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FC Zürich

Fussballclub Zürich, commonly abbreviated to FC Zürich or simply FCZ, is a professional football club based in Zurich, Switzerland. The club was founded in 1896 and has won the Swiss Super League 13 times and the Swiss Cup ten times. Their most recent titles are the 2022 Swiss Super League and the 2018 Swiss Cup. The club plays its home games at the Letzigrund, which has a capacity of 26,000 for league games.[1]

Zürich
Full nameFussballclub Zürich
Nickname(s)FCZ
Short nameFCZ
Founded1896 (128 years ago) (1896)
GroundLetzigrund
Capacity26,105
OwnerJustin Schmidt, Samson AG
PresidentAncillo Canepa
Head coachRicardo Moniz
LeagueSwiss Super League
2023–24Swiss Super League, 4th of 12
Websitefcz.ch
Current season

FC Zürich is the only Swiss team to have reached the semi-finals of the European Cup more than once. This happened in 1964 and 1977, when the competition was played in its original format. FC Zürich co-founder, first captain and honorary member Joan Gamper, who grew up in Zurich and later moved to Catalonia, founding Barcelona there in 1899. Since the 1960s, FC Zürich plays in all-white, which is one of the city's colours.

The women's club, FC Zürich Frauen, are competing in the Swiss Women's Super League. They are the most successful club in Switzerland with 22 championship titles and multiple Champions League participations. The team's roots originate from the first Swiss women's football club, DFC Zürich.[2]

The academy club, FC Zürich Jugend, are competing in the Credit Suisse x EASPORTS FC Super League and is based in the Seychelles. They are the most successful club in Switzerland history, with 42 championship titles and multiple UEFA Youth League final participations.

History

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1896–1924

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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 Barcelona founder, Joan Gamper, coaching and playing for FC Excelsior and its successor from 1894 to 1897.[3] The new club played its first game on 30 August 1896 on Velorennbahn Hardau in Zürich against St. Gallen, which resulted in a 3–3 draw.[4] In 1898, FC Excelsior merged with FC Zürich, and local club FC Victoria joined shortly thereafter.

The debut game was in 1896 with the colours blue and white.[5] The colours were changed to red and white because rivals Grasshoppers had the same colours. When Grasshoppers temporarily retired from the championship in 1909, FCZ returned to the colors blue and white, which they continue to use.[6] 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

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

Zürich struggled to overcome an unsuccessful record and was described as the "wilderness years" from 1925 to 1960.[7] They were relegated in 1933–34, playing in the 1. Liga until 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

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This period was known as the "Golden Years" by the FCZ faithful. At this time, the club was run by the 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 1976. FCZ also had much success internationally in reaching 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

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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. They won it again in 2005, beating Luzern.

2006–2016

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Season Rank League Ø Attendance[8][9]
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[10]
2021 8/10 SL 91
2022 1/10 SL 13'396
2023 8/10 SL 15'387
2024 4/12 SL 15'710

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

In 2008, the local women's team, FFC Zürich Seebach, was combined with FC Zürich and played in the Swiss national league under the name FC Zürich Frauen.

In the 2007–08 season, FCZ finished in third place. In a 2008–09 season match, they edged pass Young Boys to win the league title. In 2009, they made their debut play in 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 Basel 2–0.

In the 2015–16 season, the club finished last, one point behind 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 Lugano 1–0.

Recent years

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FC Zürich fans at the Letzigrund in 2024

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 fourth. On 27 May 2018 they won the Swiss Cup for the tenth time, beating Young Boys 2–1.

In the 2021–2022 season, FC Zürich won the Super League again after an interruption of 13 years. The club secured its 13th league title with a 2–0 away win over Basel, who finished second, on 1 May 2022, with five rounds to go. Despite this success, coach André Breitenreiter departed the club to join Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim on 24 May 2022.[11] On 8 June 2022, former Austrian national coach Franco Foda was announced as the coach for the upcoming season.[12] Despite being able to guide Zürich into the Europa League group stages, the domestic campaign saw the side gain only two points out of a possible 24 in their title defence. The league form, combined with a shock cup defeat to Challenge League side Lausanne on 18 September, proved the final straw and Foda was sacked on 21 September.[13]

In 2024, Ricardo Moniz was appointed head coach on a two-year contract.[14]

Honours

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National

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International

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Rivalries

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Letzigrund

Grasshoppers, also from Zürich, and 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

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Main article: Zurich derby

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

To date, 251 official derbies have been held, with Grasshoppers leading with 121 wins to FC Zurich's 90, leaving 39 draws. However, since the reformation of the Swiss Super League in 2003, FCZ has frequently gotten the better of their city rivals, winning 33 out of 68 games (GC won 20 and 15 draws).

