Equipment manager FCB unpacks: “I wasn’t allowed to drink cola under Christian Gross”

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16 coaches, six presidents and hundreds of players – Roger Eglin (54) survived them all. The Basel native has been equipment manager at FC Basel for 25 years and has experienced all the highs and lows. When asked about his highlight of a quarter of a century at FCB, he doesn’t have to think long: “The 2002 qualifying match against Celtic Glasgow,” Eglin answers.

“Before kick-off I watched the Scottish professionals in the players’ tunnel. Everyone was a head taller than our players. I thought to myself, ‘We don’t have a chance,'” Eglin says. But things turn out differently. Thanks to goals from Christian Gimenez and Murat Yakin, FCB celebrated a 2-0 victory and advanced to the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. “Even the legendary games against Liverpool and Manchester United can’t compete with that,” says Eglin.

From gardener to material manager

It was a coincidence that he witnessed the historic victory over Celtic Glasgow up close. As a fan, Eglin attended almost every FCB match with a friend during his Nati B days. This draws his attention to the fact that the residents of Basel are urgently looking for a new materials manager. Eglin makes contact and receives an offer. “I thought about it for three days and then agreed,” says the former landscape architect.

A quarter of a century later, he is still pumping the balls at FCB and taking care of the training cones. However, it can no longer be compared with the time of that time; everything is much more professional and “not so amateurish anymore”. But he himself has also changed during this time. “I used to be incredibly nervous before every match,” says Eglin. Nowadays he always approached the games in a relaxed way. Also because in all his years of preparation for the competition, he never forgot anything – or at least couldn’t remember it.

Eglin was also spared from major disruptions. Only once did he briefly get into trouble before a European Cup away match when he wanted to drive to the airport with his fully loaded car. “My front axle broke here at the intersection in front of the Joggeli,” reports Eglin. “We then had to pack all the material into the team bus. But somehow it worked out.”

Gross catches Eglin eating soft serve ice cream

He can easily answer why he is still at FCB after 25 years: “I have always done a good job and behaved loyally,” says Eglin. That’s why he had a good relationship with every coach, ‘even though everyone had their own character.’

But he especially remembers the ten years under Christian Gross (69). “He was basically the boss of the whole club,” Eglin said. With his demand for discipline, the Zurich resident has contributed a lot to professionalization.

“He attached great importance to details, so some things were not allowed for players and staff – for example drinking Coke,” says Eglin. He was once caught eating soft ice cream by the FCB coach during a friendly match. “Christian didn’t reprimand me, but he told me it would be a shame if I got stains on my T-shirt afterwards.”

Get Fink some sausages

After 10 years of strict dietary rules, Eglin under Gross’ successor Thorsten Fink (56) could not believe his ears when he handed him 50 francs after the first test match. ‘He told me to get some sausages. I no longer understood the world,” Eglin remembers.

Perhaps the most special coach he has experienced in his 25 years was Paulo Sousa (53). “With him you never knew when the training would actually start,” says the equipment manager. “Sometimes I would be there at 8 a.m. and get everything ready. And sometime in the afternoon the team trotted onto the field.”

Ten more years until his retirement

Of the countless players he encountered during his time in Basel, Walter Samuel impressed him the most. “A real monsieur,” says Eglin enthusiastically about the Argentine Champions League winner. “The player who won the most was the most normal man of them all.” In all those years he has not had any major problems with any player. “Every now and then there was an arrogant slob. But that was an exception,” says Eglin.

He still has ten years until retirement. Eglin now wants to do this at FCB, another job is out of the question for him. “I can’t stand being in the office for more than half an hour anyway,” says Eglin. He also rules out the possibility that life as a materials manager will become too monotonous for him after more than a quarter of a century. “You are never bored at FCB,” he says. If anyone should know, it’s Eglin.

Source : Blick