Neuchâtel Xamax FCS

Association football club in Switzerland

Football club

Neuchâtel Xamax

Full name| Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club Serrières
Nickname(s)| Xamax
Founded| 1912; 112 years ago (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

Home colours

Away colours

|

Current season
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.

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]

## 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 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

[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 16 July, 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 |  SUI | Jonathan Fontana
4  | DF |  BIH | Sead Hajrović
5  | DF |  KOS | Lavdrim Hajrulahu
6  | MF |  SUI | Fabio Saiz
7  | MF |  SVN | Kenan Fatkič
8  | MF |  SRB | Samir Ramizi
9  | FW |  KOS | Shkelqim Demhasaj
10  | FW |  FRA | Hussayn Touati
15  | DF |  SUI | Yoan Epitaux
17  | FW |  SUI | Angelo Campos
19  | DF |  POR | Euclides Cabral
20  | FW |  CIV | Koro Koné
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

21  | DF |  COD | Fabrice Nsakala
22  | FW |  NGA | Onyekachi Durugbor
23  | DF |  SUI | Michael Gonçalves
24  | MF |  SUI | Roland Ndongo
26  | FW |  SUI | Guillaume Furrer
27  | GK |  SUI | Edin Omeragić
29  | MF |  FRA | Lucas Marin
30  | GK |  SUI | Hugo Bigirimana
31  | MF |  SUI | Francesco Lentini
32  | MF |  SUI | Marouane Calame
38  | DF |  CIV | Brillani Soro
42  | MF |  SUI | Giovani Bamba

### 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]

This list of "famous" or "notable" people has no clear inclusion or exclusion criteria. Please help improve this article by defining clear inclusion criteria to contain only subjects that fit those criteria. (March 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Cameroon

* Freddy Mveng

Central African Republic

* Louis Mafouta

Egypt

* Hossam Hassan

Ivory Coast

* Eric Tia

Nigeria

* Brown Ideye
* Kalu Uche

Senegal

* Papa Bouba Diop

Sierra Leone

* Umaru Bangura

Philippines

* Michael Kempter

Saudi Arabia

* Hussein Abdulghani

Bosnia and Herzegovina

* Mustafa Sejmenović
* Ensar Arifović

Bulgaria

* Trifon Ivanov

Hungary

* Lajos Détári

West Germany

* Uli Stielike

Ireland

* Don Givens

Liechtenstein

* Noah Frick

Spain

* Víctor Sánchez

Switzerland

* Johan Djourou
* Lucien Favre
* Mario Gavranović
* Haris Seferovic

Netherlands

* Rene van der Gijp

## Honours

[edit]

Leagues

* Swiss Super League
* Winner (2): 1986–87, 1987–88
* Swiss Challenge League
* Winner (3): 1972–73, 2006–07, 2017–18
* 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]

See also: Category:Neuchâtel Xamax FCS managers

* Giovanni Ferrari (1946–48)
* Fernand Jaccard (1948–52)
* Josef Humpál (1961–65)
* Milorad Milutinović (1968–69)
* Josef Humpál (1969–70)
* Paul Garbani (July 1970 – Jan 72)
* Josef Artimovits (Jan 1972 – July 72)
* Lev Mantula (July 1972 – Jan 75)
* Branko Rezuar (Jan 1975 – July 75)
* Gilbert Gress (1975–77)
* Antonio Merlo (July 1977 – April 78)
* Erich Vogel (April 1978 – October 79)
* Lev Mantula (October 1979 – July 80)
* Jean-Marc Guillou (1980–81)
* Gilbert Gress (1981–90)
* Roy Hodgson (1990–92)
* Uli Stielike (Jan 1992 – July 93)
* Uli Stielike and  Don Givens (1993–94)
* Gilbert Gress (1994–97)

* Alain Geiger (1998–02)
* Claude Ryf (July 2002 – 4 Feb)
* René Lobello and  Christophe Moulin (Feb 2004 – 4 July)
* René Lobello and  Gianni Della Casa (2004–05)
* Alain Geiger (2005)
* Miroslav Blažević (2005–06)
* Gérard Castella (June 2006 – 8 March)
* Néstor Clausen (2008 – 9 Jan)
* Jean-Michel Aeby (Jan 2009)
* Alain Geiger (Jan 2009 – 9 June)
* Pierre-André Schürmann (June 2009 – 10 April)
* Jean-Michel Aeby (April 2010 – 10 Aug)
* Didier Ollé-Nicolle (Sept 2010 – 11 May)
* Bernard Challandes (May 2011)
* Sonny Anderson (2011)
* François Ciccolini (June 2011 – 11 July)
* Joaquín Caparrós (July 2011 – 11 Sept)
* Víctor Muñoz (Sept 2011 – 12 Jan)

|

## 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]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Neuchâtel Xamax.

* Neuchâtel Xamax unofficial website (in French)
* Team profile on Soccerway

* v
* t
* e

Neuchâtel Xamax FCS - current squad

* 1 Guivarch
* 3 Winkler
* 4 Hajrović
* 5 Mujčić
* 6 Saiz
* 7 Fatkič
* 8 Aliu
* 9 Demhasaj
* 10 Touati
* 11 Rapp
* 13 Athekame
* 15 Epitaux
* 17 Bakayoko
* 18 Hautier
* 20 Nsakala
* 21 Hammerich
* 22 Hadji
* 23 Moulin
* 24 Ben Seghir
* 26 Roth
* 27 Campos
* 29 Marin
* 71 Soro
* 72 Ouattara
* 77 Abedini
* Manager: Forte

* v
* t
* e

Swiss Challenge League

2024–25 Teams|

* Aarau
* Bellinzona
* Étoile Carouge
* Neuchâtel Xamax
* Schaffhausen
* Lausanne Ouchy
* Stade Nyonnais
* Thun
* Wil
* Vaduz

Associated competitions|

* Swiss Cup
* Swiss Super League
* Swiss Promotion League

Seasons|

* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

* v
* t
* e

Swiss Super League

2024–25 teams|

* Basel
* Grasshopper
* Lausanne-Sport
* Lugano
* Luzern
* Servette
* Sion
* St. Gallen
* Winterthur
* Young Boys
* Yverdon-Sport
* Zürich

Former teams|

* Aarau
* Bellinzona
* Neuchâtel Xamax
* Sion
* Schaffhausen
* Thun
* Vaduz
* Wil

Associated competitions|

* Swiss Cup
* Swiss Challenge League
* Swiss Promotion League

Seasons|

* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Saiz]: Fabio Saiz
*[Athekame]: Zachary Athekame
*[Epitaux]: Yoan Epitaux
*[Bakayoko]: Soumaila Bakayoko
*[Hautier]: Jessé Hautier
*[Hammerich]: Mats Hammerich
*[Moulin]: Sébastien Moulin
*[Roth]: Benjamin Roth
*[Marin]: Lucas Marin
*[Soro]: Brillani Soro
*[Ouattara]: Adam Ouattara