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]
 | |||
| Full name | Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club Serrières | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Xamax | ||
| Founded | 1912 | ||
| Ground | Stade de la Maladière, Neuchâtel | ||
| Capacity | 12,000 | ||
| Owner | Vincent Binggeli | ||
| Chairman | Christian Binggeli | ||
| Manager | Uli Forte | ||
| League | Swiss Challenge League | ||
| 2023–24 | Swiss Challenge League, 4th of 10 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
.jpg)
History
editStudents 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 five 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 six-year absence from the top flight of Swiss football. At the end of the 2019–20 Swiss Super League season, the club was relegated back to the second division after finishing bottom of the table.[7]
Stadium
editThe 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.
|
|
Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Notable players
editThis list of "famous" or "notable" people has no clear inclusion or exclusion criteria. Please help to define clear inclusion criteria and edit the list to contain only subjects that fit those criteria. (March 2021) |
- 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
- Netherlands
Honours
edit- Leagues
- Swiss Super League
- Swiss Challenge League
- Swiss Promotion League
- Winner: 2014–15
- 1. Liga Classic
- Winner: 2013–14
- 2. Liga Interregional
- Winner: 2012–13
- Cups
- Swiss Super Cup
- Winner (3): 1987, 1988, 1990
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- ^ "Historique : La Genèse | NEUCHÂTEL XAMAX" (in French). Xamax.ch. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "La Genèse" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ a b c "Un palmarès plus que respectable" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "Swiss club Xamax bankrupt, Chechen owner arrested - - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ Meisterschaft 2. Liga interregional Archived 15 January 2013 at archive.today accessed: 21 July 2012
- ^ "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.
- ^ "LA MALADIÈRE – HISTORIQUE" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "Équipe" [Team] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax FCS. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
External links
edit
- Neuchâtel Xamax unofficial website (in French)
- Team profile on Soccerway