For Marco Streller it just doesn’t work at the heart club: first a banging exit, now through the back door

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When people talk about the greatest player in FCB history in Basel, the names Karli Odermatt (81) or Seppe Hügi (1930-1995) are usually mentioned. Marco Streller (42) also has arguments on his side. “Pipi” has experienced eight championship titles, three cup victories and countless European evenings with his FCB. And last but not least, he shot himself into the hearts of FCB fans with his goals against Manchester United and Chelsea.

But after a glorious playing career that included 325 appearances and 144 goals for Red Blue, the relationship between Streller and the club he loves is in danger of developing into an on-off relationship. For the second time in five years, the Basel resident leaves the FCB office.

Returns as club ambassador

In 2019, Streller left with a bang when he left his job as sporting director after losing a power struggle. This time the exit is almost through the back door. In a statement on the FCB website, Streller is quoted as saying he wants to focus more on other projects in the future.

Only two and a half years ago, the ex-sports director returned to his heart club under the new FCB leadership led by David Degen (41). Streller would “take on various tasks in the areas of business development and as a club ambassador,” the Basel-based company announced at the time. Since last fall, Streller has also been a member of the newly established seven-member sports committee.

Padel hall instead of FCB office

Before that, Streller mainly worked as an ambassador and regularly attended sponsor meetings. He is also the leader in the ‘Uswärts Dehei’ campaign, in which the Basel team played three friendly matches against the regional village clubs Bubendorf, Wallbach-Zeiningen and Breitenbach last autumn.

Streller usually appears in public not as an FCB representative, but as a Champions League pundit for Blue. Last summer he also opened his own padel tennis hall in Münchenstein together with a childhood friend. “Padelwerk” now operates five locations in northwestern Switzerland. In addition to his Blue commitment, Streller wants to focus even more intensively on his padel business from the summer onwards.

Lost power struggle against Koller

Streller’s second engagement in Basel’s management team ends with considerably less background noise than his first: in June 2019, after a month-long power struggle with Marcel Koller (63), he resigned from his position as sports director.

Streller wanted to fire the then FCB coach and was already negotiating with FC Aarau about his successor, Patrick Frame (54). But because FCB boss Bernhard Burgener (67) changed course, Koller ultimately remained in office. Streller took the consequences and resigned.

Five years later he is now leaving FCB again. And the impression remains that things just aren’t working out between Streller and the club he loves – despite his legendary status.

Source : Blick