Franz Burgmeier
Encyclopedia
Franz Burgmeier is a Liechtenstein
footballer, who plays as a midfielder
for Vaduz
in the Swiss Challenge League. Born in Triesen
, Burgmeier was a burgeoning footballer and keen skier
, until he gave up the latter sport at 16 following a serious injury. Having been a youth player for Triesen
, he started his professional career with Vaduz. Burgmeier won several Liechtensteiner Cups
with Vaduz, who were promoted to the Swiss Challenge League in 2001, and played in the UEFA Cup. After two unsuccessful attempts to win promotion
to the Swiss Super League
, Burgmeier left for Aarau
in 2005. He spent only one season with Aarau before a move to the previous season's runners-up Basel
in 2006. His two seasons with Basel were broken up by a loan spell with Thun
, before he moved to England with Darlington
in August 2008, where he played for one year.
Burgmeier has won 68 caps
and scored seven goals for his country
. He is a right-footed player who is either a left midfielder
or left back, with the ability to deliver a good cross. He made his international debut in 2001 against Spain
and three years later scored one of the goals that helped secure his country's first point in World Cup qualification
matches.
, Liechtenstein
, a small town with a population of 4,500, close to the border with Switzerland
. He is the younger son of Heinz and Elsbeth, following Patrick Burgmeier
, who played football for Vaduz
and USV Eschen/Mauren
. From a young age, Franz played both football and skied
. He played for the Liechtenstein youth team in Swiss competitions from ages 11 to 16, winning the championship when he was 13. However, at 16, a knee injury, which he suffered while skiing, nearly ended his football career and prompted him to stop the former sport.
Burgmeier has a girlfriend, Monica, who lives in Switzerland. She also plays football, as a full back, in National League B.
before moving to Vaduz in 2000. Although based in his home country, like all Liechtenstein clubs Vaduz played league football in Switzerland—at the time in the third tier
—but also competed in the Liechtenstein Football Cup
. In Burgmeier's first season the team won promotion to the Challenge League and won the Liechtenstein Cup with a 9–0 defeat against Ruggell
in the final. He scored his first goal at the higher level on 31 July 2001, in a postponed game from the first round of the season, which finished in a 4–1 victory against Thun
. However, Vaduz finished in 11th place in the Fall Season, before results improved and they finished in second place in the Final Table, avoiding being relegated. The team also successfully defended their Liechtenstein Cup defeating USV Eschen/Mauren 6–1 in the final.
Vaduz's success in their nation's cup ensured they gained access to the UEFA Cup, and in August 2002, Burgmeier scored his first European goal during a 1–1 with Livingston
, the Scottish side's first game in Europe. In the second leg, Vaduz had a late goal disallowed during a 0–0, and so they went out in the qualifying round for the third successive year, losing on the away goals rule
. Vaduz topped the Fall Season table that season, but failed to win promotion to the Swiss Super League
after finishing fourth in the Final League. Their failure was offset with another victory in the Liechtenstein Cup, this time defeating Balzers
in the final.
In June 2003, he was set to join St. Gallen
; however, the deal never went through because the Swiss side could not afford the transfer fee. Instead he started with Vaduz, who came closer to gaining promotion but were again unsuccessful, after they lost in the promotion–relegation play-off
match. Burgmeier scored one of the goals in the second leg against Neuchâtel Xamax
, but Mobulu M'Futi
scored to ensure Neuchâtel won over the two legs, and Vaduz stayed in the Challenge League. Despite his side defending their Liechtenstein Cup, Burgmeier missed the final.
However, their cup success helped Vaduz to another UEFA Cup, which resulted in their first win in the competition with a 4–2 aggregate victory against FAI Cup
-holders Longford Town
in July 2004. Burgmeier netted his second European goal during the ties, during the 3–2 second-leg victory, before they were defeated in the second qualifying round to Belgian-side Beveren
, during which Burgmeier was injured forcing him to undergo a knee operation and miss the first month of the league season. Vaduz repeated their efforts domestically, defeating USV Eschen/Mauren in the cup and reaching the promotion play-off game. However, they were defeated by Schaffhausen
and were left with only ten players on secure contracts for the following season. Burgmeier himself left Vaduz after five years with the club, during which he played 115 league games and scored 27 goals.