The October 2011 derby at Letzigrund was abandoned by the referee after rioting by FC Zürich fans. Earlier in the day, Grasshopper Club Zürich fans stole FC Zürich fan banners and displayed them with a message mocking FC Zürich. [15]

Final vs. Basel, 13 May 2006

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Main article: 2006 Basel hooligan incident

Before the last round of the 2005–06 Swiss Super League, Zürich were three points behind 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. 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.

Infrastructure

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In 2010, the youth and women's teams of the club moved their homebase to the Heerenschürli sport park in the city quarter of Hirzenbach where the academy and women's teams play also their home matches. In June 2022, the club moved with the opening of a newly built "House of FCZ" also their Super League team and offices there in order to have the whole organisation under one roof.[16]

Players

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Current squad

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As of 9 September 2024[17]

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   BIH Živko Kostadinović
2 DF   SUI Lindrit Kamberi
3 DF   SRB Nemanja Tošić
5 DF   ARG Mariano Gómez
6 MF   SUI Cheveyo Tsawa
7 MF   KOS Bledian Krasniqi
8 MF   SUI Samuel Ballet (on loan from Como)
9 FW   COL Juan José Perea (on loan from VfB Stuttgart)
10 MF   SUI Antonio Marchesano
11 FW   COD Jonathan Okita
12 MF   NGA Ifeanyi Mathew
13 MF   GUI Mohamed Bangoura
14 MF   SUI Nevio Di Giusto
16 DF   ISR Doron Leidner (on loan from Olympiacos)
17 MF   GUI Cheick Condé
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 FW   GHA Daniel Afriyie
19 FW   CIV Fernand Gouré (on loan from Westerlo)
20 FW   SUI Calixte Ligue
21 FW   NGA Umeh Emmanuel
22 FW   IRL Armstrong Oko-Flex
23 MF   FRA Mounir Chouiar (on loan from Ludogorets Razgrad)
24 DF   BIH Nikola Katić
25 GK   SUI Yanick Brecher (captain)
26 MF   SUI Miguel Reichmuth
27 DF   POR Rodrigo Conceição
28 GK   SUI Silas Huber
31 DF   KOS Mirlind Kryeziu
32 DF   SUI Selmin Hodža
33 MF   ZAM Joseph Sabobo
36 DF   SUI Daniel Denoon

Out on loan

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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   CUB Fabian Gloor (at Bellinzona until 30 June 2025)
— DF   SUI Ramon Guzzo (at Wil until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW   SUI Labinot Bajrami (at Winterthur until 30 June 2025)

Reserve squad/Zürich U21

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As of 6 October 2024[18]
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
1 GK   UKR Yevhen Morozov
2 DF   SUI Ivan Kovacevic
3 DF   SUI Noah Leao Muata
4 DF   SUI Daniel Denoon
5 MF   GUI Mohamed Bangoura
6 DF   SUI Mile Vukelic
7 FW   LUX Selim Turping
8 MF   SUI Miguel Reichmuth
9 FW   SUI Mario Greco
10 FW   SUI Pirosch Fischer
11 MF   SUI Sajawal Mahar
13 MF   BIH Emrah Isic
14 MF   SUI Nevio Di Giusto
15 MF   SUI Mihael Cavar
16 MF   SUI Leon Grando
17 MF   SUI Isaiah Okafor
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 GK   SUI Sasha Blaser
19 MF   SUI Sebastian Walker
20 MF   SUI Patrice Kissling
21 MF   SUI Mathis Holcbecher
22 DF   SUI Selmin Hodža
23 DF   SUI Tobias Okafor
24 DF   SUI Yanik Kunz
25 GK   SUI Micha Ziegler
26 DF   TUR Emirhan Eraslan
27 DF   SUI Yuro Bohon Diet
28 GK   SUI Silas Huber
31 FW   NED Jahnoah Markelo
33 DF   SUI Neil Volken
34 MF   ITA Cosimo Fiorini
— FW   SUI Dylan Munroe

