Bruno Berner
Encyclopedia
Bruno Georg Berner is a Swiss footballer currently playing for Leicester City
. Berner plays predominantly as a left back, but has also been deployed in other roles, such as central defence, left wing and most recently in central midfield while at Leicester.
, SC Freiburg
, and FC Basel
.
for a nominal fee from FC Basel
on 30 January 2007. He was given the squad number 25. On 10 February 2007 he played his first Premiership match for Blackburn, in a 1–0 defeat to Everton
. He made his second start against Manchester City on 27 December 2007. He was released from his contract on 19 May 2008, along with fellow Switzerland defender Stéphane Henchoz
. On 3 July 2008, Berner joined Norwich City
on trial, joining up with the squad for pre-season training, however he failed to gain a contract.
on a three-year contract and was issued the number 31 shirt. The club had beaten the likes of Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest for his signature. He made his debut in a Johnstone's Paint Trophy match against Lincoln City
at the Walkers Stadium
on 23 September, drawing 0–0 but winning 3–1 on penalties
. He scored a league goal in a 4–2 win over Huddersfield Town
on 24 January 2009, his first in four years. He made a total of 32 league appearances, scoring 3 goals to help Leicester secure their promotion as League One
champions.
Berner was issued the number 15 shirt for the 2009–10 season, with an aim to reach the Championship play-offs
. After Leicester successfully reached sixth in the table by 12 September, it came as no surprise to Berner, who insisted their promising start to the season is no more than they expected. He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–1 defeat to Preston North End on 26 September. When Berner was absent with injury in December, the club failed to keep a clean sheet for seven matches. It was not until he returned to the first team that Leicester finally kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw against Newcastle United on 30 January 2010. He scored a goal and assisted another in a 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest on 27 February 2010, helping the club finish the month undefeated. Berner scored a penalty kick
in a 4–3 defeat on penalties to Cardiff City
in the Championship play-offs
semi-final second leg on 12 May 2010.
In the 2010-11 season, Berner revealed his reluctance to leave the club in the January transfer window due to lack of regular football, having lost his place to loanee Greg Cunningham
. He made his first start since October 2010 against Swansea City on 3 January 2011, scoring in a 2-1 win. Cunningham's loan soon ended due to injury and despite Berner being offered a new contract, he still maintained the possibility of leaving, having received interest from "a few Championship clubs". He finally signed the one-year contract on 20 January.
in a 2–1 win over Austria
on 15 August 2001. He was a participant in the 2004 UEFA European Championship, but was an unused substitute in all three Group B matches. Despite being hopeful of winning his place back in the national team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, Berner was not among the 23 players selected on 11 May 2010.
Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
. Berner plays predominantly as a left back, but has also been deployed in other roles, such as central defence, left wing and most recently in central midfield while at Leicester.
Club Career
He has spent most of his career playing for Grasshopper ZürichGrasshopper-Club Zürich
Grasshopper Club Zürich commonly referred to as simply GC, GCZ, or Grasshopper is a Swiss multisports club based in Zürich. The oldest and best known section of Grasshopper Club Zürich is its football team...
, SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
, and FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
.
Blackburn Rovers
Berner moved to Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
for a nominal fee from FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
on 30 January 2007. He was given the squad number 25. On 10 February 2007 he played his first Premiership match for Blackburn, in a 1–0 defeat to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. He made his second start against Manchester City on 27 December 2007. He was released from his contract on 19 May 2008, along with fellow Switzerland defender Stéphane Henchoz
Stéphane Henchoz
Stéphane Henchoz is a former Swiss international footballer who last played for Blackburn Rovers as a defender. He has been capped 72 times and played for his country at Euro 1996 and Euro 2004.- Early career :...
. On 3 July 2008, Berner joined Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
on trial, joining up with the squad for pre-season training, however he failed to gain a contract.
Leicester City
On 12 September 2008, Berner joined Leicester CityLeicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
on a three-year contract and was issued the number 31 shirt. The club had beaten the likes of Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest for his signature. He made his debut in a Johnstone's Paint Trophy match against Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
at the Walkers Stadium
Walkers Stadium
The King Power Stadium is a football stadium which hosts home matches of English football club Leicester City. The all-seater stadium, inaugurated in July 2002, holds 32,500 and has the 19th largest stadium capacity in England. The stadium is named after King Power, a company owned by club owner...
on 23 September, drawing 0–0 but winning 3–1 on penalties
Penalty shootout (football)
A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
. He scored a league goal in a 4–2 win over Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
on 24 January 2009, his first in four years. He made a total of 32 league appearances, scoring 3 goals to help Leicester secure their promotion as League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
champions.
Berner was issued the number 15 shirt for the 2009–10 season, with an aim to reach the Championship play-offs
Football League Championship play-offs
The Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
. After Leicester successfully reached sixth in the table by 12 September, it came as no surprise to Berner, who insisted their promising start to the season is no more than they expected. He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–1 defeat to Preston North End on 26 September. When Berner was absent with injury in December, the club failed to keep a clean sheet for seven matches. It was not until he returned to the first team that Leicester finally kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw against Newcastle United on 30 January 2010. He scored a goal and assisted another in a 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest on 27 February 2010, helping the club finish the month undefeated. Berner scored a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in a 4–3 defeat on penalties to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in the Championship play-offs
Football League Championship play-offs
The Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
semi-final second leg on 12 May 2010.
In the 2010-11 season, Berner revealed his reluctance to leave the club in the January transfer window due to lack of regular football, having lost his place to loanee Greg Cunningham
Greg Cunningham
Gregory Richard "Greg" Cunningham is an Irish footballer who plays as a left back for Nottingham Forest and the Republic of Ireland national football team.-Manchester City:...
. He made his first start since October 2010 against Swansea City on 3 January 2011, scoring in a 2-1 win. Cunningham's loan soon ended due to injury and despite Berner being offered a new contract, he still maintained the possibility of leaving, having received interest from "a few Championship clubs". He finally signed the one-year contract on 20 January.
International Career
Berner made his international debut for SwitzerlandSwitzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
in a 2–1 win over Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
on 15 August 2001. He was a participant in the 2004 UEFA European Championship, but was an unused substitute in all three Group B matches. Despite being hopeful of winning his place back in the national team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, Berner was not among the 23 players selected on 11 May 2010.
Honours
Grasshopper- Swiss Super LeagueSwiss Super LeagueThe Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
: 2000–01
Leicester City
- League One: 2008–09