BSC Young Boys

Young Boys
Full name Berner Sport Club Young Boys[1]
Founded 14 March 1898 (1898-03-14)
Ground Stade de Suisse, Bern
Ground Capacity 32,000
Chairman Werner Müller
Manager Adi Hütter
League Swiss Super League
2015–16 Swiss Super League, 2nd
Website Club home page

Young Boys of Bern is a Swiss sports club based in the capital city Bern, best known for its professional football team. It is widely referred to as Young Boys, or as Young Boys Bern abroad, and is abbreviated to YB (German pronunciation: [ˈiː pε], i.e., the Y is pronounced as I). The club's colors are yellow and black.

The first team plays in the Swiss Super League and has won 11 Swiss league championships and six Swiss Cups. In 1957, YB was named the Swiss team of the year. YB is one of the most successful Swiss football clubs internationally, and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in the 1958–59 season. The club's sports also include field hockey and bowling. The women's hockey team also plays in the highest Swiss League.

History

1898–1902: The founding

In 1897, brothers Max and Oscar Schwab, Hermann Bauer, and Franz Kehrli studied at the University of Bern. After hosting a game of football with the Basel Old Boys Association playing against FC Bern, they founded the Fussballclub Young Boys on 14 March 1898. The four of them chose yellow and black to be the club colours.[2][3]

The slightly older FC Bern submitted an offer to the YB leadership to provide grounds, changing rooms, and equipment if these students would play as a team affiliated with FCB. YB would still have its own leadership and its own statutes.[2][4] This offer was accepted.

According to club chronicles, the first game was a victory on 17 June 1898 against FC Viktoria. The first official game was on 29 June 1898 against the Institute Grünau. The team had in its ranks a number of prominent players, but the game ended in a tie, and the return game on 17 October went 1–0 for the young Bernese club. Some of the Young Boys appeared increasingly in the FC Bern first team, affecting the incumbent Bern players. On 30 December 1898, the Young Boys held an election to either combine with FC Bern or strike out on their own. The vote by a large majority was to abandon the merger, leading to a bitter rivalry, especially on the part of FC Bern.

Successes in the spring games in 1900 showed that YB was on a successful path. However, many were still convinced that FC Bern was the stronger team. For this reason, the organisers of the Federal Schwingfests arranged a game between the rivals. The game took place on 26 August before some 3,000 people who had mostly come to see an "exotic" sport on display. The game ended, however, with an indecisive score of 1–1. On 17 August, nine days earlier, YB was admitted to the Swiss Football Association.

The two teams were increasingly separated from each other, and their venues also became ever further apart. FC Bern played in the southwestern part of the city, while FC Young Boys place almost in the center. The newly selected sports ground on Schwellenmätteli, however, had its advantages and disadvantages. Due to its location adjacent to the Aar River, the grounds were often flooded and marshy. Because of its central location, however, the club was followed by many Bern residents. With an agreement on 14 October 1901, the club leased its grounds from the city of Bern for three years. The entire area encompassed 10,975 square meters for only 257 francs per month. Therefore, the requirements for a regular playing field were finally fulfilled.[5]

1902–1925: The early years

YB began to be successful very early on. Against Lausanne they celebrated a surprising 2–2 draw and on 26 October 1902 a 7–0 victory over Fortuna Basel. In these years YB also came out from the shadow of FC Bern. YB beat their city rivals away 3–1 and on 8 March 1903 5–0 at home. YB won the championship of the Central League and were invited to play in the finals of the Swiss championship. On 22 March was the first final against FC Zürich. YB played, among others, the two Schwab brothers, and they beat Zurich 3–1. On 29 March YB faced the West champion FC Neuchâtel. The guests from Neuchâtel were the clear favorites, because the Bern club had lost to them one month before 1–4. This caused Neuchâtel to make the error of underestimating the Young Boys. The Neuchâtel defense completely broke apart when the YB striker Walter Frey found the net shortly after halftime to post a 1–0 lead. The game ended with a one-sided 5–0 result, and YB after only five years of existence had won their first Swiss football championship.

After having trained for the early years on the Schwellenmätteli, below the Kirchenfeld bridge, YB played from the year 1904 at Spitalacker-Platz. In subsequent seasons the Young Boys did not win the championship but were always in the top three in the regional group. It took six years for YB to achieve further successes. In 1909, the Berners defeated FC Winterthur in Basel in the finals 1–0. The next year, the Young Boys won the championship finals against FC Aarau 3–1 and against Servette Geneva 2–1. Again in 1911, Servette Geneva and FC Zürich could not prevent YB's fourth championship overall and third in a row. It was the first title hat trick in the history of the Swiss Football Association. YB was also in 1910 and the two following years the champion of the "Anglo-cup", the predecessor of today's Swisscom Cup.