in Switzerland
. His debut came in a 2–0 league defeat to Thun, before he was substituted near the end of the second half. Aarau were in the Super League, and finished seventh in Burgmeier's only season with the club, in which he played 35 league games. His only league goal came in the second round of matches against St. Gallen, but he also scored in the both the first two rounds of the Swiss Cup—his first games in the cup since Vaduz were not eligible for the competition—before they were eliminated in the quarter-finals on penalties. His form with Aarau won Burgmeier the Liechtensteiner Footballer of the Year
award, one point ahead of fellow international Mario Frick
, and also earned him a move to Basel
, for whom he signed a three-year contract.
as they defeated German-side FC Köln
2–1, to share the trophy with Zürich. Basel had finished the previous season as runners-up in the league to Zürich on goal difference
and so qualified for the following season's UEFA Cup. Burgmeier made his Basel debut in the competition as they defeated Kazakhstan's Tobol
3–1 on 13 July, before he was replaced by Scott Chipperfield
. The second leg ended in a draw, sending Basel through. The second qualifying round draw gave Burgmeier a chance to return to Vaduz. He was a substitute in both games as his new team won on away goals. They went on to qualify for the group stages, in which they finished bottom of their division, with two points from four games. Burgmeier scored his first goal for his new club in a 4–2 defeat to Sion
, but the side again came second to Zürich, this time by one point. Their disappointment was offset by an extra time
victory over Luzern in the final of the Swiss Cup.
Burgmeier injured his ankle at the start of the 2007–08 season, and after playing only four league games, Thun signed him on a six-month loan deal in January 2008. He played 17 times for Thun, who finished bottom of the Super League. Thun were also knocked out of the Swiss Cup by Burgmeier's main employers in the semi-finals. On 13 July 2008, his contract with Basel
was terminated early to allow him to find himself a new club after just 23 league appearances because he was seen as surplus to requirements by manager Christian Gross
.
in a 2004 European Championships qualifying match at Old Trafford
in 2003, Burgmeier was spotted by Max Houghton, seven years old at the time. Although Liechtenstein lost 2–0, Houghton was impressed by Burgmeier's stamina and effort. When Burgmeier was released by Basel in 2008, Houghton, then 12 years old, suggested to his grandfather, George Houghton
, who was chairman of English side Darlington
that he should be given a trial. Following a successful trial, Burgmeier, who was keen to move abroad, was signed by the League Two
-side on a one-year contract at the end of August 2008 to become the first Liechtensteiner to play in England
.
Burgmeier made his debut on 23 August, in a 2–1 defeat to Gillingham
at The Darlington Arena
. He scored his first goal for Darlington in a 2–1 win against Port Vale
on 13 September. Manager Dave Penney praised Burgmeier for the start he made to the club, both as a goal scorer and creator, which also helped him to play his way into the affections of the club's supporters. When Burgmeier won his 49th cap for Liechtenstein against Wales
, it was his fourth in the two months since he joined Darlington. It took him past the club record three caps of Canadian
Jason de Vos and New Zealander Adrian Webster
, with a coach-load of Darlington fans there to see him play at the Millennium Stadium
. His next cap clashed with Darlington's FA Cup
first round replay with Conference North
-side Droylsden
, in which they were defeated.
Darlington's promotion campaign was dealt a blow in February 2009, when club chairman George Houghton placed the club in administration. As a result, the club were deducted 10 points, a penalty from which they could not recover finally finishing 12th. Burgmeier finished with two goals during the season having played 35 games, but like the rest of the playing squad, was told he could find a new club by Darlington's administrators.
on a one-year contract after the end of the 2008–09 season.
who made his debut in a 2002 World Cup qualifier
against Spain
on 5 September 2001. It was the penultimate game of the side's qualifying campaign, in which they lost all eight games without scoring a goal. Despite starting the qualifying round for 2004 European Championships with a 1–1 draw with Macedonia, Liechtenstein lost their remaining games to finish bottom of their group. Burgmeier featured in seven of the qualification matches.
