FC Sion
Encyclopedia
FC Sion is a Swiss
football team from the city of Sion
. The club was founded in 1909, and play their home games at the Stade Tourbillon
. They have won the Swiss Super League
twice, and the Swiss Cup in each of their twelve appearances in the final, the most recent being in 2011.
The first team also known as Olympique des Alpes SA, as Swiss Football League
(the top two levels) requires football club runs as a company.
From 1932 Sion played in the fourth tier of Swiss football, where they spent much of the next twenty years, briefely interrupted by promotion to the third tier in 1944, quickly followed by relegation in 1946. In 1952 Sion returned to the thrid tier, and five years later gained promotion again to the National League B, followed five years later by promotion to the National League A
(now the Swiss Super League) in 1962. 1965 saw the first of FC Sion's Swiss Cup wins, with a 2-1 victory over Servette FC
.
The 16,263 capacity Stade Tourbillon
was officially opened in August 1968, but was followed by relegation in 1969. Sion returned to the National League A at the first attempt, and secured a second victory in the Swiss Cup, winning 3-2 against Neuchâtel Xamax
in 1974. Sion would go on to consistently perform well in the Swiss Cup, with victories in 1980 (vs Young Boys
), 1982 (vs FC Basel
), 1986 (vs Servette FC) and 1991 (vs Young Boys). This period of success also saw also saw the renovation and expansion of the Tourbillon in 1989, and was crowned with Sion's first Swiss League Championship in 1992.
More success in the Swiss Cup followed, winning the tournament in three consecutive years from 1995 with victories over Grasshopper Zurich, Servette FC and FC Luzern. Their win against FC Luzern in 1997 secured FC Sion their only domestic double, having also won the Swiss League.
However the club quickly fell in to financial trouble, and having narrowly avoided bankruptcy due to its purchase by Gilbert Kadji, the club suffered relegation in 1999. Despite returning to the top division the following season, financial problems plagued the team, culminating in relegation in 2001 and the departure of Kadji, and a denial of a professional license in 2003. The club was saved by architect and former footballer Christian Constantin
, and they were re-instated in to the second division in October 2003.
Constantin spent the following seasons rebuilding the club, with the club getting through twenty managers in the following eight years, including taking the role himself twice, in a bid to financially stabalise. He was rewarded in 2006 with promotion back to the Super League, as well as a victory in the Swiss Cup, becoming the first second tier team to achieve this, with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Young Boys after a 1-1 draw.
, leading to 2 "registration period" ban for Sion from June 2009, and an international playing ban for El-Hadary for four months, due to El-Hadary still being under contract at his former club Al Ahly. FC Sion appeal, but the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland confirmed FIFA DRC and CAS decisions in 2009 and 2010 respectively. However the lengthy legal battle and provisionally lift, made the first practical ban was excised only in winter window of 2010–11 season.
Although gaining a place in the qualifying round of the 2011-12 Europa League through winning the previous seasons Swiss Cup, Sion were excluded from the Europa League by UEFA
after fielding ineligible players, in their play-off victory over Celtic. On 2 September Swiss Football League (SFL) rejected the registration of one more player, Brian Amofa.
On 30 September 2011, SFL decided to provisionally qualify the 6 new signing, to comply with the ongoing legal process, namely Stefan Glarner
, Billy Ketkeophomphone
, Mario Mutsch
, Pascal Feindouno
, José Gonçalves
and Gabri. FC Sion also sued SFL and UEFA respectively in the Tribunal Cantonal de Valais
and the Tribunal in Vaud
, however both were dismissed. The club earlier appeal was dismissed by UEFA Appeals Body on 13 September. FC Sion also sued SFL and UEFA in CAS, but withdrew the former claim. The hearing of the latter was set on 24 November.
On 25 October, the Discipline Commission (fr
: Commission de discipline) of SFL suspended the 6 players for 5 games. On 27 October, as a "provisional and super-provisional measures", UEFA invited FC Sion to match schedule consultation once UEFA losing the legal battle.
31 October 2011, the club sent a complaint to European Commission
.
, which has a capacity of 20,187. It was originally constructed in 1968, and was renovated in 1989. The club also has a training centre in nearby Riddes
.
