Yann Sommer talks about his homeland and the Italian adventure: “I miss Switzerland”

Zeno van Essel

His schedule is tight. For Yann Sommer (35), one day off a week should be enough. And his wife Alina (33) and daughters Mila (3) and Nayla (2) usually benefit from this. But for once we are going back home: as ambassador of Switzerland Tourism in Italy, our national team keeper discovers Interlaken and the Jungfrau region. What is special for the former FC Basel player is that he has been between the goal posts abroad for almost ten years. His services at Borussia Mönchengladbach earned him several awards. And after a short spell at the championship-winning Bayern Munich, the Basel native, born in Morges VD, is now under contract with top Italian club Inter Milan. He gives the Schweizer Illustrierte an exclusive look behind the scenes of his trip to the Bernese Oberland – and tells us what he misses about his homeland, what drives him as a father and what he doesn’t allow himself to be persuaded.

Yann Sommer, how well do you know Switzerland?
Yann Summer: As a little boy I saw a lot of our country. But now that I have been abroad for a long time, daily Swiss life is no longer so present to me.

Have you ever been to the Jungfraujoch?
No, this is my first time here.

Your impression?
Very beautiful! It’s a powerful, cool place. He has something special. I like being in the mountains. You are interested in photography and architecture.

What images have stuck in your mind?
The Grindelwald Terminal with the special light. The window wall and smooth concrete at the Eigergletscher station contrast with the rugged rock walls. And of course the beautiful snow-covered pine forests that you glide over in the gondola. The Jungfrau-Aletsch region is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

How important is it to preserve this nature for posterity?
It is extremely important that everyone does their little part to protect this unique mountain nature. I hope to be able to show my children snow and glaciers in a few years.

As a top athlete you travel a lot. How do you still make your life sustainable?
In sports, deadline pressure is great, which means that environmental criteria cannot always be met. But at Inter Milan we also travel by train more often. At home I try to live sustainably and pass this on to my children. It’s the little things, like giving up meat every now and then.

You are ambassadors for Switzerland Tourism in Italy. Why do you want to bring Switzerland closer to its people?
Because I know how beautiful Switzerland is. However, that is not easy, because Italians are rightly proud of their own country. It’s even cooler if I can encourage people from Italy to discover Switzerland.

Your children grew up in Germany and now live in Italy. How do you explain Switzerland to them?
My daughters are still relatively small. But they understand that we no longer live in Germany, but in Italy. And they also know that they are part of a Swiss family. I just explain it to them like this: Hey, daddy is from Switzerland, grandpa and grandma live there. This works well.

Do you sometimes miss Switzerland?
Clearly! Switzerland is my home. My family lives in Switzerland, as do many friends. I miss them sometimes, just like the mountains and other little things that I have known since childhood. Nevertheless, I feel good where I am now.

How often do you visit?
The schedule in Italy is even tighter than in Germany – I didn’t even manage to get home during the holidays. But we live not far from the Swiss border, so we spend a lot of time in Ticino. That gives me a feeling of home – and a lot of strength. In Switzerland I can easily recharge my batteries.

Would you like to come back with your family?
It’s certainly an idea, but not a concrete idea at the moment.

Music is also your hobby. What do you think of our national anthem?
Can I be honest?

Absolute!
Very good! It is part of Switzerland. I sing it with great pride because I consider it a great honor to be able to play football for my home country. But I think it could be a bit more cheerful.

You are considered a perfectionist. A Swiss virtue you want to embody?
In sports and in life you are never perfect. But I want to get everything out of my body to achieve the best possible performance. In my private life, I try to put perfectionism aside, especially as a father. I am easy-going, but principled.

And when are you strict?
On certain moments. Anyone who has children knows that strictness is worth it every now and then.

Perfectionism and Italian dolce vita – do they go together?
Certainly, I experience a different mentality in Italy than in Germany. During the training I am surrounded by people who want to achieve the highest goals and give everything to achieve that.

Can you laugh at yourself?
Very happy indeed! Self-irony is important to me. You are a role model for many.

How do you feel as an idol?
I also had my idols. As a little FCB junior I admired Pascal Zuberbühler. Stefan Huber or Swen König. Of course Gianluigi Buffon was always a role model. I like it when children and young people today see one thing in me.

Are you vain?
Not exaggerated. I take care of myself the way I feel comfortable.

Do you have style advisors or do you buy your own wardrobe?
I do that myself, I don’t let anyone persuade me. You are 35 years old.

Do you think about what comes after football?
No. I still really enjoy playing, especially now at Inter Milan, with all the emotions that entails. I feel good physically and mentally, I want to give everything. The European Football Championship is coming up in the summer.

What does that mean to you?
A lot! Every tournament with the national team is a big deal. As a team we want to make our country proud and inspire the fans.

Do you feel under pressure?
He’s always there, but I’m used to dealing with him. You just have to win every three days (laughs). Can you also enjoy a day like today? Yes, because it takes me to a completely different world and brings me together with other people. I absorb everything, notice everything, switch off. That’s very good for me.

EM 2024 Group A

		team	SP	T.D	PT
	1	Germany	0	0	0
	1	Hungary	0	0	0
	1	Scotland	0	0	0
	1	Switzerland	0	0	0

EM 2024 Group B

		team	SP	T.D	PT
	1	Albania	0	0	0
	1	Croatia	0	0	0
	1	Italy	0	0	0
	1	Spain	0	0	0

EM 2024 Group C

		team	SP	T.D	PT
	1	Denmark	0	0	0
	1	England	0	0	0
	1	Serbia	0	0	0
	1	Slovenia	0	0	0

EM 2024 Group D

		team	SP	T.D	PT
	1	Austria	0	0	0
	1	France	0	0	0
	1	The Netherlands	0	0	0
	1	Play-off winner A	0	0	0

EM 2024 Group E

		team	SP	T.D	PT
	1	Belgium	0	0	0
	1	Play-off winner B	0	0	0
	1	Romania	0	0	0
	1	Slovakia	0	0	0

EM 2024 Group F

		team	SP	T.D	PT
	1	Czech Republic	0	0	0
	1	Play-off winner C	0	0	0
	1	Portugal	0	0	0
	1	Turkey	0	0	0