Burgmeier scored his first international goal in April 2003 in a friendly
against Saudi Arabia
to give Liechtenstein a 1–0 victory. On 10 October 2004, he scored his first competitive international goal as he helped Liechtenstein to record their first point in World Cup qualification
matches. He and Thomas Beck
scored Liechtenstein's goals in a 2–2 with Portugal
at the Rheinpark Stadion
. Burgmeier describes the draw as the "biggest moment of my career". Three days later, Burgmeier scored two more goals as Liechtenstein earned their first World Cup win with a 4–0 victory against Luxembourg
. They followed it up with a 0–0 draw against Slovakia
and another victory over Luxembourg, to finish the qualifying
campaign with eight points from their 12 matches. Burgmeier played in nine games.
Liechtenstein won another two games in their following qualifying campaign—for the 2008 European Championships. They had started with four defeats, in the last of which Burgmeier scored a consolation goal in a 4–1 win for Northern Ireland
. A 1–0 victory against Latvia
and a draw with Iceland
followed, but Liechtenstein picked up only seven points to finish bottom of their group, with Burgmeier playing in all but one game.
Having earned eight points during the 2006 World Cup qualification games, Burgmeier said the target in the 2010 campaign
was to pick up "as many points as possible", adding, "For us, the target is not to qualify but to just take each game as it comes, enjoy the matches, and try and do as well as possible." He won his 50th cap in a 4–0 friendly defeat to Slovakia
on 19 November 2008. He has scored seven goals and picked up a number of opposition shirts which he plans to put in a hall of fame.
Basel
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
footballer, who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Vaduz
FC Vaduz
FC Vaduz is a Liechtenstein football club from Vaduz, that play in the Swiss Football League. The club plays at the national Rheinpark Stadion, which has a capacity of 6,127 when all seated but has additional standing places in the North and South ends of the ground, giving a total stadium capacity...
in the Swiss Challenge League. Born in Triesen
Triesen
Triesen is the third largest of Liechtenstein's municipalities. It contains several historic churches dating from the fifteenth century. It also has a weaving mill from 1863 that's considered a historical monument. The population is around 4,600....
, Burgmeier was a burgeoning footballer and keen skier
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, until he gave up the latter sport at 16 following a serious injury. Having been a youth player for Triesen
FC Triesen
FC Triesen is a Liechtensteiner football team that plays in Triesen. It is one of the seven official teams in the nation and it plays in the Swiss Football League in 4. Liga . The team annually competes in the Liechtensteiner Cup which was won by the team 8 times in its history...
, he started his professional career with Vaduz. Burgmeier won several Liechtensteiner Cups
Liechtenstein football Cup
The Liechtenstein Football Cup is Liechtenstein's premier football competition, and has been organised annually by the Liechtenstein Football Association since 1946. The winner qualifies to take part in the UEFA Europa League....
with Vaduz, who were promoted to the Swiss Challenge League in 2001, and played in the UEFA Cup. After two unsuccessful attempts to win promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to 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...
, Burgmeier left for Aarau
FC Aarau
FC Aarau is a Swiss football club, based in Aarau. They play in the Swiss Challenge League.-History:FC Aarau was formed on 26 May 1902 by workers from a local brewery. The early days of the club were a success and they won the Swiss championship in 1911/12 and then again in 1913/14...
in 2005. He spent only one season with Aarau before a move to the previous season's runners-up 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...
in 2006. His two seasons with Basel were broken up by a loan spell with Thun
FC Thun
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...
, before he moved to England with Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
in August 2008, where he played for one year.
Burgmeier has won 68 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
and scored seven goals for his country
Liechtenstein national football team
The Liechtenstein national football team is the national football team of Liechtenstein and is controlled by the Liechtenstein Football Association. The organisation is known as the Liechtensteiner Fussballverband in German. The team's first match was an unofficial match against Malta in Seoul, a...
. He is a right-footed player who is either a left midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
or left back, with the ability to deliver a good cross. He made his international debut in 2001 against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
and three years later scored one of the goals that helped secure his country's first point in World Cup qualification
FIFA World Cup qualification
The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals. The FIFA World Cup is a global event, so qualification is required to reduce the large field of participants from about 200 to 32.Qualifying tournaments...
matches.
Personal life
Burgmeier was born in TriesenTriesen
Triesen is the third largest of Liechtenstein's municipalities. It contains several historic churches dating from the fifteenth century. It also has a weaving mill from 1863 that's considered a historical monument. The population is around 4,600....
, Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
, a small town with a population of 4,500, close to the border with Switzerland
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....
. He is the younger son of Heinz and Elsbeth, following Patrick Burgmeier
Patrick Burgmeier
Patrick Burgmeier is a Liechtenstein footballer, who plays for USV Eschen/Mauren in the Swiss 1. Liga.He has played club football for USV Eschen/Mauren, FC Vaduz and FC Triesen and won seven caps for Liechtenstein. Burgmeier is the elder brother of fellow footballer Franz Burgmeier, born to Heinz...
, who played football for Vaduz
FC Vaduz
FC Vaduz is a Liechtenstein football club from Vaduz, that play in the Swiss Football League. The club plays at the national Rheinpark Stadion, which has a capacity of 6,127 when all seated but has additional standing places in the North and South ends of the ground, giving a total stadium capacity...
and USV Eschen/Mauren
USV Eschen/Mauren
USV Eschen/Mauren is a Liechtensteiner football club from Eschen and Mauren.They play at the Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, which used to be the national football stadium, until the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz was built. USV Eschen/Mauren, like all other Liechtensteiner teams, play in the Swiss Football...
. From a young age, Franz played both football and skied
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
. He played for the Liechtenstein youth team in Swiss competitions from ages 11 to 16, winning the championship when he was 13. However, at 16, a knee injury, which he suffered while skiing, nearly ended his football career and prompted him to stop the former sport.
Burgmeier has a girlfriend, Monica, who lives in Switzerland. She also plays football, as a full back, in National League B.
Vaduz
Burgmeier started out as a youth at TriesenFC Triesen
FC Triesen is a Liechtensteiner football team that plays in Triesen. It is one of the seven official teams in the nation and it plays in the Swiss Football League in 4. Liga . The team annually competes in the Liechtensteiner Cup which was won by the team 8 times in its history...
before moving to Vaduz in 2000. Although based in his home country, like all Liechtenstein clubs Vaduz played league football in Switzerland—at the time in the third tier
Swiss 1. Liga (football)
1. Liga is the third tier of the Swiss Football League. The division is split into three groups of 16 teams, by geographical region.-Regional Format:...
—but also competed in the Liechtenstein Football Cup
Liechtenstein football Cup
The Liechtenstein Football Cup is Liechtenstein's premier football competition, and has been organised annually by the Liechtenstein Football Association since 1946. The winner qualifies to take part in the UEFA Europa League....
. In Burgmeier's first season the team won promotion to the Challenge League and won the Liechtenstein Cup with a 9–0 defeat against Ruggell
FC Ruggell
FC Ruggell is a Liechtensteiner amateur football team that plays in Ruggell. They currently play in the Swiss Football League, in 3.Liga, which is the sixth tier....
in the final. He scored his first goal at the higher level on 31 July 2001, in a postponed game from the first round of the season, which finished in a 4–1 victory against Thun
FC Thun
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...
. However, Vaduz finished in 11th place in the Fall Season, before results improved and they finished in second place in the Final Table, avoiding being relegated. The team also successfully defended their Liechtenstein Cup defeating USV Eschen/Mauren 6–1 in the final.
Vaduz's success in their nation's cup ensured they gained access to the UEFA Cup, and in August 2002, Burgmeier scored his first European goal during a 1–1 with Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
, the Scottish side's first game in Europe. In the second leg, Vaduz had a late goal disallowed during a 0–0, and so they went out in the qualifying round for the third successive year, losing on the away goals rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
. Vaduz topped the Fall Season table that season, but failed to win promotion to 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 finishing fourth in the Final League. Their failure was offset with another victory in the Liechtenstein Cup, this time defeating Balzers
FC Balzers
FC Balzers is a Liechtensteiner football team that plays in Balzers.Balzers play at Sportplatz Rheinau which is situated right next to the River Rhein next to the border with Switzerland where the town of Trübbach lies....
in the final.
In June 2003, he was set to join St. Gallen
FC St. Gallen
Football Club St. Gallen 1879 is a Swiss football club based in St. Gallen. The club is currently playing in the 2011/12 Swiss Challenge League.-Brief history:...
