FC Thun
Encyclopedia
FC Thun 1898 is a Swiss
football
team from the Bernese Oberland
town of Thun
. The club currently plays in the Swiss Super League
after being promoted in the 2009/10 season. The club plays at the Arena Thun
which accommodates a total of 10,300 supporters, both seated and standing. The club's colours are red and white.
It has played in the Nationalliga B from 1946–50,1953/54, 1955–70 and 1997–2002. From 2002–2008 it played in the Nationalliga A, which was renamed to Axpo Super League. In 2008 the club were relegated to the Swiss Challenge League
.
On 23 August 2005 FC Thun, with a yearly budget under €
2 million, wrote Swiss football history. It qualified for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League
by beating first FC Dynamo Kyiv
& then the Swedish Champions Malmö FF
at home 3–0 after having won in Malmö 0–1. Apart from Grasshoppers
, Zürich and FC Basel
, FC Thun is the only Swiss football team to reach the group stages of the Champions League, and the smallest club ever to enter the tournament. Only nine years earlier, Thun were playing amateur third division football in front of crowds of 100.
FC Thun were drawn in Group B alongside European giants Arsenal
, Ajax and Sparta Prague. They started their first ever Champions League campaign on 14 September 2005 away at Arsenal
, where, even after they scored a stunning equaliser through Nelson Ferreira
, they narrowly lost 2–1 after Dennis Bergkamp
scored in the match's dying seconds. On 27 September they hosted the Czech
champions Sparta Prague at their 'home' venue, the Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
in Bern, where all the club's 'home' matches were held, as the Lachen Stadium does not meet UEFA
's prerequisites for Champions League venues. Given the low expectations most had for the club considering their newcomer status, Thun's 1–0 victory thanks to Selver Hodžić
's 80th minute gamewinner was something of an upset, and propelled them into second place in the group. Following a loss to Ajax Amsterdam on 2 November 2005, FC Thun fell to 3rd place in Group C, 4 points behind Ajax. The last home game they played in the Champions League was a home match against Arsenal. Thun still had a chance of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League but realistically had to beat the Gunners. The match result was quite controversial. Thun were denied a goal by Lustrinelli in the 67th minute due to a ruling of offside. Television replays show that the offside decision of the linesman was questionable. This was the second dissallowed goal by Thun in the match, the first being 15 minutes earlier also due to an offside ruling, but this decision was not in question. As the game looked headed to end 0–0, in the 89th minute Robin van Persie
fell in the Thunese penalty box. Arsenal were awarded a penalty. This was also a questionable decision, as some camera angles appear to show van Persie falling without Thunese influence. Attacker Robert Pires took the penalty and scored, leaving Arsenal 1–0 winners & with Ajax beating Sparta Prague, FC Thun exited the Champions League. However Thun would draw 0–0 with Sparta Prague in their last Champions League group match, thus qualifying for the UEFA Cup
third round. This was a fine achievement in itself given the small club's reputation and being tipped to finish bottom of the group.
Just three days prior to their Uefa Cup tie against Hamburg SV, Thun sacked their coach, Urs Schönenberger
who had guided them to the Champions League group stages & was replaced by Heinz Peischl. Despite this Thun managed a surprise 1–0 over Hamburg SV in the 1st leg at the Stade de Suisse. However Hamburg were too strong at their home, AOL Arena
, and managed to overturn the deficit, winning the 2nd leg 2–0 (2–1 on aggregate).
group stage, without ever winning a domestic or European prize.
(1978–83) Stefan Marini (1994–95) Andy Egli (1995–98) Georges Bregy
(1998-01) Hanspeter Latour
(2001–04) Urs Schönenberger
(2006) Adrian Kunz (2006) Heinz Peischl (2006–07) Jeff Saibene
(2007) René van Eck
(2007–08) Hansruedi Baumann (2008–09) Eric-Pi Zuercher (2009) Andres Gerber (2009) Murat Yakin
(2009–2011) Bernard Challandes
(2011–)
Ljubo Milicevic
António Adriano Pimenta
Gelson Rodrigues
Armand Deumi
Marinko Jurendic
Percy Olivares José Gonçalves
Johan Berisha
Patrick Bettoni
Pascal Cerrone
Fabio Coltorti
Gregory Duruz
Alexander Frei Eldin Jakupović
Baykal Kulaksizoglu Mauro Lustrinelli
David Pallas
Michel Renggli
Marco Streller
Reto Zanni
Yao Aziawonou
Yao Junior Sènaya
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
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team from the Bernese Oberland
Bernese Oberland
The Bernese Oberland is the higher part of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, in the southern end of the canton: The area around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and the valleys of the Bernese Alps .The flag of the Bernese Oberland consists of a black eagle in a gold field The Bernese Oberland (Bernese...
town of Thun
Thun
Thun is a municipality in the administrative district of Thun in the canton of Bern in Switzerland with about 42,136 inhabitants , as of 1 January 2006....
