Oliver Klaus (born 4 May 1990) is a Swiss former footballer who played as goalkeeper from the late 2000's up until the 2020's. He was Swiss youth international footballer. Since October 2022 he is the sporting director of USV Eschen/Mauren.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Oliver Klaus | ||
| Date of birth | 4 May 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Basel, Switzerland | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2002 | FC Gelterkinden | ||
| 2002–2009 | FC Basel | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2010 | Basel U-21 | 34 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Basel | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Yverdon Sport | 15 | (0) |
| 2011–2016 | FC Vaduz | 39 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Old Boys | 22 | (0) |
| 2017–2020 | FC Balzers | ||
| 2020–2021 | Vaduz III | ||
| 2022 | FC Balzers | ||
| 2022–2023 | Vaduz III | ||
| International career | |||
| 2005–2006 | Switzerland U-16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Switzerland U-17 | 6 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Switzerland U-18 | 4 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Switzerland U-19 | 12 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Switzerland U-20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2010 | Switzerland U-21 | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career edit
Club edit
- Youth
Klaus started his youth football locally in Gelterkinden and then he moved to the youth department of FC Basel, progressing regularly through the ranks, becoming Swiss champions in various stages.[1] He played in the Swiss championship at U-16 level in the 2005–06 season, winning the championship with a 3–0 win in the final against the U-16 team from FC Winterthur.[2] In the 2006–07 championship season, the team repeated the success by winning the final 5–0 against Servette U-16.[3] Before the 2007–08 season, he advanced to their U-18 team, who ended the league season in third position, but were able to win the cup at U-18 level. In the final held on 15 June 2008 in the Gurzelen football stadium in Biel/Bienne, the Basler juniors were a goal behind. But then, Marco Aratore scored the equaliser in the 68th minute and five minutes later the same player netted the winning goal, as Basel won 2–1 against the U-18 from Team-Luzern-Kriens.[4]
- Basel
In advance of their 2009–10 season season Klaus advanced to Basel's first team, under new head coach Thorsten Fink, as third goalkeeper and, after first choice goalkeeper Franco Costanzo was injured, moved up to become their second goalkeeper. However, he was not never used in the first team during this time.[1] At the end of the season he won the Double with his club. They won the League Championship title with 3 points advantage over second placed Young Boys.[5] In the 2009–10 Swiss Cup the team advanced to the final, and winning this 6–0 against Lausanne-Sport they lifted the trophy.[6]
- Yverdon
Upon his personal request, Basel released Klaus from his contract, and he moved on a free transfer to Yverdon Sport to play in the 2010–11 Challenge League. He made his debut on matchday 1, on 23 July 2010, in the away defeat against SC Kriens. With one exception, he played the entire first half of the Challenge League, but in the second half of the season, Klaus was replaced by the club's new signing Anthony Basso. The team ended the season in last position and suffered relegation.[7]
- Vaduz
In summer 2011, Klaus signed with FC Vaduz and became the team's reserve goalkeeper behind Peter Jehle. Klaus played his team debut in the away game in the 2011–12 Liechtenstein Cup on 18 October as Vaduz won 17–0 against the reserve team of FC Triesen. This was the only game that Klaus played in that season. During September of the 2012–13 Challenge League season first choice keeper Jehle suffered a torn muscle bundle and Klaus took over. That season Klaus had 29 league and cup appearances. In the 2012–13 Liechtenstein Cup final held on 1 May 2013 in the Rheinpark Stadion the match against FC Balzers ended with a 1–1 draw. In the penalty shoot-out Klaus held all three spot-kicks and Vaduz lifted the trophy.[8] At the end of the 2013–14 Challenge League season the team were division champions, achieving promotion and they successfully defended the cup title. Klaus stayed with the club until summer 2016. On 14 April the club announced that they were not going to extend their contract.[9] During his time with Vaduz the team won the Liechtensteiner Cup four times.[10]
- Old Boys
On 5 August 2016 it was announced that Klaus had signed a one-year contract with BSC Old Boys, who at that time played in the Promotion League.[11] At the end of the season the team were on the twelfth position in the league table, seven points above the relegation zone. Klaus played in 22 of the team's 30 games.[12]
- End of career
After this one-year Klaus moved back to Liechtenstein, this time to FC Balzers, who played in the fourth tier. At the end of 2019, he ended his career as professional footballer for other professional reasons. Klaus continued to play amateur football, now as a striker, for the 3rd team of FC Vaduz, which achieved promotion to the 4.Liga (8th tier of Swiss football) in 2021/22. Klaus was very successful in his new playing position; in just eight games he scored 14 goals. In the second half of the 2021/22 season, he made another comeback as goalkeeper with FC Balzers, because their goalie Thomas Hobi was injured.