; however, the deal never went through because the Swiss side could not afford the transfer fee. Instead he started with Vaduz, who came closer to gaining promotion but were again unsuccessful, after they lost in the promotion–relegation play-off
Swiss Super League/Challenge League playoffs
Swiss Super League/Challenge League playoffs is the play-offs round to determine promotion and relegation between Super League and Challenge League.-2004:*Neuchâtel Xamax remain in Super League-2005:*FC Schaffhausen remain in Super League-2006:...
match. Burgmeier scored one of the goals in the second leg 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...
, but Mobulu M'Futi
Mobulu M'Futi
Mobulu M'Futi is a Congolese footballer who plays for Servette FC in the Swiss Challenge League-Career:On 21 February 2010 FC Sion yielded on loan to FC Aarau, until the end of season, the midfielder is former of Istres, Neuchâtel Xamax and Monthey.-External links:...
scored to ensure Neuchâtel won over the two legs, and Vaduz stayed in the Challenge League. Despite his side defending their Liechtenstein Cup, Burgmeier missed the final.
However, their cup success helped Vaduz to another UEFA Cup, which resulted in their first win in the competition with a 4–2 aggregate victory against FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
-holders Longford Town
Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park...
in July 2004. Burgmeier netted his second European goal during the ties, during the 3–2 second-leg victory, before they were defeated in the second qualifying round to Belgian-side Beveren
K.S.K. Beveren
Koninklijke Sportkring Beveren was a Belgian association football club from the town of Beveren in East Flanders. It was famous for its goalkeeping school that has produced such players as Jean-Marie Pfaff, Filip De Wilde, Geert De Vlieger, Erwin Lemmens, and Tristan Peersman, all of whom have...
, during which Burgmeier was injured forcing him to undergo a knee operation and miss the first month of the league season. Vaduz repeated their efforts domestically, defeating USV Eschen/Mauren in the cup and reaching the promotion play-off game. However, they were defeated by Schaffhausen
FC Schaffhausen
FC Schaffhausen is a Swiss football team from the town of Schaffhausen. The club plays in the Challenge League, the second tier of the Swiss football pyramid.-Honours:*Swiss Cup: Final game*Challenge League: 1st*Swiss Super League: rank 8...
and were left with only ten players on secure contracts for the following season. Burgmeier himself left Vaduz after five years with the club, during which he played 115 league games and scored 27 goals.
Aarau
Burgmeier, instead, moved to AarauFC Aarau
FC Aarau is a Swiss football club, based in Aarau. They play in the Swiss Challenge League.-History:FC Aarau was formed on 26 May 1902 by workers from a local brewery. The early days of the club were a success and they won the Swiss championship in 1911/12 and then again in 1913/14...
in Switzerland
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....
. His debut came in a 2–0 league defeat to Thun, before he was substituted near the end of the second half. Aarau were in the Super League, and finished seventh in Burgmeier's only season with the club, in which he played 35 league games. His only league goal came in the second round of matches against St. Gallen, but he also scored in the both the first two rounds of the Swiss Cup—his first games in the cup since Vaduz were not eligible for the competition—before they were eliminated in the quarter-finals on penalties. His form with Aarau won Burgmeier the Liechtensteiner Footballer of the Year
Liechtensteiner Footballer of the Year
The Liechtensteiner Footballer of the Year is an award granted every season to a Liechtensteiner footballer. It is awarded by the country's Liechtensteiner Vaterland newspaper, and was first awarded in 1981. In 2008, Gaspar Odirlei became the first non-Liechtensteiner to win the...
award, one point ahead of fellow international Mario Frick
Mario Frick (footballer)
Mario Frick is a Swiss-born Liechtensteiner football striker, who plays for Liechtenstein side FC Balzers in the Swiss 1st League.-Liechtenstein:...
, and also earned him a move to 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...
, for whom he signed a three-year contract.
Basel
Burgmeier's first role with Basel was to play in the UhrencupUhrencup
The Uhrencup is a club football tournament, held annually in Switzerland.The tournament usually features four teams , each playing two matches, and is held in July at Stadion Brühl in Grenchen. As a friendly tournament, the format tends to be fluid...
as they defeated German-side FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
2–1, to share the trophy with Zürich. Basel had finished the previous season as runners-up in the league to Zürich on goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
and so qualified for the following season's UEFA Cup. Burgmeier made his Basel debut in the competition as they defeated Kazakhstan's Tobol
FC Tobol
FC Tobol is a Kazakh football club based at the Central Stadium in Kostanay. They have been members of the Kazakhstan Premier League since its foundation in 1992, they won Kazakhstan Premier league on 2010, and ended up close in 2nd and 3rd positions in last seven seasons.- Name history :*1967 :...