At the time, the fans spoke of a time all opponents dreaded, the "YB Quarter Hour" fifteen minutes before the end of the game. The players sustained their efforts throughout the 90 minutes so effectively that the opponents began to run down after about 75 minutes. An example is the 1910 finals between the YB and Aarau, where until the 80th minute the score stood at 1–1. Similarly, in the game against Servette in the final round in 1911, up through the 72nd minute the game was a 1–1 draw, but three goals in the last 18 minutes turned the result decisively for YB to clinch the title hat trick.

In 1913, the English football instructor Reynold Williams became the first coach of the club. Shortly thereafter the First World War erupted, and Spitalacker-Platz was converted to a potato field. YB arranged to rent facilities at Kirchfeld for 1400 francs per year. The military also made space available at the barracks for the team's use. Despite these hardships, the club won Swiss league championship again in 1920.

After the war, the team again played on the Spitalacker-Platz. However, the ground no longer suited the requirements of the Young Boys, so they searched for alternatives. They found space at the northeastern border of the city at the Wankdorffeld, and construction was initiated.

1925–1951: New name and new stadium

In 1925, the association's name was changed from FC Young Boys to Berner Sport Club Young Boys. This year was also the last game on the old Spitalacker-platz. In October, the new Wankdorf Stadium by the architects Scherler & Berger was opened with a tournament. It was attended by the Old Boys from Basel, Servette Geneva, and the Young Boys. The new sports complex included a main grandstand with 1,200 covered seats, a restaurant, changing rooms, a training hall and a training ground. In total, the new stadium held 22,000 spectators, including covered standing room for 5,000.[6] YB now had a large and modern stadium, which intensified the rivalry with FC Bern, because the older association continued to play at the small and outdated Neufeldplatz. The two clubs went so far as to negotiate a contract, facilitated by Central President Schlegel, to prevent discord.

In 1929, YB once again progressed to the final round of the Swiss championship. The first game, on a Sunday, pitted Urania Geneva Sport against YB, the second a week later Grasshoppers against Urania GC, and on the third Sunday in the final YB-GC. The first game in Geneva ended with a 0–0 draw, which satisfied the Bernese. When the Grasshoppers beat Geneva in Zurich 3–0, the chances for YB to win the title decreased tremendously. In the third game, the guests from Zurich needed only a draw to win the championship for the third time in a row. For this final on 30 June, the Young Boys used replacement goalkeeper Erich Jung in the offensive midfield due to staff shortages. Striker Johan Baumgartner also scored a goal and YB prevented the championship hat trick with a 2–0 win.

On 10 February 1930 the club purchased an additional strip of land from the community, having noted that the stadium was too small, increasing the entire area of the Wankdorf stadium ground to 35,585 square meters.[7] The 1930 Young Boys became the first to celebrate a Swiss Cup championship. The Swiss Cup had been initiated only five years earlier following the discontinuation of the Anglo Cup at the First World War. With 30,000 spectators crowding Wankdorf YB beat FC Aarau 1–0. In the following 15 years, YB won neither a league title nor a cup championship. However, the team was also rarely in the bottom half of table.

During this time, Wankdorf continued to expand. The capacity of the stadium increased by building an extension to 42,000 spectators, costing the association an additional 300,000 francs. Furthermore, another training field was added.

Towards the end of the 1930s the world economic crisis started and Swiss football felt the effects. The attendance figures fell steadily, and the Sportplatz Spitalacker could no longer meet its financial obligations. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the club considered selling the stadium. However, through a debt-reduction and the help of the city of Bern in 1943, the finances of the club were rehabilitated. At that point, the stadium group changed its name to "Verein Fussball-Stadion Wankdorf".[7]

During the Second World War, the Bernese succeeded but could not claim a title. Only in 1945, at the end of the war, came the next success: YB won the second Cup against St. Gallen with a 2–0 victory at Espenmoos. Two seasons later the Bernese were relegated to the National League B. It would be three seasons until they returned to the highest league where they would then remain for over 50 years.

1951–1964: The golden years under Coach Albert Sing

In 1951 Norbert Eric Jones was replaced after only one year as the manager by the previously unknown Albert Sing. At that time, no one anticipated the successful years YB would experience under the German coach. Sing acted initially as a player-coach before he decided to become a trainer only. During his tenure YB experienced its most successful period. The team was reinforced by high-level transfers such as Eugene "Geni" Meier. Considerable success during this period was also attributed to the goalkeeper Walter Eich, who was one of the best in the history of the Young Boys. Later, the team consisted of top players like Heinz Schneite and Ernst Wechselberger.[8]

For the 1954 World Cup, the capacity of the Wankdorf stadium was increased from around 30,000 to more than 60,000 seats.

In the spring of 1953 the Young Boys again advanced to the Cup. YB met Grasshoppers Zürich in the final pairing, and the clubs drew 1–1. Five weeks later the teams met in a replay, which went to the Bernese 3–1. In the summer of that year YB was invited to tour North America. The team played there against some American teams, Liverpool (1–1), and the Irish national team (a 4–1 win for YB). YB produced impressive results overseas for Swiss football and was enthusiastically received by thousands upon their return to Bern. From 1957 and 1960, YB were Swiss champions four times in a row. During this time YB became one of the more successful teams in European football and was superior to all Swiss opponents. 1958 brought yet another Cup, when YB defeated GC in a final replay 4–1.

