FC Zürich

Zürich

Full name	Fussball-Club Zürich
Founded	1896
Ground	Letzigrund, Zürich (Capacity: 25,000)
Chairman	Ancillo Canepa
Manager	Urs Fischer
League	Swiss Super League
2009-10	Swiss Super League, 7th
Home colours Away colours

Fußball-Club Zürich, commonly abbreviated to just FC Zürich, is a Swiss football club from the city of Zürich. The club was founded in 1896 and have won the Swiss Super League 12 times and the Swiss Cup 7 times. The club won the 2009 Swiss Super League and last won the Swiss Cup in 2005. They play their home games at the Letzigrund in Zürich, which seats 25,000.

History

1896–1924

The club was founded on 1 August 1896 by former members of the three local clubs (FC Turicum, FC Viktoria, and FC Excelsior). Zürich won its first title in the Swiss Super League in 1901–02, but did not win it again until 1923–24.

Until the 1930s, the club's sporting remit also included rowing, boxing, athletics, and handball, but later focused solely on football.

1925–1960

Between 1925 and 1960, Zürich were in the "wilderness years," devoid of success. The club struggled to keep in the top flight and were relegated from the Super League in 1933–34, playing in the Challenge League until 1941. In 1940–41, they returned to the Super League, where they stayed until their relegation in the 1945–46. They were back in the Super League in 1947–48 and stayed in the top flight until relegated once more in 1956–57. They were promoted from the Challenge League to contest the Swiss Super League 1958–59, 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 they 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, the club was relegated to the Challenge League. 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.

Recent years

On 13 May 2006, FCZ ended their 25 years wait for a league title with a dramatic final day victory against Basel to win the Super League. They won thanks to a goal scored in the 93rd minute by Iulian Filipescu. The goal gave FCZ a 2 – 1 victory and secured the title on goal difference over Basel. In 2006–07, they also won the league.

In the 2007–08 season, FCZ finished in third place. In the 2008–09 season, they won the league, edging out BSC Young Boys.

Honours

• Swiss Super League
  • Winners (12): 1902, 1924, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 2006, 2007, 2009
• Swiss Cup
  • Winners (7): 1966, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1976, 2000, 2005
• European Champions Cup (UEFA Champions League)
  • Semi-finalists, 1964 and 1977
• Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy
  • Fourth place, 1911

Rivalries

Local club Grasshopper, along with Basel, are the main rivals of FCZ. Due to the intense rivalry, these matches are s-called "High Risk Games," with an increased police presence in and around the stadium.

Zürich Derby

Since its inception, FCZ has always had a fiery relationship with neighbouring club Grasshopper over sporting supremacy in the city. Grasshoppers are known as the club of the elite and FCZ are known as the club of the workers. The matches between the two clubs are the only true local derby in the Swiss Super League.

Final vs. Basel, 13 May 2006

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 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 and made it 2 – 1 for Zürich. Zürich won the league title due to their superior goal difference. After the final whistle, the field was stormed by Basel supporters who also attacked Zürich players (see 2006 Basel Hooligan Incident).

Current squad

Leoni Stahel Teixeira Barmettler Magnin Aegerter Zouaghi Dušan Ðurić Margairaz Chikhaoui Hassli

FC Zürich Starting 11 in their 4-2-3-1 formation

As of 23th May 2010 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Johnny Leoni 2 DF Jorge Teixeira 3 DF Ricardo Rodriguez 4 DF Raphael Koch 5 MF Xavier Margairaz 6 MF Chaker Zouaghi 7 MF Silvan Aegerter 8 MF Stjepan Kukuruzović 9 FW Amine Chermiti 11 MF Adrian Nikci 12 FW Alexandre Alphonse 13 DF Florian Stahel 14 MF Dušan Ðurić

No. Position Player 16 DF Philippe Koch 17 MF Yassine Chikhaoui 18 GK René Borkovic 19 DF Alain Rochat 20 MF Milan Gajić 21 DF Heinz Barmettler 23 DF Ludovic Magnin 25 FW Admir Mehmedi 26 MF Martin Büchel 27 FW Marco Schönbächler 29 FW Eric Hassli 32 GK Andrea Guatelli

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player -- MF Remo Staubli ( at FC Lugano ) -- FW Silvio ( at FC Lausanne )

Notable former players

See also Category:FC Zürich players.

Managers

See also Category:FC Zürich managers.

