Stephan Lichtsteiner
Encyclopedia
Stephan Lichtsteiner is a Swiss
footballer, currently playing for Juventus and the Swiss national team
. He is known for his runs down the right flank when on the counterattack, hence his nickname "Forrest Gump". He is an attacking Right back capable of playing in the midfield.
but only made one league appearance. The following season, he began to establish himself as a first team regular and helped the club to the league title.
as one of five Swiss players to enter Ligue 1
during the summer of 2005. He became a regular in his first season and helped Lille to a third place finish to secure a Champions League spot. His last season ended disappointingly as Lille finished seventh in the league and missed out on European football next season just by a point. However he did end with 4 goals, his highest tally so far.
expressed interest in signing Lichtsteiner. He rejected PSG's bid and, in July, signed a four-year contract with S.S. Lazio
for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of €1.5 million as a replacement for fellow Swiss international Valon Behrami
who went to West Ham United. In the April Derby della Capitale
, he scored his first goal to put Lazio 3–1 up in a heated derby encounter which ended 4–2 to Lazio and resulted in numerous bookings. He was also booked for a heated confrontation with Roma defender Christian Panucci
after the Italian had fouled him. During the season, he formed an attacking tandem down the flanks with Serbian international Aleksandar Kolarov
on the other side. Although Lazio finished tenth, they ended the season on a high by winning Coppa Italia
and a place next season's Europa League. He played a part in Lazio's successful campaign, scoring in the penalty shoot-out against Sampdoria
in the final, and also claiming the Supercoppa Italiana
at the beginning of the next season. After Kolarov's departure, his future at Lazio became increasingly in doubt as several clubs expressed interest in him. At the end of the 2010-11 season, he opted not to see out the final year of his contract despite the Biancocelesti qualifying for the Europa League.
On 27 June 2011, Juventus
confirmed that Lichtsteiner had undergone a medical in Turin
and reached an agreement with Lazio
to pay €10 million in three installments. The transfer was confirmed on 1 July 2011. He marked his debut on 11 September 2011 against Parma
by scoring the first goal in the 4-1 home victory, the first league goal to be scored in Juventus' new stadium.
and the 2004 U21 European Championships
. He was first called up to the senior squad
on two occasions in 2005 but was an unused substitute both times. On 11 November 2006, he made his senior debut in a friendly against Brazil which ended in a 2–1 loss.
Although he missed out on the 2006 World Cup
, Lichtsteiner was given a chance to prove himself as first choice right back Philipp Degen
was out with long-term injury. In May, Köbi Kuhn named him in the squad for the Euro 2008. He played every match at the tournament and eventually replaced Degen as first choice right back. Switzerland ended the tournament with 2 losses and a win but his performances were good enough to attract interest from top clubs and he signed for Lazio
. He retained his starting place under new manager Ottmar Hitzfeld
and played every minute in 8 of the 10 2010 World Cup qualifiers
.
Lichtsteiner acquired the nickname "Forrest Gump" when Guido de Angelis, a famous Lazio-supporting commentator, referred to him as Forrest Gump upon witnessing Lichtsteiner's goal in the 4–2 derby victory over AS Roma. He was given this nickname due to his constant runs down the right flank.
1 Includes Coupe de France
/Coupe de la Ligue
and Coppa Italia
2 Includes Supercoppa Italiana
As of 12 November 2011
Lazio
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....
footballer, currently playing for Juventus and the Swiss national team
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
. He is known for his runs down the right flank when on the counterattack, hence his nickname "Forrest Gump". He is an attacking Right back capable of playing in the midfield.
Club career
Lichtsteiner began his career at Grasshopper Zürich in 2001–02 and made his debut in the old Swiss Football LeagueSwiss Football League
The Swiss Football League is organised in several leagues.-Proposed system from 2012-13 season onwards:-External links:* * * * *...
but only made one league appearance. The following season, he began to establish himself as a first team regular and helped the club to the league title.
Lille
During the 2004–05 season Lictsteiner sealed a transfer to Lille OSCLille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
as one of five Swiss players to enter Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
during the summer of 2005. He became a regular in his first season and helped Lille to a third place finish to secure a Champions League spot. His last season ended disappointingly as Lille finished seventh in the league and missed out on European football next season just by a point. However he did end with 4 goals, his highest tally so far.