Young Boys also achieved success in European competition. At their first appearance in the European Championship they were politically disadvantaged, however. The Bernese drew the Vasas Budapest, the Hungarian club of the Interior Ministry. Some Swiss politicians demanded that no Swiss sports club should have contacts with the Hungarian football club, especially in Bern, the capital. The leaders of Servette Geneva, made their Charmilles Stadium available for one game. 20,000 spectators supported YB in Geneva during a 1–1 draw against the Hungarians. In the return match the Young Boys fell 1–2. The following year, their opponents in the European Cup were once again from Hungary, this time MTK Budapest. YB won the leg in the Nep Stadium 2–1. 26 November 1958 saw the European premiere in Wankdorf; 28,000 spectators celebrated the Young Boys' 4–1 victory. In the second round, YB met the East German champions SC Wismut Chemnitz and the Wankdorf was filled with 32,000 spectators. The teams drew 2–2 after a 2–0 lead for the Young Boys. A week later, the teams met in the GDR. The game ended 0–0, which at that time required a deciding game. This took place on 1 April 1959 in the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium before 35,000 spectators, and YB won 2–1. Thus the Young Boys qualified for the semi-finals of the European Championship.[3][9] Their opponents in the semi-finals were Stade de Reims.

The game of games in the history of the yellow and black took place on 15 April 1959, a rainy Wednesday. 60,000 spectators packed into Wankdorf, but the crowd may have exceeded the official count.[10] After an impressive performance YB won 1–0 on a Geni Meier goal in the 13th minute. The game was a legend in Bern. Stade Reims received the Bernese in the return match at the Parc des Princes in Paris, where the Frenchmen won 3–0 and thus reached the final. No other Swiss team besides FC Zürich has since found as much success in an international competition as the BSC Young Boys did in this season.

In 1960, YB played internationally once again. In the first round they met Eintracht Frankfurt. Frankfurt won the first game in Bern 4–1 before 36,000 spectators; in the return game in Frankfurt's Waldstadion YB at least managed a 1–1 draw. In 1961, the team first went to Ireland where they met Limerick. YB won on the island with an impressive 5–0 showing, then again 4–2 in front of 22,000 spectators at Wankdorf in the return leg. In the second round YB met Hamburger SV, with their star striker Uwe Seeler, in what was the first European Cup game in that team's history. 45,000 spectators were at the game in the Wankdorf, where Hamburg stunned YB with a 5–0 victory. In Hamburg, the Bernese improved upon their previous performance, earning a 3–3 draw before 40,000 spectators in the Volkspark Stadium. It would be the last appearance in Europe for YB for a long time.

After four league titles, a European Cup run and many successes the Young Boys traveled 31 days through the Far East. In five weeks, the Bernese visited ten countries and played several friendly matches against Asian teams.

Albert Sing left BSC Young Boys in 1964 and is still the most successful coach in the history of the club.

1964–1984: Descent to a normal club

The successor to Albert Sing had large shoes to fill; average performance was no longer acceptable to the discriminating Bernese supporters. Heinz Bigler and Hans Grütter took over the training until Hans Merkle ultimately succeeded Sing. Merkle had the misfortune to be measured against the championships of his predecessor. Although Geni Meier, Ernst Wechselberger and other players from the championship years continued to play, it mattered little. Merkle was a hard coach of the German school, however, and was able to keep YB in the top half of the table, with finishes of second, fifth, and seventh. The mixture of old and young players did not provide the results the Bernese sought, however. Otto Messerli, then a junior in the first team squad, who in later years would be captain of the Young Boys, described the situation: "There were many good ideas, but FC Basel and FC Zürich remained unattainable for us." This was also no different for the Merkle successors Skiba, Schneiter und Eich, Brülls, Peters and Linder: The Young Boys reached big games on occasion (such as the Cup final against Basel that brought 52,000 spectators to the Wankdorf), but over the long term their performance was unspectacular. Still, some YB players rose to national recognition. The Dutchman Bert Theunissen replaced Meier and Wechselberger in 1964 as "gunner" and he became Swiss scoring champion before he left YB. A good replacement for him was found, however: the Bernese bought Dieter Brenninger from FC Bayern Munich. Another new transfer, Walter "Wale" Mueller, played between 1967 and 1972 for YB, and was a dreaded striker for opposing defenders.

In the late sixties and the seventies the Bernese met with little success. As YB were runners-up in the 1974–75 season, they finally returned to European competition. In the first round of the UEFA Cup they faced Hamburger SV once again. In the first leg before 17,000 spectators in the Wankdorf, the two teams played to 0–0. HSV won at home in their Volkspark Stadium 4–2, and the Young Boys were bounced from the competition early. The Young Boys' side for these games included Jakob Brechbühl and Karl Odermatt among others.