3–1 on 13 July, before he was replaced by Scott Chipperfield
Scott Chipperfield
Scott Kenneth Chipperfield is an Australian international football player who currently plays as a midfielder for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.-Personal life:...
. The second leg ended in a draw, sending Basel through. The second qualifying round draw gave Burgmeier a chance to return to Vaduz. He was a substitute in both games as his new team won on away goals. They went on to qualify for the group stages, in which they finished bottom of their division, with two points from four games. Burgmeier scored his first goal for his new club in a 4–2 defeat to Sion
FC Sion
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...
, but the side again came second to Zürich, this time by one point. Their disappointment was offset by an extra time
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
victory over Luzern in the final of the Swiss Cup.
Burgmeier injured his ankle at the start of the 2007–08 season, and after playing only four league games, Thun signed him on a six-month loan deal in January 2008. He played 17 times for Thun, who finished bottom of the Super League. Thun were also knocked out of the Swiss Cup by Burgmeier's main employers in the semi-finals. On 13 July 2008, his contract with 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...
was terminated early to allow him to find himself a new club after just 23 league appearances because he was seen as surplus to requirements by manager Christian Gross
Christian Gross
Christian Gross is a professional football coach and former player who currently manages Young Boys Bern. Before that he managed VfB Stuttgart until his dismissal in October 2010. He was manager of FC Basel from 1 July 1999 to 27 May 2009.-Playing career:Gross began his playing career at...
.
Darlington
While playing for Liechtenstein against EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in a 2004 European Championships qualifying match at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in 2003, Burgmeier was spotted by Max Houghton, seven years old at the time. Although Liechtenstein lost 2–0, Houghton was impressed by Burgmeier's stamina and effort. When Burgmeier was released by Basel in 2008, Houghton, then 12 years old, suggested to his grandfather, George Houghton
George Houghton
George Houghton is a former property tycoon who was the chairman of Darlington Football Club. He became chairman in March 2006 following Stewart Davies. Houghton had apparently been reported to have given now former Darlington manager David Hodgson £2 million to spend in the summer transfer market...
, who was chairman of English side Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
that he should be given a trial. Following a successful trial, Burgmeier, who was keen to move abroad, was signed by the League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
-side on a one-year contract at the end of August 2008 to become the first Liechtensteiner to play in England
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
.
Burgmeier made his debut on 23 August, in a 2–1 defeat to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
at The Darlington Arena
The Darlington Arena
The Darlington Arena is a football stadium in England that hosts Darlington Football Club's home fixtures.-History:...
. He scored his first goal for Darlington in a 2–1 win against Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
on 13 September. Manager Dave Penney praised Burgmeier for the start he made to the club, both as a goal scorer and creator, which also helped him to play his way into the affections of the club's supporters. When Burgmeier won his 49th cap for Liechtenstein against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, it was his fourth in the two months since he joined Darlington. It took him past the club record three caps of Canadian
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
Jason de Vos and New Zealander Adrian Webster
Adrian Webster
Adrian Webster is a New Zealand football player who plays for Cockburn City. He has represented New Zealand at full international level.-Biography:...
, with a coach-load of Darlington fans there to see him play at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
. His next cap clashed with Darlington's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
first round replay with Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
-side Droylsden
Droylsden F.C.
Droylsden F.C. is an English football club based in Droylsden, near Manchester. As of the 2011–12 season, they play in the Conference North.-History:...
, in which they were defeated.
Darlington's promotion campaign was dealt a blow in February 2009, when club chairman George Houghton placed the club in administration. As a result, the club were deducted 10 points, a penalty from which they could not recover finally finishing 12th. Burgmeier finished with two goals during the season having played 35 games, but like the rest of the playing squad, was told he could find a new club by Darlington's administrators.
Return to Vaduz
Following Darlington's financial problems, Burgmeier returned home to Liechtenstein and signed with his former club VaduzFC Vaduz
FC Vaduz is a Liechtenstein football club from Vaduz, that play in the Swiss Football League. The club plays at the national Rheinpark Stadion, which has a capacity of 6,127 when all seated but has additional standing places in the North and South ends of the ground, giving a total stadium capacity...
on a one-year contract after the end of the 2008–09 season.
