FC Zürich

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football club

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 thirteen 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 around 26,000 for league games<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and which it shares with city rivals Grasshopper Club Zurich.

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 was 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 Barcelona founder Joan Gamper, who coached and played for FC Excelsior and its successor from 1894 to 1897.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The new club played its first game on 30 August 1896 on Velorennbahn Hardau in Zurich against St. Gallen, which resulted in a 3–3 draw.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The colours were changed to red and white because rivals Grasshopper Club Zurich 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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

File:Zurich Performance Graph.png
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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

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

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

Season League Ø Attendance<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rank
2006 SL 10,008 1/10
2007 10,870 1/10
2008 12,186 3/10
2009 9,829 1/10
2010 10,700 7/10
2011 11,750 2/10
2012 10,511 6/10
2013 10,741 4/10
2014 9,564 5/10
2015 9,389 3/10
2016 8,701 10/10
2017 9,702 1/10
2018 10,726 4/10
2019 10,660 7/10
2020 6,422<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 7/10
2021 91 8/10
2022 13,396 1/10
2023 15,387 8/10
2024 15,710 4/12

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 past 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

File:Letzigrund 2024.jpg
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 thirteen years. The club secured its thirteenth league title with a 2–0 away win over Basel, who finished second, with five rounds to go. Despite this success, coach André Breitenreiter departed the club to join Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 8 June 2022, former Austrian national coach Franco Foda was announced as the coach for the upcoming season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2024, Ricardo Moniz was appointed head coach on a two-year contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was dismissed on 27 May 2025.<ref name=monizout>Template:Cite web</ref> He was replaced four days later by Mitchell van der Gaag.<ref name=mvdg>Template:Cite web</ref> Van der Gaag was sacked on 23 October, with club president Ancillo Canepa stating that he felt the team had "become stagnant".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Honours

National

International

Rivalries

File:Letzigrund und Umgebung.jpg
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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Since its inception, FCZ has always had a fiery relationship with neighbouring club Grasshopper over sporting supremacy in the city.Template: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 got 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 Zurich fans stole FC Zürich fan banners and displayed them with a message mocking FC Zürich.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Final vs. Basel, 13 May 2006

Template:Main 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

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Players

Current squad

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Out on loan

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Notable former players

Template:Updated Template:See also Players and managers admitted to the FC Zurich Hall of Fame Template:Div col

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Players for the Swiss national football team Template:Div col

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Players with World Cup appearances for their national teams

Bulgaria
Czechslovakia
Denmark
France
Germany
Italy
Ivory Coast
New Zealand
Nigeria
Romania
Russia
South Africa
Sweden
Tunisia
Yugoslavia

Player records

Players in bold are still part of the club. Template:Col-beginTemplate:Col-break

Most appearances<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
(Swiss League since 1955)
Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Player Apps
1 Template:Flagicon Template:HsKarl Grob 513
2 Template:Flagicon Template:HsJakob Kuhn 398
3 Template:Flagicon Template:HsRudolf Landolt 353
4 Template:Flagicon Template:HsRosario Martinelli 344
5 Template:Flagicon Template:HsWerner Leimgruber 314
6 Template:Flagicon Template:HsUrs Fischer 303
7 Template:Flagicon Template:HsMarco Schönbächler 292
8 Template:Flagicon Template:HsAlain Nef 277
9 Template:Flagicon Template:HsPirmin Stierli 248
10 Template:Flagicon Template:HsHeinz Lüdi 244

Template:Col-break

Top scorers<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
(Swiss League since 1955)
Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Player Goals
1 Template:Flagicon Template:HsFritz Künzli 158
2 Template:Flagicon Template:HsRosario Martinelli 126
3 Template:Flagicon Template:HsJakob Kuhn 79
4 Template:Flagicon Template:HsPeter Risi 76
5 Template:Flagicon Template:HsBruno Brizzi 74
5 Template:Flagicon Template:HsWerner Leimgruber 74
7 Template:Flagicon Template:HsWalter Seiler 62
8 Template:Flagicon Template:HsErcument Sahin 60
9 Template:Flagicon Template:HsAlhassane Keita 58
9 Template:Flagicon Template:HsKlaus Stürmer 58

Template:Col-end

Managers

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FC Zürich in European football