Notable former players

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As of 15 March 2016[19]
See also: Category:FC Zürich players

Players and managers admitted to the FC Zurich Hall of Fame

Players for the Swiss national football team

Players with World Cup appearances for their national teams

Player record

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Players in bold are still part of the club.

Managers

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See also: Category:FC Zürich managers

FC Zürich in European football

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As of 18 August 2022.

Competition Pld W D L GF GA
European Cup/UEFA Champions League 47 17 5 25 59 83
UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League 83 28 18 37 101 130
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 12 4 4 4 24 16
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 10 4 0 6 12 12
Total 153 52 27 74 189 236
Season Competition Round Opponent 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 Eindhoven 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 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 — 2–1 3rd
  Toulouse 2–0 —
  Spartak Moscow — 0–1
  Bayer Leverkusen 0–5 —
R32   Hamburger SV 1–3 0–0 1–3
2008–09 UEFA Cup 2QR   Sturm Graz 1–1 1–1 (a.e.t.) 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
  Villarreal 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   Villarreal 1–1 1–2 3rd
  FCSB 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
2022–23 UEFA Champions League 2QR   Qarabağ 2–2 (a.e.t.) 2–3 4−5
UEFA Europa League 3QR   Linfield 3–0 2–0 5–0
PO   Heart of Midlothian 2–1 1–0 3–1
Group A   Arsenal 1–2 0–1 4th
  Bodø/Glimt 2–1 1–2
  PSV Eindhoven 1–5 0–5
2024–25 UEFA Conference League 2QR   Shelbourne 3–0 0–0 3–0
3QR   Vitória de Guimarães 0–3 0–2 0–5

References

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  1. ^ "Das Stadion Letzigrund in Zahlen und Fakten". stadionletzigrund.ch. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  2. ^ Saro Pepe. "Football for all – but only for the last 50 years". nationalmuseum.ch. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Biography on fcwinterthur1896.com". fcwinterthur1896.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Erinnerung an unser erstes Matsch". fcz.ch. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Erinnerung an unser erstes Matsch". fcz.ch. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  6. ^ Lütscher, Michael (2010). Eine Stadt, ein Verein, eine Geschichte. Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung. p. 47. ISBN 9783038236436.
  7. ^ "wilderness years - Political Dictionary". 31 May 2023. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Schweiz " Super League " Zuschauer". weltfussball.at. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Zuschauerzahlen Super League". sfl-org.ch. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  10. ^ "COVID-19 outbreak: Swiss Super League to admit 1,000 fans". coliseum-online.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Personal statement on the departure of André Breitenreiter". FC Zürich (in German). 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Der FC Zürich stellt Franco Foda als neuen Trainer vor". bluewin.ch (in German). 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Football: Franco Foda n'est plus l'entraîneur du FC Zurich". lematin.ch (in French). 21 September 2022. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  14. ^ "News". FC Zürich (in German). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  15. ^ "02.10.11: Schande von Zürich: FCZ-Fan wirft Fackel in GC-Sektor und erzwingt Spielabbruch". Watson (in German). Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  16. ^ "FC Zürich weiht sein schmuckes 'House of FCZ' ein". nau.ch. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  17. ^ FC Zürich at Swiss Football League
  18. ^ "U21". FC Zürich. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  19. ^ "dbFCZ : Die Spiele des FC Zürich" [dbFCZ : The games of FC Zurich]. dbFCZ (in German). Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Top 10 Einsätze für den FCZ" [Top 10 appearances for the FCZ]. dbFCZ (in German). Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  21. ^ "Top 10 Tore für den FCZ" [Top 10 goals for the FCZ]. dbFCZ (in German). Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  22. ^ "Trainerwechsel in die Bundesliga" (in Swiss High German). FC Zürich. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
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