The Swiss Football Association (SFA) was one of the seven founder members of FIFA in 1904 and has also been a ember of UEFA since it was founded in 1954. The SFA itself was established in 1895. Today, with around 1,500 clubs, 13,000 teams and 230,000 players on its books, it is the country’s largest sports organisation.
The Swiss national team enjoyed its first major success in 1924, when they reached the final of the Olympic Games tournament in Paris. Although they lost the final 0-3 to Uruguay, they were given the unofficial title of European champions after beating Sweden 2-1 in the semi-finals with two goals by Max “Xam” Abegglen. Another highlight was the 1954 World Cup which Switzerland hosted – the Swiss team beat Italy twice, but, after leading 3-0, went down 5-7 in the quarterfinal against Austria, who went on to finish the tournament in third place.
In all, Switzerland have played in eight World Cup final rounds (including the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany). They have reached the quarter-finals three times (1934, 1938 and 1954). The Swiss have qualified twice for the UEFA European Championship finals (1996 and 2004), going out after the group phase on both occasions. In England in 1996, Switzerland achieved a highly respectable 1-1 draw with the host nation, but lost their other two matches (0-1 to Scotland and 0-2 to the Netherlands). In Portugal in 2004, they drew 0-0 with Croatia before losing 0-3 to England and 1-3 to France. The Swiss consolation goal went down in the history books, as 18-year-old Johan Vonlanthen broke Englishman Wayne Rooney’s record as the youngest ever goal scorer at a European Championship final round.
Switzerland’s most-capped player is Heinz Hermann, who appeared 117 times for the national team. The top goal scorers are Kubilay Türkyilmaz and Max Abegglen with 34 goals each. Ralph M. Zloczower has been President of the Swiss Football Association since 10 February 2001; Peter Gilliéron is the General Secretary (since 1993). The national team is coached by Jakob “Köbi” Kuhn, who as a player won six Swiss league titles with FC Zurich and 63 caps. Before he took the job in June 2001, Kuhn coached the national Under-21 team. Under Kuhn, Switzerland qualified for UEFA EURO 2004™ and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They qualified automatically as hosts for UEFA EURO 2008™.
The Swiss national team’s biggest victory was 9-0 against Lithuania (in Berne on 25 May 1924) and their heaviest defeats were 0-9 against England in Basle on 20 May 1909 and against Hungary in Budapest on 29 October 1911.
The Swiss national team enjoyed its first major success in 1924, when they reached the final of the Olympic Games tournament in Paris. Although they lost the final 0-3 to Uruguay, they were given the unofficial title of European champions after beating Sweden 2-1 in the semi-finals with two goals by Max “Xam” Abegglen. Another highlight was the 1954 World Cup which Switzerland hosted – the Swiss team beat Italy twice, but, after leading 3-0, went down 5-7 in the quarterfinal against Austria, who went on to finish the tournament in third place.
In all, Switzerland have played in eight World Cup final rounds (including the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany). They have reached the quarter-finals three times (1934, 1938 and 1954). The Swiss have qualified twice for the UEFA European Championship finals (1996 and 2004), going out after the group phase on both occasions. In England in 1996, Switzerland achieved a highly respectable 1-1 draw with the host nation, but lost their other two matches (0-1 to Scotland and 0-2 to the Netherlands). In Portugal in 2004, they drew 0-0 with Croatia before losing 0-3 to England and 1-3 to France. The Swiss consolation goal went down in the history books, as 18-year-old Johan Vonlanthen broke Englishman Wayne Rooney’s record as the youngest ever goal scorer at a European Championship final round.
Switzerland’s most-capped player is Heinz Hermann, who appeared 117 times for the national team. The top goal scorers are Kubilay Türkyilmaz and Max Abegglen with 34 goals each. Ralph M. Zloczower has been President of the Swiss Football Association since 10 February 2001; Peter Gilliéron is the General Secretary (since 1993). The national team is coached by Jakob “Köbi” Kuhn, who as a player won six Swiss league titles with FC Zurich and 63 caps. Before he took the job in June 2001, Kuhn coached the national Under-21 team. Under Kuhn, Switzerland qualified for UEFA EURO 2004™ and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They qualified automatically as hosts for UEFA EURO 2008™.
The Swiss national team’s biggest victory was 9-0 against Lithuania (in Berne on 25 May 1924) and their heaviest defeats were 0-9 against England in Basle on 20 May 1909 and against Hungary in Budapest on 29 October 1911.
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