. The club currently plays in 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...
after being promoted in the 2009/10 season. The club plays at the Arena Thun
Arena Thun
Arena Thun is a stadium in Thun, Switzerland. It has a capacity of 10,000 spectators and opened in 2011. It is the home of FC Thun of the Swiss Super League. It replaced Stadion Lachen as the club's home stadium....
which accommodates a total of 10,300 supporters, both seated and standing. The club's colours are red and white.
History
FC Thun was founded on 1 May 1898.It has played in the Nationalliga B from 1946–50,1953/54, 1955–70 and 1997–2002. From 2002–2008 it played in the Nationalliga A, which was renamed to Axpo Super League. In 2008 the club were relegated to the Swiss Challenge League
Challenge League
The Swiss Challenge League is the second highest tier of the Swiss Football League. Sixteen teams play in the Challenge League. The winners of the league are promoted to the Super League, and the bottom two teams are relegated to the 1. Liga...
.
On 23 August 2005 FC Thun, with a yearly budget under €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
2 million, wrote Swiss football history. It qualified for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
by beating first FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...
& then the Swedish Champions Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
at home 3–0 after having won in Malmö 0–1. Apart from Grasshoppers
Grasshopper-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...
, Zürich 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...
, FC Thun is the only Swiss football team to reach the group stages of the Champions League, and the smallest club ever to enter the tournament. Only nine years earlier, Thun were playing amateur third division football in front of crowds of 100.
FC Thun were drawn in Group B alongside European giants Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Ajax and Sparta Prague. They started their first ever Champions League campaign on 14 September 2005 away at Arsenal
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
, where, even after they scored a stunning equaliser through Nelson Ferreira
Nelson Ferreira
Nelson Ferreira is a Swiss and Portuguese footballer. He plays for FC Luzern.He played for FC Thun from July 2001 until summer 2001. He joined FC Luzern in summer 2008...
, they narrowly lost 2–1 after Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Nicolaas Bergkamp , is a former Dutch professional footballer who is currently the assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax. At club level he played for Ajax, Internazionale, and Arsenal, and also represented the Netherlands at international level...
scored in the match's dying seconds. On 27 September they hosted the Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
champions Sparta Prague at their 'home' venue, the Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
The Stade de Suisse Wankdorf is a football stadium in Bern, Switzerland.It is the home ground of the Swiss football team BSC Young Boys, and is currently the second biggest all-seater football stadium in Switzerland....
in Bern, where all the club's 'home' matches were held, as the Lachen Stadium does not meet 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....
's prerequisites for Champions League venues. Given the low expectations most had for the club considering their newcomer status, Thun's 1–0 victory thanks to Selver Hodžić
Selver Hodzic
Selver Hodžić is a Bosnian-Swiss football defender playing for FC Lugano from the Swiss Challenge League....
's 80th minute gamewinner was something of an upset, and propelled them into second place in the group. Following a loss to Ajax Amsterdam on 2 November 2005, FC Thun fell to 3rd place in Group C, 4 points behind Ajax. The last home game they played in the Champions League was a home match against Arsenal. Thun still had a chance of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League but realistically had to beat the Gunners. The match result was quite controversial. Thun were denied a goal by Lustrinelli in the 67th minute due to a ruling of offside. Television replays show that the offside decision of the linesman was questionable. This was the second dissallowed goal by Thun in the match, the first being 15 minutes earlier also due to an offside ruling, but this decision was not in question. As the game looked headed to end 0–0, in the 89th minute Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for Arsenal and the Dutch national team. He is a youth product of Feyenoord. Having joined Arsenal in 2004, Van Persie became the club captain on 16 August 2011...
fell in the Thunese penalty box. Arsenal were awarded a penalty. This was also a questionable decision, as some camera angles appear to show van Persie falling without Thunese influence. Attacker Robert Pires took the penalty and scored, leaving Arsenal 1–0 winners & with Ajax beating Sparta Prague, FC Thun exited the Champions League. However Thun would draw 0–0 with Sparta Prague in their last Champions League group match, thus qualifying for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
third round. This was a fine achievement in itself given the small club's reputation and being tipped to finish bottom of the group.