Manager	Years	Record
József "Csibi" Winkler	1920–1922	?-?-?
Studnicka	1943–1946	?-?-?
Severino Minelli	1948–1950	?-?-?
Willy Iseli	1946–1948	?-?-?
Theodor Lohrmann	1948–1953	?-?-?
Joksch Fridl	1953–1955	?-?-?
Ossi Müller	1955–1957	?-?-?
Fernando Molina and Max Barras	1957–1958	?-?-?
Karl Rappan	1958–1959	?-?-?
Max Barras	1959–1960	?-?-?
Georg Wurzer	1960–1962	?-?-?
Louis Maurer	1962–1966	?-?-?
László Kubala	July 1966–Feb. 1967	?-?-?
René Brodmann	Feb. 1967–July 1967	?-?-?
Law Mantula	1967–1969	?-?-?
Georg Gawliczek	July 1969–Nov. 1970	?-?-?
Juan Schwanner	Nov. 1970–July 1971	?-?-?
Friedhelm Konietzka	1971–1978	?-?-?
Zlatko Čajkovski	1978–March 1980	?-?-?
Albert Sing and Rosario Martinelli	March 1980–July 1980	?-?-?
Daniel Jeandupeux	July 1980–March 1983	?-?-?
Heini Glättli	March 1983	?-?-?
Max Merkel	April 1983–May 1983	?-?-?
Köbi Kuhn	May 1983–July 1983	?-?-?
Hans Kodric	July 1983–Nov. 1983	?-?-?
Köbi Kuhn	Nov. 1983–July 1984	?-?-?
Vaclav Jezek	1984– 1986	?-?-?
Hermann Stessl	1986– Sept. 1987	?-?-?
Friedhelm Konietzka	Sept. 1987–July 1988	?-?-?
Hans Bongartz	1988–1989	?-?-?
Walter Iselin	July 1989–Oct. 1989	?-?-?
Herbert Neumann	Oct. 1989–Oct. 1991	?-?-?
Kurt Jara	Oct. 1991–April 1994	?-?-?
Bob Houghton	April 1994–March 1995	?-?-?
Raimondo Ponte	March 1995–April 2000	?-?-?
Gilbert Gress	April 2000–2001	?-?-?
Georges Bregy	2001–March 2003	?-?-?
Walter Grüter	March 2003–July 2003	?-?-?
Lucien Favre	2003–June 2007	69-33-37
Bernard Challandes	June 2007–April 2010	?-?-?
Urs Fischer	April 2010–present	?-?-?

FC Zürich in Europe

• Q = Qualifying Round
• 1R = First Round
• 2R = Second Round
• 1/8 = 1/8 Final
• 1/4 = Quarterfinal
• 1/2 = Semifinal

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Score
1963–64	European Cup	Q		Dundalk	3 – 0, 1 – 2
		1/8		Galatasaray	2 – 0, 0 – 2, 2 – 2
		1/4		PSV	0 – 1, 3 – 1
		1/2		Real Madrid	1 – 2, 0 – 6
1966–67	European Cup	1R		Celtic	0 – 2, 0 – 3
1967–68	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	1R		Barcelona	3 – 1, 0 – 1
		2R		Nottingham Forest	1 – 2, 1 – 0
		1/8		Sporting CP	3 – 0, 0 – 1
		1/4		Dundee	0 – 1, 0 – 1
1968–69	European Cup	1R		AB	1 – 3, 2 – 1
1969–70	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	1R		Kilmarnock	3 – 2, 1 – 3
1970–71	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar	7 – 1, 7 – 0
		1/8		Club Brugge	0 – 2, 3 – 2
1972–73	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		Wrexham	1 – 1, 1 – 2
1973–74	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		Anderlecht	2 – 3, 1 – 0
		1/8		Malmö FF	0 – 0, 1 – 1
		1/4		Sporting CP	0 – 3, 1 – 1
1974–75	European Cup	1R		Leeds United	1 – 4, 2 – 1
1975–76	European Cup	1R		Újpest	0 – 4, 5 – 1
1976–77	European Cup	1R		Rangers	1 – 1, 1 – 0
		1/8		Turun Palloseura	2 – 0, 1 – 0
		1/4		Dynamo Dresden	2 – 1, 2 – 3
		1/2		Liverpool	1 – 3, 0 – 3
1977–78	UEFA Cup	1R		CSKA Sofia	1 – 0, 1 – 1
		2R		Eintracht Frankfurt	0 – 3, 3 – 4
1979–80	UEFA Cup	1R		Kaiserslautern	1 – 3, 1 – 5
1981–82	European Cup	1R		Dynamo Berlin	0 – 2, 3 – 1
1982–83	UEFA Cup	1R		Pezoporikos Larnaca	2 – 2, 1 – 0
		2R		Ferencváros	1 – 1, 1 – 0
		1/8		Benfica	1 – 1, 0 – 4
1983–84	UEFA Cup	1R		Antwerp	1 – 4, 2 – 4
1998–99	UEFA Cup	2Q		Shakhtar Donetsk	4 – 0, 2 – 3
		1R		Anorthosis Famagusta	4 – 0, 3 – 2
		2R		Celtic	1 – 1, 4 – 2
		1/8		Roma	0 – 1, 2 – 2
1999–00	UEFA Cup	Q		Sliema Wanderers	3 – 0, 1 – 0
		1R		Lierse	1 – 0, 4 – 3
		2R		Newcastle United	1 – 2, 1 – 3
2000–01	UEFA Cup	1R		Racing Genk	1 – 2, 0 – 2
2005–06	UEFA Cup	2Q		Legia Warsaw	1 – 0, 4 – 1
		1R		Brøndby	0 – 2, 2 – 1
2006–07	Champions League	2Q		Red Bull Salzburg	2 – 1, 0 – 2
2007–08	Champions League	3Q		Beşiktaş	1 – 1, 0 – 2
2007–08	UEFA Cup	1R		Empoli	1 – 2, 3 – 0
		2R		Sparta Prague	2 – 1
		2R		Toulouse	2 – 0
		2R		Spartak Moscow	0 – 1
		2R		Bayer Leverkusen	0 – 5
		1/16		Hamburg	1 – 3, 0 – 0
2008–09	UEFA Cup	2Q		Sturm Graz	1 – 1, 1 – 1
		1R		Milan	1 – 3, 0 – 1
2009–10	Champions League	3Q		Maribor	2 – 3, 3 – 0
		4Q		Ventspils	3 – 0, 2 – 1
		Group Stage		Real Madrid	2 – 5
		Group Stage		Milan	1 – 0
		Group Stage		Marseille	0 – 1
		Group Stage		Marseille	1 - 6
		Group Stage		Real Madrid	0 - 1
		Group Stage		Milan	1 – 1

External links

• Official Website (German)
• FC Zürich stats (German)