(Vice-captain)
General Manager Domenicangelo Massimo
Manager Alexandre Zen-Ruffinen
Director of Sport Frédéric Chassot
Assistant Coach Blaise Piffaretti
Teamchef Jean-Claude Richard
Technical Coach José Sinval
Goalkeeper Coach Marco Pascolo
Advisor Zoran Funjak
Masseur Omar Boumaraf Philippe Hofmann
Doctor Roberto Campini
Dennis Lota
(1997–98) Juan Barbas
(1991–92) Gabriel Calderón
(1991–92) Aurelio Vidmar
(1995–96) Assis (1992–95), (1996–98) Beto
(2007–08) Kléber Pereira (1997–98) Túlio Maravilha
(1992–93) Jaime Patricio Ramírez
(1989–91) Essam El-Hadary
(2008–09) Antoine Kombouaré
(1995–96)
Ottó Vincze
(1992–93), (1996) Darko Pančev
(1996–97) Carlitos
(2006–07) Carlos Manuel
(1987–88) Neil Murray
(1996–97) Vladan Lukić
(1996–97) Paulo Diogo
(2005) Alain Geiger
(1977–81), (1990–95) Dominique Herr
(1992–96) Marc Hottiger
(1992–94), (1999–02) Yvan Quentin
(1990–98), (2003–04) Raphaël Wicky
(1993–97), (2007–08)
(Head Coach U-18) Christian Zermatten
Miroslav Blažević
(1971–76) Uli Stielike
(2008) Alberto Bigon
(1996–97), (2007–08) Néstor Clausen
(2006–07)
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
football team from the city of Sion
Sion, Switzerland
Sion is the capital of the Swiss canton of Valais. it had a population of .Landmarks include the Basilique de Valère and Château de Tourbillon. Sion has an airfield for civilian and military use, which, because of its location in a valley, causes a reasonable amount of noise pollution. FC Sion...
. The club was founded in 1909, and play their home games at the Stade Tourbillon
Stade Tourbillon
Stade Tourbillon is a multi-purpose stadium in Sion, Switzerland. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FC Sion. The stadium holds 16,000 people and was built in 1968 and renovated in 1989. At the time of the renovation, its capacity was 19,600....
. They have won the Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The 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...
twice, and the Swiss Cup in each of their twelve appearances in the final, the most recent being in 2011.
The first team also known as Olympique des Alpes SA, as Swiss Football League
Swiss Football League
The Swiss Football League is organised in several leagues.-Proposed system from 2012-13 season onwards:-External links:* * * * *...
(the top two levels) requires football club runs as a company.
History
FC Sion were founded in 1909 by Robert Gilliard, who became club captain, and played their first game, a 3-2 win against FC Aigle, the same year. The club grew thanks to contributions from local people, and played their first competitive league fixture in 1914, again a 3-2 victory, this time against FC Monthey. In 1919 Sion formally organised its managerial structure, with Gilliard becoming Vice President, and Charles Aymon taking Presidency.From 1932 Sion played in the fourth tier of Swiss football, where they spent much of the next twenty years, briefely interrupted by promotion to the third tier in 1944, quickly followed by relegation in 1946. In 1952 Sion returned to the thrid tier, and five years later gained promotion again to the National League B, followed five years later by promotion to the National League A
Swiss Super League
The 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...
(now the Swiss Super League) in 1962. 1965 saw the first of FC Sion's Swiss Cup wins, with a 2-1 victory over Servette FC
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
.
The 16,263 capacity Stade Tourbillon
Stade Tourbillon
Stade Tourbillon is a multi-purpose stadium in Sion, Switzerland. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FC Sion. The stadium holds 16,000 people and was built in 1968 and renovated in 1989. At the time of the renovation, its capacity was 19,600....
was officially opened in August 1968, but was followed by relegation in 1969. Sion returned to the National League A at the first attempt, and secured a second victory in the Swiss Cup, winning 3-2 against Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club is a Swiss football club, based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal and FC Xamax . The club plays in red shirts, black shorts and red socks and are currently in the Axpo Super League, the highest Swiss football league. They play...
in 1974. Sion would go on to consistently perform well in the Swiss Cup, with victories in 1980 (vs Young Boys
BSC Young Boys
Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 is a Swiss sporting club based in the capital city of Bern. The name is often abbreviated to YB . Abroad, YB is often referred to as Young Boys Bern. The club's colors are yellow and black....
), 1982 (vs 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...
