Karl Odermatt
Encyclopedia
Karl Odermatt is a Swiss
former footballer
who played for FC Basel
and BSC Young Boys
throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He played as a midfielder or striker and is generally regarded as one of the best players ever to have worn the FC Basel shirt. He played through, what is now thought to be, Basel's golden years under trainer and manager
Helmut Benthaus
with team-mates such as Paul Fischli
, René Hasler
and Ottmar Hitzfeld
.
. A coach from the FC Concordia Basel
youth system discovered him on a school football field, invited him to a club training and just a few days later he started playing in their youth team. Later he playes in their first team in the 1. Liga
.
“Karli” Odermatt signed for FC Basel
in 1962 and in his debut, in September, against FC Lugano he scored two goals. In his first professional season, under manager Jiří Sobotka
the mainly amtature team lifted the Swiss Cup
, winning the final 2:0 against the favorites Grasshopper Club Zürich. Two more cup wins were to follow during Odermatts time at the St. Jakob Stadium
. During the summer of 1965 Helmut Benthaus was signed as player-manager and Odermatt won his first league-winners medal in 1967
. Four more league titels followed, in the years 1969
, 1970
, 1972
and 1973
.
In 1975
he transferred to BSC Young Boys
and helped them win the Swiss Cup 1977 before he retired.
Odermatt was also a Swiss internationalist
, and earned 50 caps in his ten year international career. He played mainly in centre midfield along-side Köbi Kuhn, and played in all three games at the 1966 World Cup
. He scored his first of ten international goals against England
at Wembley Stadium
on November 10, 1971.
, after Ernst August Künnecke was sacked and before Friedel Rausch
took over.
His biography
«Karli none Gool!» was published in 2002.
Odermatt has two daughters (Jacqueline und Patricia) from his first marriage and two sons (Andreas und Daniel) from his second wife.
Young Boys
Personal
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....
former footballer
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...
who played for 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...
and BSC 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....
throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He played as a midfielder or striker and is generally regarded as one of the best players ever to have worn the FC Basel shirt. He played through, what is now thought to be, Basel's golden years under trainer and manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
Helmut Benthaus
Helmut Benthaus
Helmut Benthaus is a German retired football player and former coach. He spent his best playing days at Westfalia Herne and his best coaching days at FC Basel.-Playing career:...
with team-mates such as Paul Fischli
Paul Fischli
Paul Fischli is a Swiss former football player and manager. He played as a defender throughout the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s.-Career:...
, René Hasler
René Hasler
René Hasler is a Swiss former footballer who played for FC Basel for most of his career, and the Swiss national team.-Career:...
and Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
.
Career
As a small child “Karli” Odermatt grew up in Luzern and later his family moved to BaselBasel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
. A coach from the FC Concordia Basel
FC Concordia Basel
FC Concordia Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. The club was founded in 1907. They play in the 2nd regional league which is the fifth level, and their home stadium is Rankhof Stadium....
youth system discovered him on a school football field, invited him to a club training and just a few days later he started playing in their youth team. Later he playes in their first team in the 1. Liga
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:...
.
“Karli” Odermatt signed for 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...
in 1962 and in his debut, in September, against FC Lugano he scored two goals. In his first professional season, under manager Jiří Sobotka
Jirí Sobotka
Jiří Sobotka , aka Georges Sobotka, is a former Czechoslovak footballer, who played internationally for Czechoslovakia , and participated at the 1934 FIFA World Cup when Czechoslovakia came in second....
the mainly amtature team lifted the Swiss Cup
Schweizer Cup
The Swiss Cup is a football cup tournament that has been organised annually since 1926 by the Swiss Football Association . The winner is allowed to take part in the UEFA Europa League. Between 2003 and 2008 the cup has been sponsored and known as the Swisscom Cup.-Finals:All played...
, winning the final 2:0 against the favorites Grasshopper Club Zürich. Two more cup wins were to follow during Odermatts time at the St. Jakob Stadium
St. Jakob Stadium
The St. Jakob Stadium was a football stadium in Basel, Switzerland and the former home of Swiss club FC Basel. It was built in 1954, and as well as serving as a club stadium, it hosted several important matches, including a 1954 FIFA World Cup semi-final and four Cup Winners' Cup finals.Tickets and...
. During the summer of 1965 Helmut Benthaus was signed as player-manager and Odermatt won his first league-winners medal in 1967
Swiss Super League 1966-67
Statistics of Swiss Super League football competition in the 1966–1967 season.-League standings:-References:...
. Four more league titels followed, in the years 1969
Swiss Super League 1968-69
-League standings:-References:*...
, 1970
Swiss Super League 1969-70
-League standings:-References:...
, 1972
Swiss Super League 1971-72
-League standings:-References:...
and 1973
Swiss Super League 1972-73
-League standings:-References:...
.
In 1975
Swiss Super League 1975-76
Statistics of Swiss Super League in the 1975–76 season.-League standings:-References:...
he transferred to BSC 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....
and helped them win the Swiss Cup 1977 before he retired.
Odermatt was also a Swiss internationalist
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
, and earned 50 caps in his ten year international career. He played mainly in centre midfield along-side Köbi Kuhn, and played in all three games at the 1966 World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
. He scored his first of ten international goals against England
England 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...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on November 10, 1971.
Personal Information
During 1992 he was appointed as caretaker manager of Basel for a short time, together with Bruno RahmenBruno Rahmen
Bruno Rahmen is a former Swiss football player and manager.- Private Life :After his football career Rahmen worked for the Basler chemical industry and advanced to Sales Executive before his retirement. He married Marlis in 1966 and they have two sons Patrick and Micha, both of whom also became...
, after Ernst August Künnecke was sacked and before Friedel Rausch
Friedel Rausch
Friedel Rausch is a German football manager and former player.He moved from Meidericher SV to Schalke where he stayed until 1971 playing as a defender. After his retirement he became manager starting at his former club Schalke...
took over.
His biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
«Karli none Gool!» was published in 2002.
Odermatt has two daughters (Jacqueline und Patricia) from his first marriage and two sons (Andreas und Daniel) from his second wife.
Honours
Basel- Swiss 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...
: 1967Swiss Super League 1966-67Statistics of Swiss Super League football competition in the 1966–1967 season.-League standings:-References:...
, 1969Swiss Super League 1968-69-League standings:-References:*...
, 1970Swiss Super League 1969-70-League standings:-References:...
, 1972Swiss Super League 1971-72-League standings:-References:...
1973Swiss Super League 1972-73-League standings:-References:... - Swiss CupSchweizer CupThe Swiss Cup is a football cup tournament that has been organised annually since 1926 by the Swiss Football Association . The winner is allowed to take part in the UEFA Europa League. Between 2003 and 2008 the cup has been sponsored and known as the Swisscom Cup.-Finals:All played...
: 1963, 1967, 1975 - Swiss League CupSwiss League CupThe Swiss League Cup was a football tournament which took place as a summer pre-season tournament in 1972 and 1973, and during the Swiss football season from 1974–75 to 1981–82...
: 1973
Young Boys
- Swiss CupSchweizer CupThe Swiss Cup is a football cup tournament that has been organised annually since 1926 by the Swiss Football Association . The winner is allowed to take part in the UEFA Europa League. Between 2003 and 2008 the cup has been sponsored and known as the Swisscom Cup.-Finals:All played...
: 1977
Personal
- Swiss Footballer of the Year: 1973