FC Zürich

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 where 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

As of 21 June 2020

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Andris Vaņins 3 DF Nathan 4 DF Bećir Omeragić 7 MF Adrian Winter 8 MF Vasilije Janjičić 10 MF Antonio Marchesano 13 DF Pa Modou Jagne 14 MF Toni Domgjoni 15 FW Tosin Aiyegun 17 DF Umaru Bangura 18 FW Blaž Kramer 22 MF Kevin Rüegg

No. Position Player 23 FW Mimoun Mahi 24 DF Michael Kempter 25 GK Yanick Brecher 27 MF Marco Schönbächler 31 DF Mirlind Kryeziu 34 DF Ilan Sauter 35 MF Simon Sohm 41 MF Lavdim Zumberi 70 MF Benjamin Kololli 71 MF Hekuran Kryeziu 77 DF Willie Britto 106 MF Nils Reichmuth

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

No. Position Player MF Maren Haile-Selassie (at Neuchâtel Xamax until 30 June 2020) DF Albin Sadrijaj (at SC Kriens until 30 June 2020) MF Fabian Rohner (at FC Wil until 30 June 2020) GK Osman Hadžikić (at NK Inter Zaprešić until 30 June 2020) MF Izer Aliu (at FC Chiasso until 30 June 2020)

No. Position Player MF Salim Khelifi (at Holstein Kiel until 30 June 2020) MF Bledian Krasniqi (at FC Wil until 30 June 2020) DF Lindrit Kamberi (at FC Wil until 30 June 2020) FW Assan Ceesay (at VfL Osnabrück until 30 June 2020)

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. Position Player GK Novem Baumann GK Nico Feusi GK Serkan Polat DF José Gonçalves DF Kenith Catari DF Basil Erne DF Loïc Vlapamo DF Alain Fuchs DF Jahaim Kissling DF Kristian Luburic DF Enit Sadiku

No. Position Player MF Lavdrim Rexhepi MF Stephan Seiler MF Soheil Arghandewall MF Arlind Dakaj MF Luka Frei MF Marvin Graf MF Doriano Tanzillo FW Matteo Di Giusto FW Junior Eyamba FW Henri Koide FW Shpetim Sulejmani

Players and managers admitted to the FC Zurich Hall of Fame

source:[7]

Players for the Swiss national football team

Players with World Cup appearances for their national teams

Most appearances (Swiss League since 1955)     Player Apps 1 Karl Grob 513 2 Jakob Kuhn 398 3 Ruedi Landolt 353 4 Rosario Martinelli 344 5 Werner Leimgruber 314 6 Urs Fischer 303 7 Alain Nef 277 8 Pirmin Stierli 248 9 Heinz Lüdi 244 10 Daniel Tarone 238

Top scorers (Swiss League since 1955)     Player Goals 1 Fritz Künzli 158 2 Rosario Martinelli 126 3 Jakob Kuhn 79 4 Peter Risi 76 5 Bruno Brizzi 74 5 Werner Leimgruber 74 7 Walter Seiler 62 8 Ercument Sahin 60 9 Alhassane Keita 58 9 Klaus Stürmer 58

source appearances:[8]

source scorers:[9]