), 1986 (vs Servette FC) and 1991 (vs Young Boys). This period of success also saw also saw the renovation and expansion of the Tourbillon in 1989, and was crowned with Sion's first Swiss League Championship in 1992.
More success in the Swiss Cup followed, winning the tournament in three consecutive years from 1995 with victories over Grasshopper Zurich, Servette FC and FC Luzern. Their win against FC Luzern in 1997 secured FC Sion their only domestic double, having also won the Swiss League.
However the club quickly fell in to financial trouble, and having narrowly avoided bankruptcy due to its purchase by Gilbert Kadji, the club suffered relegation in 1999. Despite returning to the top division the following season, financial problems plagued the team, culminating in relegation in 2001 and the departure of Kadji, and a denial of a professional license in 2003. The club was saved by architect and former footballer Christian Constantin
Christian Constantin
Christian Constantin is a Swiss architect. He is the owner and president of Swiss football club FC Sion. He bought the club, which had previously neared bankruptcy and was relegated from the Swiss Super League, in 2003....
, and they were re-instated in to the second division in October 2003.
Constantin spent the following seasons rebuilding the club, with the club getting through twenty managers in the following eight years, including taking the role himself twice, in a bid to financially stabalise. He was rewarded in 2006 with promotion back to the Super League, as well as a victory in the Swiss Cup, becoming the first second tier team to achieve this, with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Young Boys after a 1-1 draw.
Transfer ban saga
However controversy came to Sion, when in 2008 the club signed Essam El-HadaryEssam El-Hadary
Essam El-Hadary is an Egyptian goalkeeper, playing for Sudan Premier League side El-Merreikh.-Club career:Swiss club FC Sion announced that they had signed El-Hadary to a four-year contract in February 2008, despite claims to the contrary from his club Al-Ahly...
, leading to 2 "registration period" ban for Sion from June 2009, and an international playing ban for El-Hadary for four months, due to El-Hadary still being under contract at his former club Al Ahly. FC Sion appeal, but the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland confirmed FIFA DRC and CAS decisions in 2009 and 2010 respectively. However the lengthy legal battle and provisionally lift, made the first practical ban was excised only in winter window of 2010–11 season.
Although gaining a place in the qualifying round of the 2011-12 Europa League through winning the previous seasons Swiss Cup, Sion were excluded from the Europa League by UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
after fielding ineligible players, in their play-off victory over Celtic. On 2 September Swiss Football League (SFL) rejected the registration of one more player, Brian Amofa.
On 30 September 2011, SFL decided to provisionally qualify the 6 new signing, to comply with the ongoing legal process, namely Stefan Glarner
Stefan Glarner
Stefan Glarner is a Swiss football midfielder, who currently plays for FC Sion in the Swiss Super League.-External links:*...
, Billy Ketkeophomphone
Billy Ketkeophomphone
Vilayphone "Billy" Ketkeophomphone is a French football player of Laotian origin who is currently playing as for Swiss side FC Sion.-Career:...
, Mario Mutsch
Mario Mutsch
Mario Mutsch is a Luxembourger footballer playing currently for FC Sion in Switzerland. Mutsch was born in Belgium, his mother comes from Belgium and his father from Luxembourg....
, Pascal Feindouno
Pascal Feindouno
Pascal Feindouno is a Guinean international footballer, who currently plays for Swiss side FC Sion as a winger.- Early career :...
, José Gonçalves
José Gonçalves
José Gonçalves is a Portuguese footballer of Cape Verdean descent currently playing for FC Sion in the Swiss Super League. He is Portuguese by birth but has Swiss citizenship, having lived there since he was two years old...
and Gabri. FC Sion also sued SFL and UEFA respectively in the Tribunal Cantonal de Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
and the Tribunal in Vaud
Vaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
, however both were dismissed. The club earlier appeal was dismissed by UEFA Appeals Body on 13 September. FC Sion also sued SFL and UEFA in CAS, but withdrew the former claim. The hearing of the latter was set on 24 November.
On 25 October, the Discipline Commission (fr
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Commission de discipline) of SFL suspended the 6 players for 5 games. On 27 October, as a "provisional and super-provisional measures", UEFA invited FC Sion to match schedule consultation once UEFA losing the legal battle.
31 October 2011, the club sent a complaint to European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.
Honours
FC Sion holds the distinction of having never lost a domestic Cup final, with 12 wins in 12 appearances in the Swiss Cup.- 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...