Just three days prior to their Uefa Cup tie against Hamburg SV, Thun sacked their coach, Urs Schönenberger
Urs Schönenberger
Urs Schönenberger is a Swiss football manager who is currently unattached.-External links:...
who had guided them to the Champions League group stages & was replaced by Heinz Peischl. Despite this Thun managed a surprise 1–0 over Hamburg SV in the 1st leg at the Stade de Suisse. However Hamburg were too strong at their home, AOL Arena
AOL Arena
Volksparkstadion is a football stadium in Hamburg, Germany. It is the home ground of Hamburger SV and was one of the 12 stadia used in the 2006 Football World Cup, hosting four group games and a quarter final. Through a sponsorship deal the stadium is officially named Imtech Arena, and has...
, and managed to overturn the deficit, winning the 2nd leg 2–0 (2–1 on aggregate).
European Cups
- Q= Qualifying
- PO = Play-Off
Season Competition Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate 2005/06 UEFA Champions League 2005-06The 2005–06 UEFA Champions League was the 51st staging of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, the UEFA Champions League, and the 14th since it was rebranded from the European Cup in 1992. 74 teams from 50 football associations took part, starting with the first qualifying round played...UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...Q2 
Dinamo Kiev 1–0 2–2 3–2 Q3 
Malmö FF Malmö FFMalmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...3–0 1–0 4–0 Group G 
Arsenal Arsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...0–1 1–2 
Sparta Praha 1–0 0–0 
Ajax 2–4 0–2 2005/06 UEFA Cup 2005-06The UEFA Cup 2005–06 season was won by Sevilla FC, beating Middlesbrough FC in the final. It was the first victory for Sevilla in a European competition, and the first appearance by Middlesbrough in a European final. The final took place at Philips Stadion, in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The match was...UEFA Cup UEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...3 
Hamburger SV Hamburger SVHamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...1–0 0–2 1–2 2011/12 UEFA Europa League Q2 
Vllaznia Shkodër 2–1 0–0 2–1 Q3 
Palermo U.S. Città di PalermoUnione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...1-1 2-2 3-3 PO Stoke City Stoke City F.C.Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...0-1 1-4 1-5
Trivia
FC Thun is the only team which participated in the UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group stage, without ever winning a domestic or European prize.
Current squad
Former coaches
Hanspeter LatourHanspeter Latour
Hanspeter Latour is a Swiss football manager and former goalkeeper.- Coach career :He has vast experience as a manager, having coached at the professional level for over thirty years in both Germany and his native Switzerland....
(1978–83) Stefan Marini (1994–95) Andy Egli (1995–98) Georges Bregy
Georges Bregy
Georges Bregy is a retired Swiss football midfielder.He was capped 54 times and scored 12 goals for the Swiss national team between 1984 and 1994...
(1998-01) Hanspeter Latour
Hanspeter Latour
Hanspeter Latour is a Swiss football manager and former goalkeeper.- Coach career :He has vast experience as a manager, having coached at the professional level for over thirty years in both Germany and his native Switzerland....
(2001–04) Urs Schönenberger
Urs Schönenberger
Urs Schönenberger is a Swiss football manager who is currently unattached.-External links:...
(2006) Adrian Kunz (2006) Heinz Peischl (2006–07) Jeff Saibene
Jeff Saibene
Jeff Saibene is a retired Luxembourgian football player and currently manager.-Club career:He played most of his club football abroad, predominantly in Switzerland, but also in Belgium for Standard Liège...
(2007) René van Eck
René van Eck
René van Eck is a former Dutch footballer and was last manager of German 3rd Liga side FC Carl Zeiss Jena.- Career :Van Eck started his professional career at local side Excelsior Rotterdam before moving to FC Den Bosch aged 20...
(2007–08) Hansruedi Baumann (2008–09) Eric-Pi Zuercher (2009) Andres Gerber (2009) Murat Yakin
Murat Yakin
Murat Yakin is a Swiss-Turkish football coach and former Swiss national player. He is currently the coach of FC Luzern in the Swiss Super League.-Playing career:...
