2008–09 FC Basel season
2008–09 season | |||
Chairman |
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---|---|---|---|
Manager |
![]() | ||
Swiss Super League | 3rd | ||
Swiss Cup | Semi-finals | ||
UEFA Champions League | Group stage | ||
Top goalscorer |
League: ![]() All: ![]() | ||
Highest home attendance |
37,500 vs ![]() (22 October 2008) | ||
Lowest home attendance |
15,730 vs Aarau (4 December 2008) | ||
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The 2008–09 FC Basel season began off with various pre-season matches against Swiss lower league teams, as well as against German Bundesliga, UkrainianVyscha Liha and Polish Ekstraklasa clubs. Basel's objectives for the year were to regain their Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup titles, as well as qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Overall season
After last season, where Basel dominated on the domestic front, winning both the Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup, and reaching the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. This season they will have the opportunity to qualify for the Champions League. To prepare for the 2008–09 season, FCB added defenders Behrang Safari from Malmö FF and David Abraham from Gimnàstic de Tarragona and midfielders Jurgen Gjasula and Marcos Gelabert from FC St. Gallen. Fans' favourite Daniel Majstorović left the club for AEK Athens, while Kōji Nakata returned to Japan with Kashima Antlers; Vratislav Lokvenc and David Degen's respective loan deals were not re-newed. Prior to the start of the domestic season, Ivan Ergić resigned as club captain; Franco Costanzo was unveiled as the new captain one day before the season began.[1]
Basel played their opening game of the season in Bern on 18 July 2008 against Young Boys, which they won 2–1 through goals by substitutes Marko Perović and Benjamin Huggel after Eudis had put the home side ahead.
Basel entered the Champions League in the Second Qualifying Round and were drawn against IFK Göteborg of Sweden. The first leg was on 30 July 2008 at Ullevi and finished 1–1. Benjamin Huggel put Basel ahead before Thomas Olsson equalised for the home team. The second leg took place on 6 August at St. Jakob-Park, with Basel coming from behind twice to win 4–2. Pontus Wernbloom put Göteborg ahead on 19 minutes before Benjamin Huggel equalised soon after. Early in the second half, Robin Söder restored Göteborg's lead but Basel fought back, with Scott Chipperfield equalising. Then Basel earned a penalty due to an alleged hand-ball in the penalty area; replays showed, however, that the referee had made the wrong decision. The penalty was scored, and eventually led to the victory.
Basel then faced Vitória de Guimarães of Portugal in the Third Qualifying Round. The first leg at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, on 13 August, ended in a 0–0 draw. The second leg, on 27 August at St. Jakob-Park, saw Valentin Stocker give Basel an early lead on 11 minutes before João Alves was fouled in the penalty area by François Marque, and João Fajardo dispatched the spot-kick just four minutes later to draw Vitória level. In the second half, the away side started well but Eren Derdiyok gave FCB a 2–1 lead which they preserved to secure qualification to the tournament's group stages.
FCB were drawn into Group C alongside Barcelona, Shakhtar Donetsk and Sporting CP. Basel lost their opening game 2–1 at St. Jakob-Park on 16 September against Shakhtar. Fernandinho put the Ukrainians ahead on 25 minutes before Jádson doubled their lead just before half-time. David Abraham scored a late consolation goal for the home team. Sporting CP were the opponents on Matchday 2 (1 October), and despite defending well and causing a few scares at the other end of the park, Basel were defeated 2–0 at the Estádio José Alvalade.
On Matchday 3 (22 October), Barcelona visited Basel and came away with a 5–0 win, but a fortnight later it was a different story as FCB came away with a respectable 1–1 draw at the Camp Nou, with Eren Derdiyok scoring a late equaliser after Lionel Messi put Barça ahead. On 26 November, Basel travelled to Ukraine to play Shakhtar, where they were thrashed 5–0. Basel then faced Sporting at home on the final Matchday (9 December), where they were defeated 1–0.