It took until 1977 before YB would again win a title. Under coach Kurt Linder the Cup was brought to Bern for the fifth time. Thanks to this title, YB qualified for the preliminary round of the Cup Winners' Cup. The Bernese faced a daunting challenge in the form of the Rangers of Glasgow. In Ibrox Park YB played strongly and lost only 0–1. The return game in front of 17,000 spectators at Wankdorf ended 2–2, and Rangers advanced. The Young Boys again underwent a change of coaches when René Hüssy replaced Linder. 1979 again saw YB (as losing cup finalists) in the European Cup Winners' Cup. On 19 September 1979, only 6,700 spectators came to Wankdorf to see the game against Steaua Bucureşti, which ended 2–2. Before this game, YB had lost three consecutive championship games, which may have contributed to the lack of fans. The goals were scored by Stoica, Zwygart, Lordanesen and Schönenberger. Two weeks later, the Young Boys lost in Bucharest 0–6. They are known for singing a famous song which is named we love you we love you which has had thousands of hits on the internet.

1984–1991: The Mandziara Era

Turbulent times continued in the Wankdorf. After many coaching changes, in 1984 Alexander Mandziara was engaged as the manager. The quiet Pole with a German passport played offensive football and was known for hard training sessions. In his first years, the Young Boys reached only ninth place. In the next season, 1985–86, not all went for YB but the team still managed to finish the preliminary round in fifth. During the winter break, the Swede Robert Prytz joined the YB midfield as a playmaker alongside Georges Bregy, and YB achieved an incomparable return round. The point advantage of the leaders Neuchâtel Xamax slowly melted round by round. On 24 May 1986 the showdown came in Neuchâtel Maladière, before a crowd of 21,500 including visiting YB spectators. The Young Boys came away with a 4–1 result. Lars Lunde, Danish scoring champion, and Dario Zuffi each connected twice and YB after 26 years finished in championship position.

In the first round of the European championship, the Bernese drew Real Madrid, with their top stars such as Hugo Sánchez and Emilio Butragueño. 32,000 spectators descended on Wankdorf, despite torrential rain, for the match on 17 September 1986. Urs Bamert headed in a goal to provide the 1–0 margin of victory against the guests from Spain. For the return leg, 75,000 spectators occupied Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. Until the 75th minute, the advantage stood at only 1–0 for the home side. But the 2–0 by Jorge Valdano broke the defense of the Young Boys, and Real Madrid went on to win 5–0.

In 1987 YB won the Cup for the sixth time. In the finals they defeated FC Servette Geneva 4–2 in a replay. In the first round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Young Boys traveled to Dunajská Streda in Czechoslovakia, where the Czechs won their home leg 2–1. Before 8,100, YB prevailed in Bern 3–1 and qualified for the second round. In the round of 16 the Bernese visited FC Den Haag, where they lost 1–2. In the return match in Bern only 6,400 spectators braved the icy chill of the Wankdorf. A 1–0 YB victory was enough to progress into the quarter-finals. The next opponent was again from the Netherlands, this time Ajax of Amsterdam. Temperatures of minus 6 on 9 March 1988 caused Wankdorf to be rather sparsely occupied with only 7,686 spectators. Ajax won the game 1–0. The return leg in Amsterdam before 30,000 spectators saw the Bernese lose again 1–0 and they were eliminated from the competition.

1991–2001: Down and up

A highlight of the nineties was the Cup finale against Sion in 1991. The Wankdorf stadium was packed with 50,000 spectators, with both teams contributing to the atmosphere. At halftime, the Bernese led 2–0, but Sion shot back in the second half with three goals to win the Cup. In 1993, YB qualified for the UEFA Cup and met Celtic of Scotland in the first round. Only 7,300 spectators came to the stadium for the home leg, and the game ended 0–0. The Young Boys fell in Celtic Park in Glasgow before 21,500 spectators in extra time 1–0 with André Baumann netting an own goal in the 105th minute.

In the mid-nineties the former football powerhouse increasingly experienced problems. The BSC Young Boys developed financial difficulties, and in 1997 for the first time since the 1946–47 season YB was relegated to the National League B (today's Challenge League). New Swedish coaches Roland Andersson and Thomas Sjöberg helped the club recover, placing first and earning promotion again, with Robert Schober and Admir Smajic taking over on the bench. The following NLA season began with a surprise victory over the reigning champion Grasshoppers. Many defeats, however, forced the Young Boys back into the relegation play-offs. The economic and sporting emergency ended in the dismissal of coach Claude Ryf. The BSC Young Boys organization stood very close to bankruptcy and few thought it still possible to salvage YB. A Lucerne investment company saved the club from ruin, although by 1999 the debt was over 1.7 million Swiss francs (about 1.08 million euros).