Serie A
After some good performances at the Euro 2008, several clubs including Paris Saint-Germain and EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
expressed interest in signing Lichtsteiner. He rejected PSG's bid and, in July, signed a four-year contract with S.S. Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of €1.5 million as a replacement for fellow Swiss international Valon Behrami
Valon Behrami
Valon Behrami is a Swiss footballer of Albanian descent who plays for Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A, as well as the Swiss national team.-Early life:Behrami was born in Titova Mitrovica, Yugoslavia to Albanian parents...
who went to West Ham United. In the April Derby della Capitale
Derby della Capitale
The Derby della Capitale , also known as Derby Capitolino and Derby del Cupolone, as well as The Rome Derby in English, is the football local derby in Rome, Italy, between the two major teams of the city, Roma and Lazio...
, he scored his first goal to put Lazio 3–1 up in a heated derby encounter which ended 4–2 to Lazio and resulted in numerous bookings. He was also booked for a heated confrontation with Roma defender Christian Panucci
Christian Panucci
Christian Panucci is a retired Italian footballer. He was a member of the Italian national team. Panucci is a right back, but can also play as a centre back.-Early career:...
after the Italian had fouled him. During the season, he formed an attacking tandem down the flanks with Serbian international Aleksandar Kolarov
Aleksandar Kolarov
Aleksandar Kolarov is a professional association footballer playing for Premier League side Manchester City and the Serbian national team....
on the other side. Although Lazio finished tenth, they ended the season on a high by winning Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia 2008-09
The 2008–09 Coppa Italia was the sixty-first season of the tournament. The competition started on 9 August 2008 and ended on 13 May 2009. The radically different format used in the 2007–08 Coppa was abandoned, with the new format more closely resembling earlier editions of the tournament.The final...
and a place next season's Europa League. He played a part in Lazio's successful campaign, scoring in the penalty shoot-out against Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
in the final, and also claiming the Supercoppa Italiana
Supercoppa Italiana
The Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
at the beginning of the next season. After Kolarov's departure, his future at Lazio became increasingly in doubt as several clubs expressed interest in him. At the end of the 2010-11 season, he opted not to see out the final year of his contract despite the Biancocelesti qualifying for the Europa League.
On 27 June 2011, Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
confirmed that Lichtsteiner had undergone a medical in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and reached an agreement with Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
to pay €10 million in three installments. The transfer was confirmed on 1 July 2011. He marked his debut on 11 September 2011 against Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
by scoring the first goal in the 4-1 home victory, the first league goal to be scored in Juventus' new stadium.
International career
A former youth international, Lichtsteiner has played in the 1999 U161999 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship
The 1999 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship was the 17th edition of UEFA's European Under-16 Football Championship. Czech Republic hosted the championship, during April 24 - May 7, 1999...
and the 2004 U21 European Championships
2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA U-21 Championship 2004 was the 14th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Germany between 27 May and 8 June 2004.Italy U-21s won the competition for the fifth time...
. He was first called up to the senior squad
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
on two occasions in 2005 but was an unused substitute both times. On 11 November 2006, he made his senior debut in a friendly against Brazil which ended in a 2–1 loss.
Although he missed out on the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, Lichtsteiner was given a chance to prove himself as first choice right back Philipp Degen
Philipp Degen
Philipp Degen is a Swiss footballer. Degen is usually a right back but can also play at left back or on the right wing...
was out with long-term injury. In May, Köbi Kuhn named him in the squad for the Euro 2008. He played every match at the tournament and eventually replaced Degen as first choice right back. Switzerland ended the tournament with 2 losses and a win but his performances were good enough to attract interest from top clubs and he signed for Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
. He retained his starting place under new manager Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
and played every minute in 8 of the 10 2010 World Cup qualifiers
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...
.
