2018–19 FC Basel Season
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The 2018–19
FC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel, FCB, or just Basel, is a Swiss professional Association football, football club based in Basel, in the Basel-Stadt, Canton of Basel-Stadt. Formed in 1893, the club has been List of Swiss footba ...
season is the 126th season in club history and the club's 24th consecutive season in the top flight of Swiss football. Basel were runners-up in the previous season. The season started on the weekend of 21–22 July 2018 and will end on Saturday 25 May 2019. The first round of the
Swiss Cup The Swiss Cup (; ; ; ) is a football cup competition that has been organised annually since 1925–26 season by the Swiss Football Association. The Swiss Cup final is usually the most important game of the year with a high attendance. The co ...
was played on the week-end 29, 30 June and 1 July. Basel played the first round on Friday 29 June against lower classed FC Montlingen and they were victorious. Therefore Basel continued in the competition in the second round against
FC Echallens FC Echallens is a Swiss football club from Echallens, canton Vaud. The team currently plays in Liga 1., fourth highest tier in the Swiss football pyramid. The club was formed in 1921. Stadium FC Echallens play their home games at Sportplatz ...
. Basel were also qualified for qualifying phase and play-offs (League Path). The draw for the second qualifying round was held on 19 June 2018 (after the completion of the first qualifying round draw). The first leg was played on 24 July and the second leg played on 1 August 2018. But Basel were eliminated by
PAOK PAOK (, Πανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινοπολιτών, ''Panthessalonikeios Athlitikós Ómilos Constantinopoliton'', ''Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans''), commonly ...
and they therefore continued in the Play-off round of the Europa League against
Vitesse Arnhem SBV Vitesse Arnhem (''Stichting Betaald Voetbal Vitesse Arnhem, Eng: Professional Football Foundation Vitesse Arnhem''), widely known as Vitesse () or internationally known as Vitesse Arnhem, is a Dutch professional association football, footba ...
.


Club


Management

Raphaël Wicky Raphaël Wicky (born 26 April 1977) is a Swiss football coach and a former defender. He was most recently the manager of Swiss Super League club Young Boys, whom he led to a domestic double. He was a defensive midfielder who could also play i ...
was the first team manager at the start of the season. His assistant was
Massimo Lombardo Massimo Lombardo (born 9 January 1973) is a former Swiss international footballer. He is currently the academy manager of Swiss side Servette FC. Senior career Lombardo has played over 300 games in the Swiss Super League. He started his career ...
and a further member of the training staff was
Werner Leuthard Werner may refer to: People * Werner (name), origin of the name and people with this name as surname and given name Fictional characters * Werner (comics), a German comic book character * Werner Von Croy, a fictional character in the ''Tomb Rai ...
. Due to the very poor start into the season Wicky was sacked on 26 July, after the Champions League qualifying defeat against
PAOK PAOK (, Πανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινοπολιτών, ''Panthessalonikeios Athlitikós Ómilos Constantinopoliton'', ''Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans''), commonly ...
.
Alexander Frei Alexander Frei or Alex Frei (born 15 July 1979) is a Swiss professional football coach and a former player who played as a forward. He was most recently head coach of FC Aarau in the Swiss Challenge League, the second tier of Swiss football. Fr ...
then took over as interim coach until a new manager was named. On 2 August Basel announced that
Marcel Koller Marcel Martin Koller (born 11 November 1960) is a Swiss professional football manager and former player who was most recently the head coach of Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League. Playing career Born in Zürich, Koller played his entire car ...
had signed as new manager. He appointed
Thomas Janeschitz Thomas Janeschitz (born 22 June 1966) is an Austrian professional football manager and former player whose last position was the head coach of 2. Liga club FC Dornbirn Fußballclub Dornbirn 1913, commonly known as FC Mohren Dornbirn 1913 ...
and Carlos Bernegger as his assistants.
Massimo Colomba Massimo Colomba (born 24 August 1977) is a Swiss footballer who played as goalkeeper. He is currently the goalkeeper coach of both FC Sion. Career As a child Colomba played in the youth teams of his local side FC Villars-sur-Glâne. In 1995, he ...
stayed as the Goalkeeper coach.
Massimo Ceccaroni Massimo Ceccaroni (born 15 August 1968) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a defender or midfielder. He played for FC Basel for very nearly his entire career. He was later trainer at amateur club BSC Old Boys and then trai ...
is head of the FCB Youth System.