(2009–2011) Bernard Challandes
Bernard Challandes
Bernard Challandes is a Swiss football manager.-Coaching career:He was coach of the Switzerland national under-21 football team and he was manager of FC Zürich from summer 2007 to 19 April 2010. On 28 May 2010 the former FC Zurich, Servette and Young Boys coach has signed for FC Sion.-References:...
(2011–)
Former players
- See also .
Ljubo Milicevic
Ljubo Milicevic
Ljubo Miličević is an Australian football player who currently plays for Hajduk Split in the Prva HNL.-Early Career and Overseas:...
António Adriano Pimenta
Adriano Pimenta
Adriano Faria Pimenta is a Brazilian football player. He currently plays for Atlético Goianiense.-Club career:...
Gelson Rodrigues
Gelson Rodrigues
Gelson Rodrigues de Souza known as Gelson is a Brazilian football striker who plays for Aris Limassol F.C...
Armand Deumi
Armand Deumi
Armand Deumi Tchani is a Cameroonian footballer, currently playing in Turkey for Karabükspor. He is also a Cameroon international and currently has 4 caps for his national side.-Club career:...
Marinko Jurendic
Marinko Jurendic
Marinko Jurendic is a former Croatian footballer and coach. He last played for SC Cham, and has previously played for clubs in Swiss Challenge League and 1. Liga. He has been coach of FC Ibach since 2009.-References:...
Percy Olivares 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...
Johan Berisha
Johan Berisha
Johan Berisha is a Swiss footballer of Albanian descent. He is currently without a club.-Football career:...
Patrick Bettoni
Patrick Bettoni
Patrick Bettoni is a Swiss-Italian football goalkeeper, who currently plays for FC Thun in the Swiss Challenge League.-External links:**http://www.football.ch/sfl/777836/de/Kader.aspx?pId=234155...
Pascal Cerrone
Pascal Cerrone
Pascal Cerrone is a Swiss football defender, who currently plays for FC Vaduz in the Swiss Super League.-External links:*...
Fabio Coltorti
Fabio Coltorti
Fabio Coltorti is a Swiss footballer who plays for FC Lausanne-Sport as a goalkeeper.-Club career:During his career in his country, Coltorti played with hometown SC Kriens, FC Schaffhausen, FC Thun and Grasshopper Club Zürich, being first-choice for the latter three.On 31 August 2007, he penned a...
Gregory Duruz
Gregory Duruz
Grégory Duruz is a Swiss football player. He is currently without a club.-Career:Duruz has extensive experience in European competition. He has played UEFA Champions League matches against Juventus, Manchester United and Valencia. He has represented Switzerland at U16, U18, U20 and U21 level. He...
Alexander Frei Eldin Jakupović
Eldin Jakupovic
Eldin Jakupović is a Bosnian-born Swiss professional footballer. He moved to Switzerland at a young age due to the Bosnian war.-Career:...
Baykal Kulaksizoglu Mauro Lustrinelli
Mauro Lustrinelli
Mauro "Lustri" Lustrinelli is a professional Swiss footballer who plays for FC Thun. He is also a former player of the Swiss national team. He has a Bachelor in Business Administration and made a dissertation about the Italian Serie A....
David Pallas
David Pallas
David Pallas , Spain, is a Swiss right back. He is currently a free agent, having left VfL Bochum of Germany's Bundesliga. Pallas was born in Spain but left for Switzerland at the age of 4. He qualifies to play for either nation....
Michel Renggli
Michel Renggli
Michel Renggli is a Swiss footballer who currently plays as midfielder for FC Luzern in the Swiss Super League.-External links:...
Marco Streller
Marco Streller
Marco Streller is a Swiss international footballer who plays as a striker for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.-Club career:...
Reto Zanni
Reto Zanni
Reto Zanni is a Swiss footballer who plays for FC Vaduz in the Swiss Challenge League.-Football career:Zanni started off playing football for SC Buochs and then was scouted by Grasshopper-Club Zürich subsequently starting his professional career with Grasshopper-Club in 1998 at the age of 18...
Yao Aziawonou
Yao Aziawonou
Yao Kaka Aziawonou is a Togolese football midfielder who plays for FC Winterthur.He is a member of the Togo national football team, and was called up to the 2006 World Cup.-External links:* at National Football Teams...
Yao Junior Sènaya
Yao Junior Sènaya
Yao Séyram Junior Sènaya is a Togolese football player who currently plays for Al-Jazira Al-Hamra as a striker or as a midfielder...