International career
Burgmeier is a Liechtenstein internationalLiechtenstein national football team
The Liechtenstein national football team is the national football team of Liechtenstein and is controlled by the Liechtenstein Football Association. The organisation is known as the Liechtensteiner Fussballverband in German. The team's first match was an unofficial match against Malta in Seoul, a...
who made his debut in a 2002 World Cup qualifier
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification....
against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
on 5 September 2001. It was the penultimate game of the side's qualifying campaign, in which they lost all eight games without scoring a goal. Despite starting the qualifying round for 2004 European Championships with a 1–1 draw with Macedonia, Liechtenstein lost their remaining games to finish bottom of their group. Burgmeier featured in seven of the qualification matches.
Burgmeier scored his first international goal in April 2003 in a friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
against Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
to give Liechtenstein a 1–0 victory. On 10 October 2004, he scored his first competitive international goal as he helped Liechtenstein to record their first point in World Cup qualification
FIFA World Cup qualification
The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals. The FIFA World Cup is a global event, so qualification is required to reduce the large field of participants from about 200 to 32.Qualifying tournaments...
matches. He and Thomas Beck
Thomas Beck (footballer)
Thomas Beck is a Liechtenstein football striker, who plays for FC Balzers.He also plays for the Liechtenstein national football team. He currently has earned 81 caps and scored five goals for Liechtenstein since making his international debut in a Euro 2000 qualifier against Romania in September...
scored Liechtenstein's goals in a 2–2 with Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
at the Rheinpark Stadion
Rheinpark Stadion
The Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz is the national stadium of Liechtenstein. It plays host to the home matches of the Liechtenstein national football team, and is also the home of Liechtenstein's top football club, FC Vaduz....
. Burgmeier describes the draw as the "biggest moment of my career". Three days later, Burgmeier scored two more goals as Liechtenstein earned their first World Cup win with a 4–0 victory against Luxembourg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
. They followed it up with a 0–0 draw against Slovakia
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
and another victory over Luxembourg, to finish the qualifying
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for UEFA teams. A total of 51 teams took part, divided in 8 Groups - five groups of 6 teams each and three groups of 7 teams each - competing for 13 places in the World Cup...
campaign with eight points from their 12 matches. Burgmeier played in nine games.
Liechtenstein won another two games in their following qualifying campaign—for the 2008 European Championships. They had started with four defeats, in the last of which Burgmeier scored a consolation goal in a 4–1 win for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. A 1–0 victory against Latvia
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
and a draw with Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
followed, but Liechtenstein picked up only seven points to finish bottom of their group, with Burgmeier playing in all but one game.
Having earned eight points during the 2006 World Cup qualification games, Burgmeier said the target in the 2010 campaign
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
was to pick up "as many points as possible", adding, "For us, the target is not to qualify but to just take each game as it comes, enjoy the matches, and try and do as well as possible." He won his 50th cap in a 4–0 friendly defeat to Slovakia
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
on 19 November 2008. He has scored seven goals and picked up a number of opposition shirts which he plans to put in a hall of fame.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 30 April 2003 | Rheinpark Stadion Rheinpark Stadion The Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz is the national stadium of Liechtenstein. It plays host to the home matches of the Liechtenstein national football team, and is also the home of Liechtenstein's top football club, FC Vaduz.... , Vaduz Vaduz Vaduz is the capital of the principality of Liechtenstein and the seat of the national parliament. The town, located along the Rhine, has about 5,100 inhabitants , most of whom are Roman Catholic. Its cathedral is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop.... , Liechtenstein Liechtenstein The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan... |
1–0 | Win | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
||
| 2. | 20 August 2003 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 2–2 | Draw | Friendly | ||