Further information

The FC Basel annual general meeting took place on 4 June 2018. The board of directors under president Bernhard Burgener with sportdirector
Marco Streller Marco Streller (born 18 June 1981) is a Swiss former footballer who played as a striker and is best known for his years with FC Basel and the Switzerland national team. He was the sporting director of FC Basel from June 2017 until June 2019. Si ...
, Peter von Büren, financial manager, Patrick Jost, marketing as well as
Reto Baumgartner Reto Baumgartner (born 28 April 1967) is a retired Swiss professional footballer who played in the late 1980s and early 1990s as defender. Since FC Basel's AGM in 2008, Baumgartner is a member of the club board of directors and since 16 November ...
, Dominik Donzé and Benno Kaiser remained on the board. Roland Heri was voted onto the board as COO.


Overview


Offseason and preseason

Between the end of the 2017–18 FC Basel season and this season there were quite a few changes in the team squad. All three goalkeepers left the team.
Tomáš Vaclík Tomáš Vaclík (; born 29 March 1989) is a Czech professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper for Portuguese Primeira Liga club Boavista F.C., Boavista and the Czech Republic nationa ...
transferred to
Sevilla Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Seville ...
,
Mirko Salvi Mirko Salvi (born 14 February 1994) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Swiss Super League club Basel. Club career Youth Born in Yverdon-les-Bains, Salvi started his early and youth football with local club Yverdon-Sp ...
transferred to Grasshopper Club and
Germano Vailati Germano Vailati (born 30 August 1980) is a Swiss former professional football goalkeeper. Club career Vailati was born in Lugano. He started his professional career in the Canton Ticino, and played for a number of different teams, before he tra ...
ended his active career. Furthermore,
Mohamed Elyounoussi Mohamed Amine Elyounoussi (; born 4 August 1994), nicknamed Moi (), is a professional footballer who plays as a forward or Winger for Danish Superliga club Copenhagen. Born in Morocco, he plays for the Norway national team. Early life Elyou ...
left the club and joined
Southampton Southampton is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. It is located approximately southwest of London, west of Portsmouth, and southeast of Salisbury. Southampton had a population of 253, ...
. Michael Lang also left the club and joined
Borussia Mönchengladbach Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach, better known as Borussia Mönchengladbach () and colloquially known as just Gladbach, is a professional Association football, football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-W ...
. Cedric Itten transferred to St. Gallen, In the other direction Basel were not too busy on the transfer market. On 22 June 2018 Basel announced that they had signed goalkeeper Jonas Omlin from
Luzern Lucerne ( ) or Luzern ()Other languages: ; ; ; . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the Lucerne (district), di ...
and on 26 June 2018 Basel announced that they had signed Aldo Kalulu from
Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...
. During the winter break, on 4 February 2019, the club announced that Edon Zhegrova had been signed in on loan for 18 months from
Genk Genk () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality and City status in Belgium, city located in the Belgian Provinces of Belgium, province of Limburg (Belgium), Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality comprises only the town of Genk itself. It ...
.


The Campaign


Domestic League

The season started on the weekend of 21–22 July 2018. Basel's priority aim for the new season was to win the
league League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football * ''League of Legends'', a 2009 multiplayer online battle a ...
championship.