International career edit
Klaus played for various Swiss youth teams, playing five games for the Swiss U-16 team, six for the U-17 and four games for the U-18. He has also played twelve games for the Switzerland U-19 team and three for the U-20, making his debut here on 12 August 2009 in the 5–1 victory against the Austrian U-20 team. He was later called up for the U-21, but never played a match, because the other goalkeepers at this time included his former FC Basel youth teammates Yann Sommer and Benjamin Siegrist.
Post playing career edit
In October 2022 he became the sporting director of the fourth tier club USV Eschen-Mauren.[13]
Private life edit
In April 2022 Klaus opened his first café under the name "Jenoli" and a few months later, in August, he opened the first Asian take away restaurant with the same name. The company name "Jenoli" stands for Jennifer (his wife) and Oliver.[13]
Titles and honours edit
- Basel
- Swiss champion at U-16 level: 2005–06,[2] 2006–07[3]
- Swiss Cup winner at U-18 level: 2007–08[4]
- Swiss Super League champion: 2010
- Swiss Cup winner: 2009–10
- Vaduz
References edit
- ^ a b Ditzler, Thomas (21 October 2009). "Wer sich rasiert, der verliert" [If you shave, you lose] (in Swiss High German). volksstimme.ch. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ a b FC Basel 1893 (2006). "Zwei weitere Titel für FCB-Nachwuchs" [Two more titles for FCB youngsters] (in Swiss High German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2006.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Die U16 ist Schweizer Meister" (in Swiss High German). FC Basel 1893. 2006. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ a b FC Basel 1893 (2008). "Zwei weitere Nachwuchstitel für den FCB" (in Swiss High German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Stokkermans, Karel (2012). "Switzerland 2009/10" (in French). Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ Swiss Football Verband (SFV) (9 May 2010). "FC Basel - FC Lausanne-Sport 6:0 (2:0)". Swiss Football Verband (SFV) internet. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ Zea, Anthony (2014). "Switzerland 2010/2011". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ (red.) (1 May 2013). "Vaduz 4–1 Balzers" (in German). Lichtensteiner Fussballverband. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ (red.) (14 April 2016). "Oliver Klaus muss den FC Vaduz verlassen" [Oliver Klaus has to leave FC Vaduz] (in Swiss High German). volksstimme.ch. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ Stokkermans, Karel; Kramarsic, Igor (2023). "Liechtenstein - List of Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ (red.) (14 April 2016). "Oliver Klaus wechselt zu den Old Boys Basel" [Oliver Klaus is moving to Old Boys Basel] (in Swiss High German). volksstimme.ch. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ Stokkermans, Karel; Garin, Erik (2021). "Switzerland 2016/17". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ a b (red.) (26 October 2022). "Oliver Klaus neuer sportlicher Leiter beim Erstligisten USV" [Oliver Klaus is the new sporting director at first division club USV] (in German). www.sportjack.ch. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
Sources edit
- Josef Zindel (2018). FC Basel 1893. Die ersten 125 Jahre (in German). Basel: Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7245-2305-5.