Club
Management
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Manager | ![]() |
Assistant manager | ![]() until 13 January 2009[2] |
Conditioning Coach | ![]() from 16 January 2009[3] |
Fitness Coach | ![]() |
Fitness Coach | ![]() |
Youth Team Coach | ![]() |
Youth Team Co-Coach | ![]() |
Last updated: 17 May 2008
Source:
Other information
Chairman | ![]() |
Vice Chairman | ![]() |
Ground (capacity and dimensions) | St. Jakob-Park (42,500 / 120x80 m) |
Source: Official Site
Players
First team squad
As of 30 June 2009, accounting for official transfers: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Multiple nationalities
- 1
Franco Costanzo
- 7
Jurgen Gjasula
- 11
Scott Chipperfield
- 13
Daniel Unal
- 15
Federico Almerares
- 17
Eduardo Rubio
- 20
Behrang Safari
- 22
Ivan Ergić
- 28
Beg Ferati
- 29
Orhan Mustafi
- 31
Eren Derdiyok
- 33
Serkan Şahin
Summer transfers
In
5 | ![]() |
MF | Jurgen Gjasula (from FC St. Gallen - free transfer)[6] |
6 | ![]() |
MF | Marcos Gelabert (from FC St. Gallen - 644.000 SFr)[7] |
10 | ![]() |
MF | Marko Perović (from Red Star Belgrade - 1.288.000 SFr)[8] |
13 | ![]() |
MF | Daniel Unal (from AS Roma)[9] |
15 | ![]() |
FW | Federico Almerares (from River Plate)[10] |
17 | ![]() |
FW | Eduardo Rubio (loan from Cruz Azul with buy-out option)[11] |
17 | ![]() |
DF | Patrik Baumann (loan return from FC Concordia Basel) |
19 | ![]() |
DF | David Abraham (from Gimnàstic de Tarragona)[9] |
20 | ![]() |
DF | Behrang Safari (from Malmö FF - 644.000 SFr)[7] |
25 | ![]() |
FW | Orhan Mustafi (from FC Zürich - free transfer)[12] |
26 | ![]() |
MF | Pascal Schürpf (from Basel U-21)[13] |
33 | ![]() |
MF | Samet Gündüz (from Basel U-21)[13] |
35 | ![]() |
GK | Oliver Stöckli (free transfer)[14] |
Out
5 | ![]() |
DF | Daniel Majstorović (to AEK Athens)[15] |
6 | ![]() |
DF | Kōji Nakata (to Kashima Antlers)[15] |
7 | ![]() |
MF | David Degen (loan return to Borussia Mönchengladbach) |
12 | ![]() |
MF | Papa Malick Ba (contract not re-newed) |
15 | ![]() |
MF | Franz Burgmeier (Mutual Consent)[16] |
18 | ![]() |
GK | Louis Crayton (to D.C. United)[10] |
19 | ![]() |
FW | Vratislav Lokvenc (loan return to Red Bull Salzburg)[15] |
29 | ![]() |
MF | Simone Grippo (to Chievo) |
Out on loan
24 | ![]() |
MF | Cabral (on loan to Sevilla)[17] |
33 | ![]() |
MF | Samet Gündüz (on loan to FC Wil)[1] |
-- | ![]() |
DF | Dominik Ritter (on loan to Concordia Basel)[1] |
-- | ![]() |
DF | Patrik Baumann (on loan to Concordia Basel) |
-- | ![]() |
GK | Yann Sommer (on loan to FC Vaduz)[18] |
Winter transfers
In
27 | ![]() |
GK | Yann Sommer (from FC Vaduz – loan return)[19] |
33 | ![]() |
DF | Serkan Şahin (from Basel U-21) |
- | ![]() |
MF | Xherdan Shaqiri (from Basel U-21)[20] |
Out
4 | ![]() |
DF | Michel Morganella (to Palermo)[21] |
Out on loan
27 | ![]() |
MF | Pascal Schürpf (on loan to Concordia Basel)[22] |
33 | ![]() |
MF | Samet Gündüz (on loan to Concordia Basel)[22] |
-- | ![]() |
DF | Sabri Boumelaha (on loan to Concordia Basel)[23] |
Starting 11
Last updated: 20 November 2008 OverallBasel participated in the following major competitions: the Swiss Super League, the Swiss Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
Source: Competitions Results and fixturesFriendly matchesPre-season friendlies
UhrencupThe Uhrencup is a club football tournament, held annually in Grenchen. It is Europe's most traditional club football tournament.
Pre-season/First half of season friendlies
Winter break/Second half of season friendlies
Swiss Super League 2009–10For more information, see Swiss Super League 2008–09 First half of season
Second half of season
Swiss Cup 2008–09for main article, see Swiss Cup 2008–09
UEFA Champions LeagueFor more information, see UEFA Champions League 2008-09 Second qualifying roundFor more information, see 2008–09 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds
Third qualifying round
Group stageMain article: 2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage
Player statisticsLeague goalscorers/assistsUpdated to games played 29 May 2009
Swiss Cup goalscorers/assistsUpdated to games played 13 April 2009
European goalscorers/assistsUpdated to games played 26 November 2008
Total goalscorers/assistsUpdated to games played 29 May 2009
Honours and awardsTeam
Individual
References
External links |