FC Zürich

Fussballclub Zürich, commonly abbreviated to FC Zürich or simply FCZ, is a Swiss football men's club based in the city of Zürich, in the Canton of Zurich in the Super League, the top tier in its league. The club was founded in 1896 and has won the Swiss Super League 12 times and the Swiss Cup 10 times. The club won the 2009 Swiss Super League and last won the Swiss Cup in 2018. Their home games are played at the Letzigrund in Zürich, which seats 25,000 spectators. For the women's team see FC Zürich Frauen.

Zürich
Full nameFussballclub Zürich
Nickname(s)FCZ/ Zürich
Founded1 August 1896 (1896-08-01)
GroundLetzigrund, Zürich
Capacity26,105
ChairmanAncillo Canepa
ManagerMassimo Rizzo
LeagueSuper League
2019–20Super League, 7th of 10
WebsiteClub website

History

1896–1924

The club was founded in summer 1896 by former members of the two local clubs FC Turicum and FC Excelsior. Later, the official founding date was set at 1 August 1896. One of the founding members was the later FC Barcelona founder, Joan Gamper, coaching and playing for FC Excelsior and its successor from 1894 to 1897.[1] The new club played its first game on 30 August 1896 on Velorennbahn Hardau in Zürich against FC Phönix St. Gallen with a 3:3 draw.[2] In 1898, FC Excelsior completely merged with FC Zürich and local club FC Victoria joined shortly thereafter.

The debut game was in 1896 with the colors blue and white.[3] The colors were changed to red and white; rivals Grasshopper Club Zürich had the same colors. When Grasshopper Club temporarily retired from the championship in 1909, FCZ returned to the colors blue and white which they continue to use.[4] Zürich won its first title in the Swiss Serie A in 1901–02, but did not win it again until 1923–24.

Until the 1930s, the club's sporting remit included rowing, boxing, athletics, and handball, but football would become the focus of the club.

1925–1960

Chart of FC Zürich table positions in the Swiss football league system

From 1925 to 1960, Zürich struggled to overcome an unsuccessful record and was described as the "wilderness years". They were relegated in 1933–34, playing in the 1. Liga to the 1941 season. In 1940–41, they returned to the Nationalliga, where they stayed until their relegation in 1945–46. They were back in the Nationalliga A in 1947–48 and stayed in the top flight until relegated in 1956–57. They were promoted from the Nationalliga B to contest the 1958–59 Nationalliga A, finishing in third place.

1960–1981

This period was known as the "Golden Years" by the FCZ faithful. At this time, the club was run by the legendary President Edwin Nägeli and had players such as Köbi Kuhn, Fritz Künzli, Ilija Katić, René Botteron, and many more. Zürich won seven championships in the years 1963, 1966, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1981. They also won the Swiss Cup five times in 1966, 1970, 1972, 1973, and in 1976. FCZ also had some success in Europe getting to the semi-finals of the European Cup 1963–64, before losing to Real Madrid and also reaching the semi-finals in the European Cup 1976–77, where they lost to Liverpool.

1981–2005

Following the club's league title in 1981, the club went into a decline and in 1988 they were relegated to the Nationalliga B. Zürich returned to the top league in 1990. The club did make it to last 16 of the UEFA Cup 1998–99, but were beaten by Roma. The club won the Swiss Cup in 2000, beating Lausanne in the final and also in 2005 beating Luzern.

2006–2016

Season Rank League Ø Attendance[5][6]
2006 1/10 SL 10,008
2007 1/10 SL 10,870
2008 3/10 SL 12,186
2009 1/10 SL 9,829
2010 7/10 SL 10,700
2011 2/10 SL 11,750
2012 6/10 SL 10,511
2013 4/10 SL 10,741
2014 5/10 SL 9,564
2015 3/10 SL 9,389
2016 10/10 SL 8,701
2017 1/10 CL 9,702
2018 4/10 SL 10,726
2019 7/10 SL 10,660
2020 7/10 SL 6,422[7]

On 13 May 2006, FCZ ended their 25 years effort to win Super League with a goal in the 93rd minute by Iulian Filipescu against FC Basel. The goal gave FCZ a 2 – 1 victory based on goal difference. They sustained the league title In 2006–07.

In 2008 the local women's team FFC Zürich Seebach was combined with FC Zürich and would play under the name FC Zürich Frauen in the Swiss national league. FC Zürich Frauen is Swiss record champion and 2nd in the alltime table only behind FFC Bern.

In the 2007–08 season, FCZ (men's team) finished in third place. In a 2008–09 season match, they edged pass BSC Young Boys to win the league title. In 2009, they made their debut play for the group-stage of the UEFA Champions League. In the 2010–11 season FCZ finished second. The following seasons they finished mostly in mid-table positions. FCZ won the Swiss Cup 2014 in extra time against FC Basel 2 to 0.

In the 2015–16 season the club finished last, one point behind FC Lugano and was relegated to the Swiss Challenge League. Four days after the final game of the season FCZ won the Swiss Cup 2016 beating FC Lugano 1 to 0.