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 Template:Flagicon Dundalk 1–2 3–0 4–2
1R Template:Flagicon Galatasaray 2–0 0–2 2–2
QF Template:Flagicon PSV Eindhoven 3–1 0–1 3–2
SF Template:Flagicon Real Madrid 1–2 0–6 1–8
1966–67 1R Template:Flagicon Celtic 0–3 0–2 0–5
1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Barcelona 3–1 0–1 3–2
2R Template:Flagicon Nottingham Forest 1–0 1–2 2–2(a)
3R Template:Flagicon Sporting CP 3–0 0–1 3–1
QF Template:Flagicon Dundee 0–1 0–1 0–2
1968–69 European Cup 1R Template:Flagicon AB 1–3 1–2 2–5
1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Kilmarnock 3–2 1–3 4–5
1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar 7–0 7–1 14–1
2R Template:Flagicon Club Brugge 3–2 0–2 3–4
1972–73 1R Template:Flagicon Wrexham 1–1 1–2 2–3
1973–74 1R Template:Flagicon Anderlecht 1–0 2–3 3–3(a)
2R Template:Flagicon Malmö 0–0 1–1 1–1(a)
QF Template:Flagicon Sporting CP 1–1 0–3 1–4
1974–75 European Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Leeds United 2–1 1–4 3–5
1975–76 1R Template:Flagicon Újpest 5–1 0–4 5–5(a)
1976–77 1R Template:Flagicon Rangers 1–0 1–1 2–1
2R Template:Flagicon Turun Palloseura 2–0 1–0 3–0
QF Template:Flagicon Dynamo Dresden 2–1 2–3 4–4(a)
SF Template:Flagicon Liverpool 1–3 0–3 1–6
1977–78 UEFA Cup 1R Template:Flagicon CSKA Sofia 1–0 1–1 2–1
2R Template:Flagicon Eintracht Frankfurt 3–4 0–3 3–7
1979–80 1R Template:Flagicon Kaiserslautern 1–3 1–5 2–8
1981–82 European Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Dynamo Berlin 3–1 0–2 3–3(a)
1982–83 UEFA Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Pezoporikos Larnaca 1–0 2–2 3–2
2R Template:Flagicon Ferencváros 1–0 1–1 2–1
3R Template:Flagicon Benfica 1–1 0–4 1–5
1983–84 1R Template:Flagicon Antwerp 2–4 1–4 3–8
1998–99 2QR Template:Flagicon Shakhtar Donetsk 4–0 2–3 6–3
1R Template:Flagicon Anorthosis Famagusta 4–0 3–2 7–2
2R Template:Flagicon Celtic 4–2 1–1 5–3
3R Template:Flagicon Roma 2–2 0–1 2–3
1999–00 QR Template:Flagicon Sliema Wanderers 1–0 3–0 4–0
1R Template:Flagicon Lierse 4–3 1–0 5–3
2R Template:Flagicon Newcastle United 1–2 1–3 2–5
2000–01 1R Template:Flagicon Genk 1–2 0–2 1–4
2005–06 2QR Template:Flagicon Legia Warsaw 4–1 1–0 5–1
1R Template:Flagicon Brøndby 2–1 0–2 2–3
2006–07 UEFA Champions League 2QR Template:Flagicon Red Bull Salzburg 2–1 0–2 2–3
2007–08 3QR Template:Flagicon Beşiktaş 1–1 0–2 1–3
UEFA Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Empoli 3–0 1–2 4–2
Group E Template:Flagicon Sparta Prague style="text-align:center;" Template:N/a 2–1 3rd
Template:Flagicon Toulouse 2–0 style="text-align:center;" Template:N/a
Template:Flagicon Spartak Moscow style="text-align:center;" Template:N/a 0–1
Template:Flagicon Bayer Leverkusen 0–5 style="text-align:center;" Template:N/a
R32 Template:Flagicon Hamburger SV 1–3 0–0 1–3
2008–09 2QR Template:Flagicon Sturm Graz 1–1 1–1 Template:Aet 2–2 Template:Pso
1R Template:Flagicon Milan 0–1 1–3 1–4
2009–10 UEFA Champions League 3QR Template:Flagicon Maribor 2–3 3–0 5–3
PO Template:Flagicon Ventspils 2–1 3–0 5–1
Group C Template:Flagicon Real Madrid 2–5 0–1 4th
Template:Flagicon Milan 1–1 1–0
Template:Flagicon Marseille 0–1 1–6
2011–12 3QR Template:Flagicon Standard Liège 1–0 1–1 2–1
PO Template:Flagicon Bayern Munich 0–1 0–2 0–3
Group D Template:Flagicon Sporting CP 0–2 0–2 4th
Template:Flagicon Vaslui 2–0 2–2
Template:Flagicon Lazio 1–1 0–1
2013–14 UEFA Europa League 3QR Template:Flagicon Slovan Liberec 1–2 1–2 2–4
2014–15 PO Template:Flagicon Spartak Trnava 1–1 3–1 4–2
Group A Template:Flagicon Apollon Limassol 3–1 2–3 3rd
Template:Flagicon Borussia Mönchengladbach 1–1 0–3
Template:Flagicon Villarreal 3–2 1–4
2015–16 3QR Template:Flagicon Dinamo Minsk 0–1 1–1 1–2
2016–17 Group L Template:Flagicon Villarreal 1–1 1–2 3rd
Template:Flagicon FCSB 0–0 1–1
Template:Flagicon Osmanlıspor 2–1 0–2
2018–19 Group A Template:Flagicon Bayer Leverkusen 3–2 0–1 2nd
Template:Flagicon Ludogorets Razgrad 1–0 1–1
Template:Flagicon AEK Larnaca 1–2 1–0
R32 Template:Flagicon Napoli 1–3 0–2 1–5
2022–23 UEFA Champions League 2QR Template:Flagicon Qarabağ 2–2 Template:Aet 2–3 4−5
UEFA Europa League 3QR Template:Flagicon Linfield 3–0 2–0 5–0
PO Template:Flagicon Heart of Midlothian 2–1 1–0 3–1
Group A Template:Flagicon Arsenal 1–2 0–1 4th
Template:Flagicon Bodø/Glimt 2–1 1–2
Template:Flagicon PSV Eindhoven 1–5 0–5
2024–25 UEFA Conference League 2QR Template:Flagicon Shelbourne 3–0 0–0 3–0
3QR Template:Flagicon Vitória de Guimarães 0–3 0–2 0–5

References

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