The Super League Season Special Review: Eleven Players – Eleven Extraordinary Stories

As No. 1 Müller and No. 2 Vasic got injured on February 5, 19-year-old goalkeeper Pascal Loretz (19) was in goal against YB for the first time in FCL. «Pasci: A whole wall stopped him!!!» stands on a banner. Seems to help: in a 1:1 against the leader he can only be beaten with a penalty. In the episode against Lugano, St. Gallen, GC, Basel and Servette, Loretz only conceded goals from the penalty spot (5 in total). FCZ striker Tosin is the first in game 7 to beat Loretz out of the game. At the beginning of April, the keeper fell back on the bench. The question is: for how long?

On May 13, Gaël Clichy (37) praises the ball over Sion goalie Safarikas from 49 meters into the net. His first goal in Servette dress is just as beautiful as the story behind it. A fan pointed out to him on Instagram the morning before the game that the Walliser goalkeeper would like to be a little further in front of goal, the former ManCity star reveals after the 5-0 win against Sion. “I thought about it, looked and actually saw that he was way ahead of his line.” Logically, the Frenchman dedicates his “Goal of the Year” to the Insta fan.

In October, Reto Ziegler (38) was suspended from FC Lugano because he allegedly refused to go to Lucerne as a substitute. Although he is apologised, he is no longer on the field for Ticino. In the winter he goes to Zion, where he plays again but also causes a stir off the field. On May 13, in the 0:5 draw against Servette, Ziegler exclusively reported that coach Bettoni was out immediately after the final whistle. He says into the SRF microphone: “I think the coach will unfortunately not be with us from tomorrow. The president made the four changes during the break.” It wasn’t until two days later that the club made the divorce official. Sion boss Constantin is not happy with Ziegler’s openness. This is the defender and not the club’s head of communications!

FCB youngster Marvin Akahomen is 15 years, 9 months and 15 days young when he makes his Super League debut. He gets one minute in the 4-1 win against Winterthur. This makes the Swiss-Nigerian the youngest defender ever in the Super League and the second youngest outfield player after Endogan Adili (15 years, 6 months and 13 days). Two weeks after the debut, Akahomen even continues to play because coach Heiko Vogel gives several regular players a rest against St. Gallen for the Eurocracker against Fiorentina. FCB go swimming with a score of 1:6 – and unfortunately Akahomen diligently swims with them.

Ancillo Canepa announces wholeheartedly before the start of the season: “We are individually better than in the master season.” Despite the catastrophic start, the FCZ chairman insisted on his assessment and does Cheick Conde (22), who should make Doumbia forget about the model fighter, a disservice. The beginning of Conde? bird game. The verdict of many is quickly made: no doumbia, bad purchase. Now, after the end of the season, you can see that the young man from Guinea has fulfilled. With 8.9 duels won per game, he is the strongest duel of the season – second place goes to Lucerne’s Nicky Beloko with 7.5.

The referee sees his goal celebration as a provocation against the FCZ fans and shows Petar Pusic (23) a yellow card. The cheers of the GC integration figure in October 2022 are aimed at his sisters, his girlfriend and his parents in the stands. Thanks for the great support. Because his first goal in over 10 months marks the end of his long period of suffering. Pusic experienced months of Covid horror, was practically only in bed for two months, could barely eat at times and lost 7 kilos. “It was the hardest time of my life,” he says.

What happened on the bench at FC Luzern on August 13 can hardly be surpassed: after being substituted, Samuele Campo kicked a cup holder twice, sending the bottles flying. Goalkeeper coach Lorenzo Bucchi goes to Campo at lightning speed. If Ardaiz, Schürpf, Vasic & Co. had not intervened, the two brawlers would have fought in public. Campo has five short appearances in the remaining 31 rounds. The rest he sits next to the emotional Bucchi on the bench, the last 17 games he is not even in the selection.

In the 71st minute, Blerim Dzemaili left the field in tears and a standing ovation. He says goodbye after 20 years as a professional. While his teammates are still battling for points on the field against Lugano, Dzemaili begins the big farewell lap, and the south turn once again hoists their hero’s huge banner. After the final whistle, Dzemalili’s son Luan is also there – pure goosebumps in the Letzigrund.

Ignacio Aliseda, 23, was seen as a gem when the Chicago Fire brought him to the MLS in February 2020. But the Argentinian misses the warmth of the nest in Chicago, he suffers from homesickness. The sensitive attacker will transfer to partner club Lugano in the winter of 2021. In 2023 Aliseda made her breakthrough in Ticino. Great dribbling, 8 goals and 2 assists. This makes him the “home shooter” in the league. Because he gets all 10 scorer points in Cornaredo at home. What stats will he show when he feels at home all over Switzerland?

At the beginning of November, at a 0-0 score in Basel, Mario Balotelli (32) blew his fuse after an uncalled foul. The “enfant terrible” of world football shows the FCB fans several times the middle finger. The next day, Balotelli launched an all-out attack on Instagram, writing: “Swiss Association: I don’t know what kind of mafia you’re in, but believe me, players like me are not proud to play in a league where there is injustice, corruption and incompetence are sovereign.”

When it comes to efficiency and ball skills, Dan Ndoye is overshadowed by teammate Zeki Amdouni. But the 22-year-old rocket made it to the team of the season. As the best dribbler of the season (2.3 successful dribbles per game) and also as the player with the most fouls in the league. 80 times the opponents could only stop him by dishonest means. Sion’s Chouaref in second place was fouled 62 times.