Almost the whole squad left the capital and YB competed with the shell of a team the next season. The result was disastrous: third-last place after the 1999 qualification/descent round. The possibility of further relegation to the 1st League (third tier) threatened. Marco Schällibaum took over as manager and brought in reinforcements, which had a positive impact and enabled the club to stay up. On 17 December 1999, the BSC Young Boys AG was established with capital of CHF 500,000 (about 320,000 euros).[11] The AG took over the operations of the 1st Team and increased the share capital. The remaining operation remains under the previous organization.

The next championship was contested with a more powerful team with new players such as Harutyun Vardanyan and Gürkan Sermeter. YB won victory after victory in the autumn and inspired the loyal fans with attractive offensive football. The team earned the top place in the table and participation in the promotion playoffs, ultimately returning to the top division.

New enthusiasm developed in Bern, and the attendance figures rose significantly. The first game of the 2001–02 season was the final game in old Wankdorf stadium. YB drew Lugano 1–1 before 22,200 spectators, and the last goal for the Bernese in the old Wankdorf was tallied by Reto Burri.

2001–2005: In the Neufeldstadion

The Young Boys played at the Neufeldstadion at the north end of town until the new, multi-functional Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern was opened in 2005.

In the autumn of 2001, with a 1–3 home defeat against Grasshoppers, a series of 25 home games without defeat came to an end. However, with a 1–0 victory in the last game against FC St. Gallen on 9 December 2001 the BSC Young Boys qualified for the final round for the first time in seven years. The start of the final round was very promising. YB played exciting football and contended for a place in an international competition but ultimately finished in seventh position. The team also reached the semi-finals of the Swiss Cup before falling in a penalty shootout to FC Basel.

In 2002, YB finished the qualifying round in seventh and the final round in fourth place, earning the Young Boys an entry in an international competition (the UEFA Cup) for the first time in ten years. This season also saw Stéphane Chapuisat move to the club. Chapuisat is considered one of the best strikers in Swiss history.[12][13]

In 2003, the league was completely reformed, including the names and sizes of the two highest leagues. For the 2003–04 season, Hans-Peter Zaugg was named as the new head coach. The played in the first "Super League", taking second place. As a result, the team qualified for the 2004–05 Champions League, where they fell to Red Star Belgrade 5–2 on aggregate. The domestic season 2004–05 found them finishing in fourth place.

2005–present: In the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern

In the summer of 2005, YB was able to begin using the newly built Wankdorfstadion, the Stade de Suisse, after several years of construction.[14][15]

Only a few months later Gernot Rohr signed as a coach.[16] Although team maintained a defensive football strategy, the club succeeded with him at its head, advancing to the Cup final, but losing on a penalty shoot-out to Sion. The first season at the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf, YB finished in third place, qualifying for the UEFA Cup. The Bernese defeated Mika of Armenia 4–1 on aggregate in the first qualifying round to set up a very attractive matchup with French giants Marseille, but narrowly lost the tie on away goals with draws 3–3 at home and 0–0 away.[17]

Coach Gernot Rohr was succeeded by Martin Andermatt.[18] The debut of Andermatt was promising, as YB defeated their canton rivals Thun 5–1 to open 2006–07 league play. The team finished the season in fourth place, once again returning to the UEFA Cup. On 14 April 2007, the club president Peter Mast announced that he would resign his position at the end of the season, although he immediately joined the board of directors.[19] His post as president was assumed by Thomas Grimm on 17 April 2007.[20] Incidentally, in this season, with an average of 15,517 spectators in the championship, the club celebrated its highest attendance average in club history. Also at the end of the 2006–07 season, the club switched outfitters from GEMS to Puma.[21]

Young Boys finished runners-up in the 2009–10 season, finishing three points behind champions Basel despite losing only one match at home all season. They entered Champions League qualification and defeated Fenerbahçe to set up a meeting with Tottenham Hotspur in the play-off round. YB went out to a 3–0 lead in the opening leg at Stade de Suisse on Tuesday 17 August, but had to hold on for a 3–2 win,[22] then, fell 4–0 at White Hart Lane eight nights later and went out of the competition. Following their defeat against their English rivals, Young Boys still got a place in the Europa League group stage. The Bernese club successfully qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament as runners-up of their group, behind group leaders Stuttgart and at the expense of Getafe and Odense. In the Round of 32 of the same tournament they faced Zenit Saint Petersburg. Young Boys beat their Russian opponents at home in the first leg with a 2–1 win, but YB was still eliminated from the tournament after losing 3–1 in their visit at Saint Petersburg for the second leg.

In the 2010–11 season the club finished third in the league, which qualified YB to the UEFA Europa League for the next season. The following season was similar for the Yellow-Blacks, finishing third once again in the league. In the same season YB failed to reach the Europa League group stage, after being knocked out by Braga with 2–2 aggregate which favoured the Portuguese club because Braga scored away unlike Young Boys (0–0 in Braga, 2–2 in Bern).