Domestic Cup

Basel's clear aim for the cup this season was to win the title. The first round was played on the week-end 29, 30 June and 1 July. Basel played their first-round game on Friday 29 June away from home against lower classed FC Montlingen. In the first round Basel beat Montlingen 3–0, in the second round Echallens Région 7–2 and in the round of 16
Winterthur Winterthur (; ) is a city in the canton of Zurich in northern Switzerland. With over 120,000 residents, it is the country's List of cities in Switzerland, sixth-largest city by population, as well as its ninth-largest agglomeration with about 14 ...
1–0. In the quarter-finals Sion were defeated 4–2 after extra time and in the semi-finals
Zürich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...
3–1. All these games were played away from home. The final was held on the 19 May 2019 in the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern against
Thun Thun () is a List of towns in Switzerland, town and a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the administrative district of Thun (administrative district), Thun in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Canton of Bern, Bern in Switzerland. ...
.
Albian Ajeti Albian Afrim Ajeti (born 26 February 1997) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a striker for Swiss Super League club Basel. He has previously played for FC Basel (two spells), FC Augsburg, St. Gallen, West Ham United, Celtic, Stur ...
scored the first goal,
Fabian Frei Fabian Frei (born 8 January 1989) is a former Swiss professional footballer who primarily played as a defensive midfielder and a centre-back. He is best known for holding the records for most appearances in competitive games for giants FC Basel ...
the second for Basel, then Dejan Sorgić netted a goal for Thun, but the end result was 2–1 for Basel. Basel's aim for this competition was therefore fulfilled.


Champions League

Basel entered into this season's Champions League in the qualifying phase and play-offs (League Path). The draw for the second qualifying round was held on 19 June 2018 (after the completion of the first qualifying round draw). The first legs will be played on 24 and 25 July, and the second legs will be played on 31 July and 1 August 2018. Basel were matched against the greek team
PAOK PAOK (, Πανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινοπολιτών, ''Panthessalonikeios Athlitikós Ómilos Constantinopoliton'', ''Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans''), commonly ...
.


Players


First team squad

The following is the list of the Basel first team squad. It also includes players that were in the squad the day the season started on 21 July 2018 but subsequently left the club after that date.


Transfers summer 2018


In


Out


Transfers winter break 2018


In


Results and fixtures

Kickoff times are in
CET CET or cet may refer to: Places * Cet, Albania * Cet, standard astronomical abbreviation for the constellation Cetus * Colchester Town railway station (National Rail code CET), in Colchester, England Arts, entertainment, and media * Comcast En ...
.


Legend


Friendly matches


Preseason


Winter break


Swiss Super League


First half of season


Second half of season


League standings


Swiss Cup

The draw for the first round was held in June 2018. The
Super League Super League (also known as the Betfred Super League for sponsorship reasons, and legally Super League Europe Ltd.) is a professional rugby league competition, and the highest level of the British rugby league system, which consists of twelve t ...
and Challenge League clubs were seeded and could not be drawn against each other. The lower division teams were granted home advantage and Basel were therefore drawn away. The home advantage was also granted to the team from the lower league in the second and third rounds.


UEFA Champions League


Qualifying phase

Basel were qualified for the
2018–19 UEFA Champions League The 2018–19 UEFA Champions League was the 64th season of Europe's premier club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 27th season since it was renamed from the European Champion Clubs' Cup to the UEFA Champions League. For the first ti ...
in the qualifying phase (League Path) in the second qualifying round. The draw for this round was held on 19 June 2018.


UEFA Europa League


Third qualifying round

Following their elimination in the UEFA Champions League qualifying phase, Basel were qualified for the Europa League third qualifying round.


Play-off round


Notes


See also

*
History of FC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893 has a long and illustrious history, that spans the period from 1893 to the present day. Having competed at the highest level of football in Switzerland for most of this time, FCB currently play in the Swiss Super League. ...
* List of FC Basel players *
List of FC Basel seasons This is a list of seasons played by FC Basel in Swiss and European Association football, football, from the club's founding in 1893 to the present. It details FC Basel's record in each major competition entered including different divisions of t ...


References


Sources

* Die ersten 125 Jahre / 2018. Publisher: Josef Zindel im Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag, Basel.
Season 2018–19 at "Basler Fussballarchiv” homepage



External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:2018-19 FC Basel season
Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...
Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...
FC Basel seasons
Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...