Neuchâtel Xamax FCS

(Redirected from FC Cantonal)

Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club Serrières or Neuchâtel Xamax FCS (pronounced [nøʃɑtɛl ksamaks]) is a Swiss football club based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal, founded in 1906 and Swiss champions of 1916, and FC Xamax founded in 1912. The name Xamax comes from legendary Swiss international player 'Xam' Max Abegglen, one of the founding members.[1] Xamax Neuchâtel FCS obtained its current name after a merger with FC Serrières, another side from Neuchâtel, in May 2013.[2]

Neuchâtel Xamax
Full nameNeuchâtel Xamax Football Club Serrières
Nickname(s)Xamax
Founded1912; 112 years ago (1912)
GroundStade de la Maladière,
Neuchâtel
Capacity12,000
OwnerVincent Binggeli
ChairmanChristian Binggeli
ManagerUli Forte
LeagueSwiss Challenge League
2022–2310th of 10
WebsiteClub website
Chart of the table positions of Neuchâtel Xamax FCS and its previous incarnations in the Swiss football league system
Stade de la Maladière
Gilbert Gress, championship winning coach of the 1980s.

History edit

Students at the Collège latin in Neuchâtel began playing organized football in 1910. Soon after, in 1912, Neuchâtel Xamax was officially founded.[3]

They have been champions of Switzerland on two occasions, in successive years in 1987 and 1988.[4] The club has also made it to 5 Swiss Cup finals, the most recent in 2011, but have failed to win any of them.[4]

After many financial crises, the club declared bankruptcy on 26 January 2012 and was consequently excluded from Swiss Super League.[5] The club was reformed, but had to restart in the Swiss amateur leagues, entering the 2. Liga Interregional, the fifth tier of the Swiss football league system, for the 2012–13 season.[6] The club finished first in 2013 and was promoted to the 1. Liga Classic for 2013–14. Once again, Xamax finished first, winning the play-off to secure a second successive promotion. Xamax won 1. Liga Promotion, the third tier of Swiss league system was and promoted to the Challenge League after having a third successive promotion in 2014–15 season.[4]

The club finally won promotion back to the Swiss Super League in 2018, marking the end of a 6-year absence from the top flight of Swiss football.[7]

Stadium edit

The club plays its home matches at the Stade de la Maladière, which began construction in 2004 and was opened in 2007. It has a capacity of 12,500 spectators.[8]

Current squad edit

As of 14 February 2024[9]

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   FRA Théo Guivarch
3 DF   GER Alexander Winkler
4 DF   BIH Sead Hajrović
5 DF   SWE Mirza Mujčić
6 MF   SUI Fabio Saiz
7 MF   SVN Kenan Fatkič
8 MF   SUI Izer Aliu
10 MF   ITA Danilo Del Toro
11 FW   SUI Simone Rapp
13 DF   SUI Zachary Athekame (on loan from Young Boys)
15 DF   SUI Yoan Epitaux
17 FW   CIV Soumaila Bakayoko
18 FW   SUI Jessé Hautier (on loan from Yverdon)
19 DF   SUI Ashvin Balaruban
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF   COD Fabrice Nsakala
21 MF   SUI Mats Hammerich
22 FW   FRA Zachary Hadji (on loan from Lausanne Ouchy)
23 MF   SUI Sébastien Moulin
24 FW   FRA Salim Ben Seghir (on loan from Marseille)
26 GK   SUI Benjamin Roth
27 FW   SUI Angelo Campos
29 MF   FRA Lucas Marin
44 GK   SUI Ysias Hummel
70 MF   SUI Dominik Schwizer (on loan from Lausanne-Sport)
71 DF   CIV Brillani Soro
72 DF   SUI Adam Ouattara
77 MF   KOS Eris Abedini

Out on loan edit

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   KOS Egzon Rexhaj (at Bulle until 30 June 2024)
MF   SUI Kenzo Ganaj (at Bavois until 30 June 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW   SUI Ange Dakouri (at Bavois until 30 June 2024)

Notable players edit

Cameroon
Central African Republic
Egypt
Ivory Coast
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Hungary
West Germany
Ireland
Liechtenstein
Spain
Switzerland

Honours edit

Leagues
Cups

Former coaches edit

European record edit

Season Competition Round Opponents Home Away Aggregate
1981–82 UEFA Cup 1R   Sparta Prague 4–0 2–3 6–3
2R   Malmö 1–0 1–0 2–0
3R   Sporting CP 1–0 0–0 1–0
QF   Hamburg 0–0 2–3 2–3
1984–85 UEFA Cup 1R   Olympiacos 2–2 0–1 2–3
1985–86 UEFA Cup 1R   Sportul Studențesc 3–0 4–4 7–4
2R   Lokomotiv Sofia 0–0 1–1 1–1 (a)
3R   Dundee United 3–1 1–2 4–3
QF   Real Madrid 2–0 0–3 2–3
1986–87 UEFA Cup 1R   Lyngby 2–0 3–1 5–1
2R   Groningen 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
1987–88 European Cup 1R   Kuusysi 5–0 1–2 6–2
2R   Bayern Munich 2–1 0–2 2–3
1988–89 European Cup 1R   Larissa 2–1 1–2 3–3 (3–0 PSO)
2R   Galatasaray 3–0 0–5 3–5
1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R   Estrela de Amadora 1–1 1–1 2–2 (3–4 PSO)
1991–92 UEFA Cup 1R   Floriana 2–0 0–0 2–0
2R   Celtic 5–1 0–1 5–2
3R   Real Madrid 1–0 0–4 1–4
1992–93 UEFA Cup 1R   BK Frem 2–2 1–4 3–6
1995–96 UEFA Cup QR   Red Star Belgrade 0–0 1–0 1–0
1R   Roma 1–1 0–4 1–4
1996–97 UEFA Cup QR   Anorthosis Famagusta 4–0 2–1 6–1
1R   Dynamo Kyiv 2–1 0–0 2–1
2R   Helsingborg 1–1 0–2 1–3
1997–98 UEFA Cup Q1   Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol 7–0 3–1 10–1
Q2   Viking 3–0 1–2 4–2
1R   Inter Milan 0–2 0–2 0–4
2003–04 UEFA Cup QR   Valletta 2–0 2–0 4–0
1R   Auxerre 0–1 0–1 0–2

References edit

  1. ^ "Historique : La Genèse | NEUCHÂTEL XAMAX" (in French). Xamax.ch. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Le Neuchâtel Xamax FCS est né" (in French). RTS Sport. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  3. ^ "La Genèse" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Un palmarès plus que respectable" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Swiss club Xamax bankrupt, Chechen owner arrested - - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  6. ^ Meisterschaft 2. Liga interregional Archived 15 January 2013 at archive.today accessed: 21 July 2012
  7. ^ "Switzerland side Neuchatel Xamax return to top division six years after bankruptcy, collapse". ESPN. 22 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  8. ^ "LA MALADIÈRE – HISTORIQUE" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Équipe" [Team] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax FCS. Retrieved 30 June 2023.

External links edit