: 2 - 1991–92, 1996–97 - Swiss Cup: 12 - 1965, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2006, 2009Swiss Cup 2008–09Swiss Cup 2008–09 was the eighty-fourth season of Switzerland's annual cup competition. It began on 20 September with the first games of Round 1 and ended on 20 May 2009 with the Final held at Stade de Suisse, Berne. The winners earned a place in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League...
, 2011
Stadium
FC Sion play their home games at the multi-purpose Stade TourbillonStade Tourbillon
Stade Tourbillon is a multi-purpose stadium in Sion, Switzerland. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FC Sion. The stadium holds 16,000 people and was built in 1968 and renovated in 1989. At the time of the renovation, its capacity was 19,600....
, which has a capacity of 20,187. It was originally constructed in 1968, and was renovated in 1989. The club also has a training centre in nearby Riddes
Riddes
Riddes is a municipality in the district of Martigny in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-History:Riddes is first mentioned in 1001 as Ride. It was previously known its German name Riden, though that is not used anymore.-Geography:...
.
Current squad
As of 16 July, 2011(Vice-captain)
Out on loan
Management
President Christian ConstantinChristian Constantin
Christian Constantin is a Swiss architect. He is the owner and president of Swiss football club FC Sion. He bought the club, which had previously neared bankruptcy and was relegated from the Swiss Super League, in 2003....
General Manager Domenicangelo Massimo
Manager Alexandre Zen-Ruffinen
Director of Sport Frédéric Chassot
Frédéric Chassot
Frédéric Chassot is a Swiss former footballer who played as a striker during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.-Career:...
Sports
Head Coach Laurent RousseyLaurent Roussey
Laurent Roussey is a French former football striker and manager.-External links:* *...
Assistant Coach Blaise Piffaretti
Teamchef Jean-Claude Richard
Technical Coach José Sinval
Goalkeeper Coach Marco Pascolo
Marco Pascolo
Marco Pascolo is a retired Swiss international football goalkeeper who spent his best playing days at Servette FC and FC Zürich in the 1990s and early 2000s. He is currently goalkeeping coach for FC Sion.-Career:...
Medical
Physic Coach Philippe TroilletAdvisor Zoran Funjak
Masseur Omar Boumaraf Philippe Hofmann
Doctor Roberto Campini
Notable former players
- See also .
Dennis Lota
Dennis Lota
Dennis Lota was a Zambian football striker who.He started his professional career with Zanaco FC of Zambia in 1989 before leaving for Nchanga Rangers at the beginning of the 1991 season. At Nchanga Rangers he established a midfield partnership with Abeauty Kunda. He later left Nchanga to join...
(1997–98) Juan Barbas
Juan Barbas
Juan Alberto Barbas is a retired Argentine football midfielder and occasionally defender. He played for a number of clubs in Argentina, Spain, Italy and Switzerland before turning his hand to management in 2009 with Racing Club de Avellaneda..-Club career:Barbas started his career in 1977 at...
(1991–92) Gabriel Calderón
Gabriel Calderón
Gabriel Humberto Calderón is a former Argentine football midfielder.Calderón played in several teams including Argentine Racing Club de Avellaneda and Club Atlético Independiente, Spanish Real Betis and French Paris Saint-Germain...
(1991–92) Aurelio Vidmar
Aurelio Vidmar
Aurelio Vidmar is an Australian football player and former captain of the Australian national team. He is currently not tied to any A-league club...
(1995–96) Assis (1992–95), (1996–98) Beto
Gilberto Galdino dos Santos
Gilberto Galdino dos Santos, commonly known as Beto , is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Ergotelis F.C. in Greece....
(2007–08) Kléber Pereira (1997–98) Túlio Maravilha
Túlio Costa
Túlio Humberto Pereira Costa , sometimes simply referred as Túlio or Túlio Maravilha for his great creativity on the field and for his charisma, is a former Brazilian international football forward. He has scored more than 900 goals and intends to score the 1000th with Botafogo...
(1992–93) Jaime Patricio Ramírez
Jaime Patricio Ramírez
Jaime Patricio Ramírez Manríquez is a retired Chilean football player. He made his debut for the Chile national football team on 1988-09-13 in a friendly match against Ecuador.-References:*...