Stadium

BSC Young Boys supporters

Since 2005, the Young Boys have played at the Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, Bern. The stadium can seat 31,783 spectators and is the second largest football stadium in Switzerland (after St. Jakob-Park). The construction cost of 350 million francs was more than any other building in Switzerland. Officially, there are only stadium seats, but standing tickets are also sold.

The name arises from the fact that the Stade de Suisse acts as a National Stadium. However, as one of the few stadiums with artificial turf, matches are rarely held there. For the European Championships in 2008 a natural grass field was to be laid, as three group games took place there.

The stadium is also the largest stadium-integrated solar power plant in the world.[23] On the roof of the Stade de Suisse are enough solar cells to generate 700,000 kWh. The electricity powers the stadium and some houses around the Wankdorf area. Just below the playing field is one of the largest shopping centers in Switzerland and a parking facility with over 700 places. The stadium also includes schools, homes, a fitness center, several gyms and some restaurants. The stadium is near a highway interchange and only a few minutes' drive from the main railway station in Bern and only a few minutes' walk from the new Wankdorfquartier station. Furthermore, there are both a bus and a tram stop near Wankdorf.

Honours

Current squad

As of 2 September, 2016

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Switzerland GK Marco Wölfli
4 Serbia DF Milan Vilotić (Vice-captain)
5 Switzerland DF Steve von Bergen (Captain)
6 Switzerland MF Leonardo Bertone
7 Serbia MF Miralem Sulejmani
8 Czech Republic DF Jan Lecjaks
9 Sweden FW Alexander Gerndt
10 France FW Yoric Ravet
11 Switzerland FW Michael Frey
14 Serbia MF Milan Gajić
16 Republic of Macedonia FW Tauljant Sulejmanov
18 Switzerland GK Yvon Mvogo
19 Austria MF Thorsten Schick
21 Switzerland DF Alain Rochat
22 Switzerland DF Gregory Wüthrich
No. Position Player
23 Switzerland DF Scott Sutter
24 Serbia MF Radovan Savić
26 Switzerland MF Nicolas Bürgy
27 Switzerland DF Thomas Fekete
28 Switzerland MF Denis Zakaria
31 Japan FW Yuya Kubo
32 Switzerland MF Linus Obexer
34 Switzerland MF Kwadwo Duah
35 Ivory Coast MF Sékou Sanogo
39 Switzerland DF Sven Joss
40 Switzerland GK Dario Marzino
43 Switzerland DF Kevin Mbabu (on loan from Newcastle)
80 Switzerland DF Loris Benito
99 France FW Guillaume Hoarau

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
No. Position Player

Managers

  • Switzerland Martin Weber (May 1999 – July 99)
  • Roger Läubli (July 1999)
  • Switzerland Richard Wey and Bosnia and Herzegovina Admir Smajić (July 1999)
  • Switzerland Richard Wey (6 Aug 1999 – 28 Sept 1999)
  • Switzerland Marco Schällibaum (1 Sept 1999 – 30 June 2003)
  • Switzerland Hans-Peter Zaugg (1 July 2003 – 17 Oct 2005)
  • Germany Gernot Rohr (18 Oct 2005 – 21 Sept 2006)
  • Italy Erminio Piserchia (interim) (21 Sept 2006 – 11 Oct 2006)
  • Switzerland Martin Andermatt (12 Oct 2006 – 30 July 2008)
  • Italy Erminio Piserchia (interim) (30 July 2008 – 10 Aug 2008)
  • Croatia Vladimir Petković (10 Aug 2008 – 8 May 2011)
  • Italy Erminio Piserchia (interim) (8 May 2011 – 30 June 2011)
  • Switzerland Christian Gross (1 July 2011 – 29 April 2012)
  • Italy Erminio Piserchia (interim) (29 April 2012 – 30 June 2012)
  • Switzerland Martin Rueda (1 July 2012 – 7 April 2013)
  • Switzerland Bernard Challandes (8 April 2013 – 30 June 2013)
  • Switzerland Uli Forte (1 July 2013 – Sept 15)
  • Austria Adi Hütter (Sept 2015–)

Presidents

  • Max Schwab (1898–99)
  • Dr. Edgar Fetscherin (1899–04)
  • Dr. Otto Kubli (1904–05)
  • Albert Heiniger (1905–06)
  • Max Schwab (1906–07)
  • D. Chessex (1907–08)
  • Edgar Egger (1908–09)
  • Walter Messerli (1909–11)
  • Dr. Herbert Schmid (1911–15)
  • Dr. Herbert Frey (1915–19)
  • Albert Hirt (1919–20)
  • Hans Greuber (1920–21)
  • Heinz Schwab (1921–23)
  • Albert Hirt (1923–24)
  • Rudolf Roth (1924–26)
  • Ermin Flück (1926–28)

