FC Winterthur

FC Winterthur is a Swiss football club based in Winterthur, Canton of Zürich. They play in the Swiss Challenge League, the second tier of Swiss football, and appeared regularly in the Nationalliga A during the 20th century. Their home is the Stadion Schützenwiese.

FC Winterthur
Full nameFussballclub Winterthur
Nickname(s)FCW
Founded1896 (1896)
GroundSchützenwiese, Winterthur
Capacity8,550 (1,900 seated)
ChairmanMike Keller
ManagerRalf Loose
LeagueChallenge League
2018–194th
WebsiteClub website

History
Chart of FC Winterthur table positions in the Swiss football league system

The club was founded in 1896 by students of the local school of engineering and following a fusion with two local teams, it was called Vereinigte Fussballclubs Winterthur between 1929 and 1946.[1] They enjoyed their best success in the early part of the 20th century winning the Swiss Championship three times (in 1906, 1908 and 1917), before consecutive relegations in 1931 and 1934. They played in the lower leagues until regaining promotion to the Nationalliga B in 1950. They have since stayed in the second division for most of their history, except for several appearances in the Nationalliga A, from where they were most recently relegated in 1978 following a promotion ten years prior.[1] Notable managers from this period include Gabet Chapuisat, Wolfgang Frank, René Hüssy, Timo Konietzka, and Willy Sommer

They famously lost to West Auckland F.C., an English amateur team in what is thought to be the first international football club competition, the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. The club have also reached the final of the Swiss League Cup in 1972 and 1973 and Swiss Cup in 1968 and 1975, however lost on every occasion.

In 2005–06 season the club finished 14th place in the Challenge League. Despite performing poorly in the league, they made it to the semi finals of the Swiss Cup by defeating Grasshoppers, Lucerne and Servette, before losing to eventual winners Sion at home.

Players

Current Squad
As of 24 January 2020[2]

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 Raphael Spiegel
5 DF   SUI Julian Roth
6 MF  CIV Ousmane Doumbia
8 MF  SRB Samir Ramizi
9 FW   SUI Roman Buess
14 FW  ISR Anas Mahamid
15 DF  KVX Valon Hamdiu
16 MF   SUI Remo Arnold
18 GK   SUI Alexis Rüegg
20 MF   SUI Roberto Alves
21 MF   SUI Kevin Costinha
22 DF   SUI Mario Bühler
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 DF  KVX Granit Lekaj
24 MF   SUI Sayfallah Ltaief
25 MF  GER Adrian Rama-Bitterfeld
26 MF   SUI Silvan Kriz
27 DF   SUI Tobias Schättin
29 DF  GER Gabriel Isik
30 MF  KVX Gezim Pepsi
31 DF   SUI Yannick Pauli
32 GK   SUI Dimitri Volkart
33 MF   SUI Davide Callà
35 GK   SUI Mike Bodenmann

Former players

Stadium
Main article: Stadion Schützenwiese

The club play at Stadion Schützenwiese, a short walk from the centre of Winterthur, having done so since their inception in 1896. The first grandstand was built in 1922, and then replaced in 1957 using sponsorship money.

In the 1980s the ownership was transferred to Winterthur council as the club faced financial problems. The council are responsible for any maintenance and upkeep.

While once boasting a capacity of 14,987 before 2009, the stadium now holds 8,550 seats, 1,900 of which are seated. The more hardcore supporters of the club stand at one end, which is known as the Bierkurve. They also have a small stand for younger supporters known as the Syrupkurve. Away supporters are housed at the opposite end of the stadium to the Bierkurve.

Honours

Swiss Super League

  • Winners (3): 1906, 1908, 1917

Former coaches

See also
  • Category:FC Winterthur players

References
  1. "FC Winterthur - Winterthur Glossar". www.winterthur-glossar.ch. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  2. http://www.sfl.ch/challengeleague/klubs/fc-winterthur/
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