(1989–91) Essam El-Hadary
Essam El-Hadary
Essam El-Hadary is an Egyptian goalkeeper, playing for Sudan Premier League side El-Merreikh.-Club career:Swiss club FC Sion announced that they had signed El-Hadary to a four-year contract in February 2008, despite claims to the contrary from his club Al-Ahly...
(2008–09) Antoine Kombouaré
Antoine Kombouaré
Antoine Kombouaré is a manager of football Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain and a former professional football defender.-Early life and career:...
(1995–96)
Ottó Vincze
Ottó Vincze
Ottó Vincze is a Hungarian football midfielder.He played abroad in Spain, Switzerland and Germany.-External links:***...
(1992–93), (1996) Darko Pančev
Darko Pancev
Darko Pančev is a retired Yugoslav and Macedonian footballer, and winner of the Golden Boot award in 1991.-Club career:Pančev was the highest scorer in top-division European football in the 1990–91 season with 34 goals, and should have won the European Golden Boot award...
(1996–97) Carlitos
Carlos Alberto Alves Garcia
Carlos Alberto Alves Garcia , aka Carlitos, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga, as a left winger.-Football career:...
(2006–07) Carlos Manuel
Carlos Manuel
Carlos Manuel Correia dos Santos , known as Carlos Manuel, is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a current manager....
(1987–88) Neil Murray
Neil Murray (footballer)
Neil Murray is a Scottish former footballer, who now works as an agent.-Career:Murray began his career with Rangers, where he won the domestic treble in 1992/93. Murray left Ibrox in 1996, moving to Swiss side Sion, before moving to French club Lorient a year later...
(1996–97) Vladan Lukić
Vladan Lukic
Vladan Lukić is a former Serbian international football player, from Serbia. He is current president of Red Star Belgrade...
(1996–97) Paulo Diogo
Paulo Diogo
Paulo da Cruz Diogo is a retired Swiss professional footballer of Portuguese origin. He played almost his entire professional career in the Swiss first division.- Career :...
(2005) Alain Geiger
Alain Geiger
Alain Geiger is a retired Swiss international football defender and current manager. He is currently the head coach manager of Al-Masry in the Egyptian Premier League....
(1977–81), (1990–95) Dominique Herr
Dominique Herr
Dominique Herr is a Swiss former football defender who played throughout the 1980s and 1990s.-Career:Herr started his career at local club FC Basel in 1984 where he was a squad player and played mainly for the FC Basel Under-21's for the first couple of seasons...
(1992–96) Marc Hottiger
Marc Hottiger
Marc Hottiger is a retired Swiss football defender.He was capped 63 times and scored 5 goals for the Swiss national team between 1989 and 1996...
(1992–94), (1999–02) Yvan Quentin
Yvan Quentin
Yvan Quentin is a retired Swiss football defender.He was capped 41 times for the Swiss national team between 1992 and 2002. He played four games at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and was in the Euro 1996 squad.-External links:...
(1990–98), (2003–04) Raphaël Wicky
Raphaël Wicky
Raphaël Wicky is a retired Swiss footballer, who last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer. He is a defensive midfielder who can also play in defense...
(1993–97), (2007–08)
Former Personal
(Head Coach U-17) Umberto BarberisUmberto Barberis
Umberto Barberis or simply Berto is a former Swiss-Italian footballer, last managing Dubai Club.-Playing career:...
(Head Coach U-18) Christian Zermatten
Former coaches
Miroslav BlaževićMiroslav Blaževic
Miroslav "Ćiro" Blažević is a Bosnian Croat football manager. He is the current head coach of Mes Kerman in Iran Pro League....
(1971–76) Uli Stielike
Uli Stielike
Ulrich "Uli" Stielike is a German football manager and former player.-Club career:Stielike was a West Germany youth international for hometown club SpVgg Ketsch when he got signed by UEFA Cup runner-up Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1973, first coming to action as a full back for the then two times...
(2008) Alberto Bigon
Alberto Bigon
Alberto "Albertino" Bigon is an Italian football manager and former player.-Playing career:Bigon started his playing career for his native city team Padova. He made his Serie A debut with SPAL in 1967, but obtained most of his playing triumphs with AC Milan, where he played from 1971 to 1980...
(1996–97), (2007–08) Néstor Clausen
Néstor Clausen
Néstor Clausen , a native of Arrufo, Santa Fe Province, Argentina, is a former footballer, a 1986 FIFA World Champion, and current manager....
(2006–07)