  • Dr. Otto Grogg (1928–29)
  • G. Marchand (1929–34)
  • Rudolf Roth (1934–36)
  • Dr. Adrian Schorrer (1936–37)
  • G. Marchand (1937–39)
  • Eduard Studer (1939–42)
  • Herrmann Wirth (1942–43)
  • Otto Wirz (1943–47)
  • Erwin Bähler (1947–48)
  • Adolf Rösti (1948–50)
  • Felix Neuenschwander (1950–52)
  • Guido Wärtli (1952–54)
  • Walter Bögli (1954–57)
  • Hermann Steinegger (1957–62)
  • Dr. Herbert Althaus (1962–67)
  • Willy Sigrist (1967–71)

  • Ferdinand Schmutz (1971–72)
  • Ralph Zloczower (1972–80)
  • Rudolf Baer (1980–93)
  • Jürg Aeberhard (1993)
  • Jacques Chèvre (1993–95)
  • Dr. Peter Cerny (1995–96)
  • Roland Schönenberger (1996)
  • Walter Frei (1996–97)
  • Peter Morgenthaler (1997)
  • Roland Güngerich (1997–98)
  • Peter Siegrist (1998–99)
  • Martin Maraggia (1999–2001)
  • Heinz Fischer (2001–03)
  • Peter Mast (2003–07)
  • Thomas Grimm (2007–08)
  • Werner Müller (2010–)

European results

[24]