Recent years

In the 2016–17 season FC Zürich won the Challenge League ahead of Neuchâtel Xamax and returned after one year to the Super League. In the 2017–2018 season they finished 4th. On 27 May 2018 they won the Swiss Cup for the tenth time, beating BSC Young Boys 2:1.

Honours

Rivalries

Grasshopper, also from Zürich, and FC Basel are the main rivals of FCZ. Due to the intense rivalry, these matches are so-called high-risk fixtures, with an increased police presence in and around the stadium.

Zürich

Since its inception, FCZ has always had a fiery relationship with neighbouring club Grasshopper over sporting supremacy in the city.

Final vs. FC Basel, 13 May 2006

Before the last round of the 2005–06 Swiss Super League, Zürich were three points behind FC Basel in the league table. The last game of the season was contested by these two clubs vying for the league title at St. Jakob Park, Basel. Alhassane Keita scored the match first goal, for Zürich. In the second half, Mladen Petrić equalised. FC Basel were seconds away from the title when in the 93rd minute, Florian Stahel passed the ball to Iulian Filipescu, who scored. Zürich's success at 2 – 1 was attributed to their superior goal difference. Following the final whistle, Basel supporters stormed the pitch and attacked players on both teams (SEE:2006 Basel Hooligan Incident).

Players

Current squad

As of 9 January 2021

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   SUI Zivko Kostadinovic
3 DF  BRA Nathan Cardoso
4 DF   SUI Bećir Omeragić
5 DF  GER Lasse Sobiech (on loan from Köln)
6 DF  KVX Fidan Aliti (on loan from Kalmar)
7 MF   SUI Adrian Winter
8 MF   SUI Vasilije Janjičić
9 FW  GAM Assan Ceesay
10 MF   SUI Antonio Marchesano
14 MF   SUI Toni Domgjoni
15 FW  NGA Tosin Aiyegun
18 FW  SVN Blaž Kramer
19 DF   SUI Tobias Schättin
20 MF  CIV Ousmane Doumbia
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF   SUI Blerim Džemaili
22 FW  ITA Wilfried Gnonto
23 MF   SUI Fabian Rohner
25 GK   SUI Yanick Brecher
26 MF  TUN Salim Khelifi
27 MF   SUI Marco Schönbächler
31 DF  KVX Mirlind Kryeziu
33 MF   SUI Stephan Seiler
36 DF   SUI Filip Frei
38 GK   SUI Novem Baumann
42 DF   SUI Silvan Wallner
70 MF  KVX Benjamin Kololli
71 MF  KVX Hekuran Kryeziu

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
DF   SUI Ilan Sauter (at FC Wil until 30 June 2021)
MF   SUI Bledian Krasniqi (at FC Wil until 30 June 2021)
MF   SUI Izer Aliu (at SC Kriens until 30 June 2021)
DF   SUI Lindrit Kamberi (at FC Winterthur until 30 June 2021)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   SUI Maren Haile-Selassie (at FC Wil until 30 June 2021)
FW   SUI Henri Koide (at FC Wil until 30 June 2021)
DF  CIV Willie Britto (at Pohronie until 30 June 2021)}}

Reserve squad/Zürich II

The Zürich II/U21 team plays in the Swiss Promotion League.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
MF  GER Soheil Arghandewall
DF   SUI Lenny Janko
GK   SUI Novem Baumann
GK   SUI Serkan Polat
DF   SUI Silvan Wallner
FW   SUI Nedim Omeragić
DF  POR José Gonçalves
MF   SUI Diego Corvalan
MF   SUI Luka Frei
MF  KVX Lavdrim Rexhepi
DF   SUI Basil Erne
GK   SUI Nico Feusi
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   SUI Kenith Catari
MF   SUI Kedus Haile-Selassie
DF   SUI Alain Fuchs
DF   SUI Jahaim Kissling
MF   SUI Yasha Schärer
MF   SUI Nils Reichmuth
FW   SUI Arber Jusufi
DF   SUI David Brunner
MF   SUI Leandro Aversa
FW   SUI Junior Eyamba
FW   SUI Shpetim Sulejmani

Notable former players

Players and managers admitted to the FC Zurich Hall of Fame

source:[8]

Players for the Swiss national football team

Players with World Cup appearances for their national teams

Player records

source appearances:[9]

source scorers:[10]