Personal life
Lichtsteiner is married to Manuela, an economist and fitness instructor, and they have a daughter.Lichtsteiner acquired the nickname "Forrest Gump" when Guido de Angelis, a famous Lazio-supporting commentator, referred to him as Forrest Gump upon witnessing Lichtsteiner's goal in the 4–2 derby victory over AS Roma. He was given this nickname due to his constant runs down the right flank.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup1 | Europe | Other2 | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Grasshopper Zürich | 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... |
2001–02 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2004–05 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | ||
| Lille Lille OSC LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the... |
Ligue 1 Ligue 1 Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2.... |
2005–06 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 1 |
| 2006–07 | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 Ligue 1 2007-08 The 2007–08 Ligue 1 season is the seventieth since its establishment, and started in August 2007 and ended on 17 May 2008. The fixtures were announced in June 2007. Lyon became French champions, having won a record seventh consecutive title .... |
34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 35 | 4 | |||||||||
| Lazio S.S. Lazio Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football... |
Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
2008–09 Serie A 2008-09 The 2008–09 Serie A was the seventy-seventh season since its establishment. It began on 30 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009, with the announcement of the list of fixtures made on 25 July 2008... |
33 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||||||
| 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | |||||||||
| 2009–10 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 1 | ||
| 2010–11 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |||||||||
| Juventus Juventus F.C. Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont... |
2011-12 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |||||||||
| Swiss League Total | 79 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 4 | ||
| Ligue 1 Total | 89 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 5 | ||
| Serie A Total | 109 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 124 | 4 | ||
1 Includes Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
/Coupe de la Ligue
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
and Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
2 Includes Supercoppa Italiana
Supercoppa Italiana
The Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
As of 12 November 2011
International goals
- Scores and results list Moldova's goal tally first
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 10 August 2011 Rheinpark Stadion Rheinpark StadionThe 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....
, VaduzVaduzVaduz 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....
2–0 2–1 Friendly Exhibition gameAn 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...
Honours
Grasshopper Zürich- Swiss Football 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...
: 1 (2002–03)
Lazio
- Coppa ItaliaCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
: 1 (2008–09Coppa Italia 2008-09The 2008–09 Coppa Italia was the sixty-first season of the tournament. The competition started on 9 August 2008 and ended on 13 May 2009. The radically different format used in the 2007–08 Coppa was abandoned, with the new format more closely resembling earlier editions of the tournament.The final...
) - Supercoppa ItalianaSupercoppa ItalianaThe Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
: 1 (20092009 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 2009 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 2008–09 Serie A winners Internazionale and 2008–09 Coppa Italia winners Lazio. It took place on 8 August 2009 at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, China. Lazio won the match 2–1 to earn their third Supercoppa...
)
External links
- http://www.juventus.com/wps/portal/en/incampo/giocatori-e-staff/prima/giocatori/026lichtsteiner/!ut/p/b1/tZHJkqJAFEW_pT_A4qWMuUxGERNREwc2BJOIMgmKyNd3VUT3oha163539SJuxIkTlwu4IxfU0VDk0aNo6qj8-gMpnEsEbx0LAXh7E2zq2RZT2R6JPHfgjiwZXb2huWHoF5C1hJqm-py9xtQ-67nlOey1lcNrkKbn-r308ZDdvSSaQrgPmsLDqySHzBRN-6HdqZ90KCH5-_EciY9uz91sXJtrtziCa8aBUipSNoNnX2SVwhRndAakWF56s-cnB5Z0za80KsXW6VK9hX58KtaC9YMYEtVRM1RwSy4o4urjlVQf8DHHgEEWJEFUeFlBvPSpEny3tZiEwd54JjEoRmDLfwrwwxHg3EVTZdwuq7nTZ1UO5wAWVhEBi1-pYPuOuVipMlo7PMe4Iwjh7vpu7ek2ba_T1qHsNFE_R4j5EwWeuX71pm7gMt1ACNDavaarByOIMRv1LvPS_dZXia6kknb9C_xhKhn-F_AHQ-3fA7_tB7KiiICRCDIGHguI219Pgqz39sswmLfpzLIvekfrOlhQfRMnjmVR_zwP-lPc4OUl0i5Va2XBwDbCotxd_SRvzKUT8cNR7w3VS6eeIpUKmxaCwx5vcyPKy_NYtNnDUzcuLFDQHoRICQ5T8Vo0Qe8Rq10-Wlo7QniZ9Y0Qaqr-0GWaLnu4o9ughejtYL1c3-4t1Y1S7Loa8O7yPrXn0SirehyasfHq7WbltmeVAD92U_a8S3GXyiSK3ScWfnFtNdxuZ4KUr7zIr9_fXFQq/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2fjuvecom-en%2fcampo%2fgiocatori-e-staff%2fprima%2fgiocatori%2f026lichtsteinerProfile] on Juventus website Profile on Swiss FASwiss Football AssociationThe Swiss Football Association is the governing body of football in Switzerland. It organizes the football league, the Swiss Football League, and the Switzerland national football team. It is based in Bern....
website