FCL coach Mario Frick: “I could never imagine that I would become a coach”

Why are you still on the coaching bench?
I slipped inside. As a football romantic, I moved from the rankings to the Balzers club in my hometown after the end of my career. After five defeats at the start of the second season, I was asked if I wanted to take over on an interim basis. So one thing led to another.

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What do you like so much about being a trainer?
Now the whole package. I feel the same addiction I had as a gamer. You always want to be in that frame of mind when you win. There is nothing more beautiful. But there’s nothing worse than defeat and you know you have to wait a week to get over it.

Which coach was most important to you?
From a tactical point of view, Alberto Malesani. I had it at Hellas Verona and learned a lot. The training sessions were very boring and monotonous. But at a certain point the processes are automated. I’m trying to apply some of what I learned today. Personally, things were difficult with Malesani. He spoke to me maybe three or four sentences a year.

Who has impressed you the most as a person?
Antonio Cabrini, the Italian world champion and captain in 1982. When I moved to Arezzo in Serie C, I was completely disillusioned. But in Tuscany I met Cabrini. He was like a father to me. He gave me warmth and confidence. And thanks to him I really got off to a flying start.

What about Gilbert Gress, who trained you at FCZ?
Mr. Gress was the opposite of Cabrini. But now he is doing well.

What kind of trainer are you? More of a Malesani, Cabrini or Gress?
I am someone who lets the players get close to me. I try to build a connection through interpersonal relationships. You can contact me at any time. I would much rather have them come to me and ask, for example, why they are not playing or what they can do better.

As a player you were not considered the easiest and yet you made your mark almost everywhere. How did you do that?
I was always and everywhere very authentic, honest and open. But I also understand that my personality can be polarizing.

You are the father of a daughter and two sons. The latter have tried to follow in your footsteps. Unfortunately failed, why?
Things weren’t always easy for me during my childhood. I always tried to get my father’s approval and please him. I wanted to approach this differently with my sons. Looking back, from a purely sporting perspective it might have been the wrong way to go, because they missed exactly what made me tick. They also grew up in completely different circumstances. We always had nice houses, cars and enough to eat. In retrospect, this only hindered their careers.

Is lack of ambition generally a problem among today’s juniors?
I’m convinced of that. Young people today have so many distractions and opportunities to do other things. I only had one goal and that was football. I had no idea what I should have done differently.

How can we prevent so many teenage boys from quitting football?
Poly sports should be promoted. I grew up playing different sports such as basketball, volleyball and swimming and as a 13, 14 and 15 year old I didn’t have seven to eight football practices. And I think it would be better if the boys stayed at the home club longer.

You have been in Lucerne since December 2021. We managed to stay in the league and reached fourth place last season. What else do you have planned in Central Switzerland?
As a player I always set high goals for myself. I do that now too. We always try to develop ourselves. It is a huge challenge to match last season’s fourth place. We also have a goal: to win the cup.

You have already emphasized several times that the Bundesliga would appeal to you. Why not Serie A, where you spent successful years?
I don’t rule out Italy. But I know how difficult the conditions there can be. And I don’t know if I am suitable as a coach for this country. That’s why I see myself in Germany someday.

Super League 23/24

		team	SP	T.D	PT
	1	FC Zurich	9	12	19
	2	BSC Young Boys	8th	8th	17
	3	FC Lugano	8th	4	15
	4	FC St. Gallen	9	2	15
	5	FC Lucerne	9	1	15
	6	Yverdon Sports FC	9	-1	15
	7	FC Winterthur	9	-1	12
	8th	Napkin FC	9	-3	10
	9	FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy	8th	-4	8th
	10	FC Basel	8th	-5	5
	11	Grasshopper Club Zurich	9	-6	5
	12	FC Lausanne Sport	9	-7	5