Managers

FC Zürich in Europe

As of 2019

Competition Pld W D L GF GA
UEFA Champions League 48 16 4 28 50 77
UEFA Europa League 78 25 18 35 92 125
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 12 4 4 4 24 16
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 10 4 0 6 12 12
Total 148 49 26 73 178 230
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1963–64 European Cup PR Dundalk 1–2 3–0 4–2
1R Galatasaray 2–0 0–2 2–2
QF PSV 3–1 0–1 3–2
SF Real Madrid 1–2 0–6 1–8
1966–67 European Cup 1R Celtic 0–3 0–2 0–5
1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1R Barcelona 3–1 0–1 3–2
2R Nottingham Forest 1–0 1–2 2–2(a)
3R Sporting CP 3–0 0–1 3–1
QF Dundee 0–1 0–1 0–2
1968–69 European Cup 1R AB 1–3 1–2 2–5
1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1R Kilmarnock 3–2 1–3 4–5
1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar 7–0 7–1 14–1
2R Club Brugge 3–2 0–2 3–4
1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Wrexham 1–1 1–2 2–3
1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Anderlecht 1–0 2–3 3–3(a)
2R Malmö FF 0–0 1–1 1–1(a)
QF Sporting CP 1–1 0–3 1–4
1974–75 European Cup 1R Leeds United 2–1 1–4 3–5
1975–76 European Cup 1R Újpest 5–1 0–4 5–5(a)
1976–77 European Cup 1R Rangers 1–0 1–1 2–1
2R Turun Palloseura 2–0 1–0 3–0
QF Dynamo Dresden 2–1 2–3 4–4(a)
SF Liverpool 1–3 0–3 1–6
1977–78 UEFA Cup 1R CSKA Sofia 1–0 1–1 2–1
2R Eintracht Frankfurt 3–4 0–3 3–7
1979–80 UEFA Cup 1R Kaiserslautern 1–3 1–5 2–8
1981–82 European Cup 1R Dynamo Berlin 3–1 0–2 3–3(a)
1982–83 UEFA Cup 1R Pezoporikos Larnaca 1–0 2–2 3–2
2R Ferencváros 1–0 1–1 2–1
3R Benfica 1–1 0–4 1–5
1983–84 UEFA Cup 1R Antwerp 2–4 1–4 3–8
1998–99 UEFA Cup 2QR Shakhtar Donetsk 4–0 2–3 6–3
1R Anorthosis Famagusta 4–0 3–2 7–2
2R Celtic 4–2 1–1 5–3
3R Roma 2–2 0–1 2–3
1999–00 UEFA Cup QR Sliema Wanderers 1–0 3–0 4–0
1R Lierse 4–3 1–0 5–3
2R Newcastle United 1–2 1–3 2–5
2000–01 UEFA Cup 1R Genk 1–2 0–2 1–4
2005–06 UEFA Cup 2QR Legia Warsaw 4–1 1–0 5–1
1R Brøndby 2–1 0–2 2–3
2006–07 UEFA Champions League 2QR Red Bull Salzburg 2–1 0–2 2–3
2007–08 UEFA Champions League 3QR Beşiktaş 1–1 0–2 1–3
UEFA Cup 1R Empoli 3–0 1–2 4–2
Group E Sparta Prague N/A 2–1 3rd
Toulouse 2–0 N/A
Spartak Moscow N/A 0–1
Bayer Leverkusen 0–5 N/A
R32 Hamburg 1–3 0–0 1–3
2008–09 UEFA Cup 2QR Sturm Graz 1–1 1–1 2–2 (4–2 p)
1R Milan 0–1 1–3 1–4
2009–10 UEFA Champions League 3QR Maribor 2–3 3–0 5–3
PO Ventspils 2–1 3–0 5–1
Group C Real Madrid 2–5 0–1 4th
Milan 1–1 1–0
Marseille 0–1 1–6
2011–12 UEFA Champions League 3QR Standard Liège 1–0 1–1 2–1
PO Bayern Munich 0–1 0–2 0–3
UEFA Europa League Group D Sporting CP 0–2 0–2 4th
Vaslui 2–0 2–2
Lazio 1–1 0–1
2013–14 UEFA Europa League 3QR Slovan Liberec 1–2 1–2 2–4
2014–15 UEFA Europa League PO Spartak Trnava 1–1 3–1 4–2
Group A Apollon Limassol 3–1 2–3 3rd
Borussia Mönchengladbach 1–1 0–3
Villareal CF 3–2 1–4
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 3QR Dinamo Minsk 0–1 1–1 1–2
2016–17 UEFA Europa League Group L Villareal CF 1–1 1–2 3rd
Steaua București 0–0 1–1
Osmanlıspor 2–1 0–2
2018–19 UEFA Europa League Group A Bayer Leverkusen 3–2 0–1 2nd
Ludogorets Razgrad 1–0 1–1
AEK Larnaca 1–2 1–0
R32 Napoli 1–3 0–2 1–5

References

  1. "Biography on fcwinterthur1896.com". fcwinterthur1896.com. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  2. "Erinnerung an unser erstes Matsch". fcz.ch. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  3. "Erinnerung an unser erstes Matsch". fcz.ch. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  4. Lütscher, Michael (2010). Eine Stadt, ein Verein, eine Geschichte. Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung. p. 47. ISBN 9783038236436.
  5. "Schweiz " Super League " Zuschauer". weltfussball.at. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  6. "Zuschauerzahlen Super League". sfl.ch. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  7. "COVID-19 outbreak: Swiss Super League to admit 1,000 fans". coliseum-online.com. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  8. "Hall of Fame (Auswahl des FCZ-Museums)". dbfcz.ch. dbfcz. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  9. "Top 10 Einsätze für den FCZ". dbfcz.ch. dbfcz. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  10. "Top 10 Tore für den FCZ". dbfcz.ch. dbfcz. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
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