| 3. | 10 October 2004 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 2–2 | Draw | 2006 World Cup qualifier 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for UEFA teams. A total of 51 teams took part, divided in 8 Groups - five groups of 6 teams each and three groups of 7 teams each - competing for 13 places in the World Cup... |
||
| 4. | 13 October 2004 | Stade Josy Barthel Stade Josy Barthel Stade Josy Barthel is the national stadium of Luxembourg, home to the Luxembourg national football team and also used for athletics. It is located on route d'Arlon, in Luxembourg City.It was first constructed in 1928 and it was entirely rebuilt in 1990... , Luxembourg Luxembourg (city) The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg... , Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south... |
4–0 | Win | 2006 World Cup qualifier | ||
| 5. | |||||||
| 6. | 24 March 2007 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 1–4 | Loss | Euro 2008 qualifier | ||
| 7. | 26 March 2008 | Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
1–7 | Loss | Friendly |
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe 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.... |
Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Triesen FC Triesen FC Triesen is a Liechtensteiner football team that plays in Triesen. It is one of the seven official teams in the nation and it plays in the Swiss Football League in 4. Liga . The team annually competes in the Liechtensteiner Cup which was won by the team 8 times in its history... |
1999–2000 | 21 | 11 | 21 | 11 | ||||
| Vaduz FC Vaduz FC Vaduz is a Liechtenstein football club from Vaduz, that play in the Swiss Football League. The club plays at the national Rheinpark Stadion, which has a capacity of 6,127 when all seated but has additional standing places in the North and South ends of the ground, giving a total stadium capacity... |
2000–01 | | | |||||||
| 2001–02 | 26 | 5 | 26 | 5 | |||||
| 2002–03 | 31 | 8 | 31 | 8 | |||||
| 2003–04 | 31 | 5 | 31 | 5 | |||||
| 2004–05 | 27 | 9 | 27 | 9 | |||||
| Total | 115 | 27 | 115 | 27 | |||||
| Aarau FC Aarau FC Aarau is a Swiss football club, based in Aarau. They play in the Swiss Challenge League.-History:FC Aarau was formed on 26 May 1902 by workers from a local brewery. The early days of the club were a success and they won the Swiss championship in 1911/12 and then again in 1913/14... |
2005–06 | 35 | 1 | 35 | 1 | ||||
| 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... |
2006–07 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |||
| Total | 23 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |||
| → Thun FC Thun 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... (loan) |
2007–08 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
2008–09 2008–09 in English football The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while... |
35 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
| Vaduz FC Vaduz FC Vaduz is a Liechtenstein football club from Vaduz, that play in the Swiss Football League. The club plays at the national Rheinpark Stadion, which has a capacity of 6,127 when all seated but has additional standing places in the North and South ends of the ground, giving a total stadium capacity... |
2009–10 2009–10 Swiss Challenge League -2009–10 teams :-League table:-Top goal scorers:22 goals Nick Proschwitz 20 goals Dante Adrian Senger 17 goals Innocent Emeghara 16 goals Ezequiel Scarione ... |
23 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 Swiss Challenge League The 2010–11 Swiss Challenge League was the eighth season of the Swiss Challenge League, the second tier of the Swiss football league pyramid. It began on 23 July 2010 and ended on 25 May 2011. The champions of this season, FC Lausanne-Sport, earned promotion to the 2011–12 Super League... |
24 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 5 | |||
| 2011–12 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |||
| Total | 59 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 66 | 8 | |||
| Career totals | 305 | 49 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 323 | 50 | |
Club
Vaduz- Liechtensteiner CupLiechtenstein football CupThe Liechtenstein Football Cup is Liechtenstein's premier football competition, and has been organised annually by the Liechtenstein Football Association since 1946. The winner qualifies to take part in the UEFA Europa League....
(6): 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2009–102009–10 Liechtenstein CupLiechtenstein Cup 2009–10 was the sixty-fifth season of Liechtenstein's annual cup competition. Seven clubs competed with a total of eighteen teams for one spot in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. Defending champions were FC Vaduz, who have won the cup continuously since 1998,...
, 2010–112010–11 Liechtenstein CupThe 2010–11 Liechtenstein Cup was the sixty-sixth season of Liechtenstein's annual cup competition. Seven clubs competed with a total of seventeen teams for one spot in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League...
Basel
- UhrencupUhrencupThe Uhrencup is a club football tournament, held annually in Switzerland.The tournament usually features four teams , each playing two matches, and is held in July at Stadion Brühl in Grenchen. As a friendly tournament, the format tends to be fluid...
(1): 2005–06 (shared) - Swiss Cup (1): 2006–07