlängert Verträge mit Buff, Chagas und Wittwer nicht". nau.ch. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  22. "MERCATO: NASSIM BEN KHALIFA EN ROUTE POUR L'ESPÉRANCE DE TUNIS". africatopsports.com. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  23. "Amel Rustemoski wechselt leihweise zum SC Kriens". luzernerzeitung.ch. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  24. "GC verlängert Verträge mit Buff, Chagas und Wittwer nicht". nau.ch. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  25. "Amel Rustemoski wechselt leihweise zum SC Kriens". luzernerzeitung.ch. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  26. "Defesas Ivo Pinto e Nando Pijnaker foram reforços surpresa na apresentação do Rio Ave". sapo.pt. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  27. "GC verlängert Verträge mit Buff, Chagas und Wittwer nicht". nau.ch. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  28. "Dickenmann leihweise zum FC Wil 1900". gcz.ch. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  29. "Kader" [Squad]. gcz.ch (in German). Grasshopper Fussball AG. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  30. "Reglement für den Spielbetrieb der SFL" (PDF) (in German). sfl.ch. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
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