Season Competition Round Country Club Score
1957–58European CupR1HungaryVasas Budapest1–1, 1–2
1958–59European CupR1HungaryMTK Budapest2–1, 4–1
QFEast GermanyWismut Karl-Marx-Stadt2–2, 0–0, 2–1
SFFranceStade de Reims1–0, 0–3
1959–60European CupR1GermanyEintracht Frankfurt1–4, 1–1
1960–61European CupQRepublic of IrelandLimerick5–0, 4–2
R1GermanyHamburger SV0–5, 3–3
1962–63Intertoto CupGroupCzech RepublicRH Slovnaft Bratislava0–4, 0–1
GroupFranceRCF Paris4–4, 1–3
GroupItalyVenezia3–1, 1–6
1963–64Intertoto CupGroupItalyModena1–2, 1–3
GroupBelgiumLa Gantoise2–2, 0–2
GroupFranceToulouse3–2, 0–3
1964–65Intertoto CupGroupBelgiumRFC Liège0–2, 3–3
GroupNetherlandsNAC Breda3–6, 2–6
GroupGermany1. FC Saarbrücken2–2, 3–2
1967–68Intertoto CupGroupPolandRuch Chorzów0–2, 3–4
GroupDenmarkFrem0–0, 1–4
GroupAustriaFirst Vienna FC2–0, 2–2
1969–70Intertoto CupGroupSwedenIFK Norrköping1–4, 2–1
GroupAustriaRapid Wien2–0, 1–8
GroupGermanyHannover 961–2, 1–1
1971–72Intertoto CupGroupGermanyEintracht Braunschweig1–5, 0–2
GroupSwedenMalmö FF2–4, 3–6
GroupPolandZagłębie Wałbrzych2–0, 0–1
1972–73Intertoto CupGroupFranceSaint-Étienne0–5, 0–0
GroupPolandWisła Kraków1–1, 0–8
GroupSwedenÅtvidaberg2–1, 1–2
1975–76Intertoto CupGroupGermany1. FC Kaiserslautern1–3, 2–4
GroupCzech RepublicFC Bohemians Praha1–2, 1–2
GroupSwedenGAIS Göteborg3–4, 1–0
1975–76UEFA CupR1GermanyHamburger SV0–0, 2–4
1976–77Intertoto CupGroupSwedenMalmö FF3–2, 1–1
GroupIsraelBeitar Jerusalem6–3, 1–1
GroupAustriaAdmira Wacker Wien1–1, 3–1
1977–78Intertoto CupGroupCzech RepublicSlavia Prague1–4, 0–5
GroupPolandLegia Warsaw1–1, 1–4
GroupSwedenLandskrona4–0, 1–2
1977–78Cup Winners' CupQScotlandRangers0–1, 2–2
1978–79Intertoto CupGroupCzech Republic1. FC Tatran Prešov0–1, 0–1
GroupDenmarkEsbjerg fB1–1, 0–3
GroupAustriaWiener SC0–0, 1–2
1979–80Cup Winners' CupR1RomaniaSteaua București2–2, 0–6
1980–81Intertoto CupGroupSwedenHalmstads BK1–1, 2–4
GroupCzech RepublicFK Inter Bratislava0–3, 0–3
GroupAustriaVoest Linz0–1, 0–2
1981–82Intertoto CupGroupBelgiumRWD Molenbeek0–1, 1–3
GroupNorwayBryne1–2, 0–0
GroupCzech RepublicSparta Praha1–0, 1–0
1982–83Intertoto CupGroupCzech RepublicFC Bohemians Praha1–3, 0–5
GroupPolandGwardia Warszawa2–1, 2–2
GroupAustriaLinzer ASK0–2, 3–0
1983–84Intertoto CupGroupCzech RepublicSlavia Prague2–1, 1–2
GroupDenmarkBrøndby IF0–2, 2–1
GroupBulgariaSlavia Sofia1–0, 1–0
1985–86Intertoto CupGroupPolandGórnik Zabrze1–4, 0–3
GroupHungaryZalaegerszegi TE4–1, 0–4
GroupDenmarkAarhus GF0–1, 7–4
1986–87Intertoto CupGroupCzech RepublicSK Sigma Olomouc2–1, 1–3
GroupGermanyHannover 962–3, 1–2
GroupPolandLegia Warsaw3–1, 0–0
1986–87European CupR1SpainReal Madrid1–0, 0–5
1987–88Cup Winners' CupR1Czech RepublicDAC Dunajská Streda1–2, 3–1
R2NetherlandsFC Den Haag1–2, 1–0
QFNetherlandsAjax0–1, 0–1
1988–89Intertoto CupGroupCzech RepublicDAC Dunajská Streda5–1, 1–3
GroupSwedenIFK Norrköping3–2, 2–0
GroupHungarySzombathelyi Haladás4–0, 1–3
1992–93Intertoto CupGroupGermanyKarlsruher SC2–2, 2–2
GroupSwedenHalmstads BK3–1, 1–2
GroupAustriaAustria Salzburg3–1, 2–4
1993–94Intertoto CupGroupCzech RepublicSK Sigma Olomouc1–0
GroupDenmarkAarhus GF3–2
GroupAustriaAustria Salzburg2–0
GroupRomaniaOţelul Galaţi3–3
1993–94UEFA CupR1ScotlandCeltic0–0, 0–1
1994–95Intertoto CupGroupIsraelHapoel Be'er Sheva0–1
GroupRomaniaElectroputere Craiova1–0
GroupGermanyKarlsruher SC1–0
GroupSwedenBK Häcken4–1
2003–04UEFA CupQ1FinlandMyPa-472–3, 2–2
2004–05Champions LeagueQ2SerbiaRed Star Belgrade2–2, 0–3
2005Intertoto CupR2BelgiumLokeren4–1, 2–1
R3FranceMarseille2–3, 1–2
2006–07UEFA CupQ1ArmeniaMika Ashtarak3–1, 1–0
Q2FranceMarseille3–3, 0–0
2007–08UEFA CupQ1ArmeniaBanants1–1, 4–0
Q2FranceLens1–1, 1–5
2008–09UEFA CupQ2HungaryDebreceni VSC4–1, 3–2
R1BelgiumClub Brugge2–2, 0–2
2009–10UEFA Europa LeagueQ3SpainAthletic Bilbao0–1, 2–1
2010–11Champions LeagueQ3TurkeyFenerbahçe2–2, 1–0
POEnglandTottenham Hotspur3–2, 0–4
2010–11UEFA Europa LeagueGroupGermanyVfB Stuttgart0–3, 4–2
GroupSpainGetafe2–0, 0–1
GroupDenmarkOdense Boldklub4–2, 0–2
1/32RussiaZenit Saint Petersburg2–1, 1–3
2011–12UEFA Europa LeagueQ3BelgiumWesterlo3–1, 2–0
POPortugalBraga0–0, 2–2
2012–13UEFA Europa LeagueQ2MoldovaZimbru Chișinău1–0, 0–1 (4–1 p)
Q3SwedenKalmar FF3–0, 0–1
PODenmarkFC Midtjylland0–2, 3–0
GroupRussiaAnzhi Makhachkala0–2, 3–1
GroupEnglandLiverpool3–5, 2–2
GroupItalyUdinese3–1, 3–2
2014–15UEFA Europa LeagueQ3CyprusErmis Aradippou1–0, 2–0
POHungaryDebreceni VSC3–1, 0–0
GroupSlovakiaSlovan Bratislava5–0, 3–1
GroupCzech RepublicSparta Prague1–3, 2–0
GroupItalyNapoli2–0, 0–3
1/32EnglandEverton 1–4, 1–3
2015–16UEFA Champions League Q3 FranceMonaco1–3, 0–4
2015–16UEFA Europa League PO AzerbaijanQarabağ0–1, 0–3
2016–17UEFA Champions League Q3 UkraineShakhtar Donetsk 0–2, 2–0 (4–2 p)
POGermanyBorussia Mönchengladbach1–3, 1–6
2016–17UEFA Europa League Group GreeceOlympiacos0–1, –
GroupKazakhstanAstana0–0, –
GroupCyprusAPOEL3–1, –

References

  1. "Kontakt" (in German). BSC Young Boys. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  2. 1 2 "Geschichte des BSC Young Boys" (in German). Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  3. 1 2 "Geschichte von YB" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  4. "1898 bis 1902" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  5. "1902 bis 1920" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  6. "1921 bis 1925" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  7. 1 2 "1926 bis 1950" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  8. "Walter Eich – eine Berner Legende ist 80" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  9. "Die Geschichte von YB" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  10. "64'000 Zuschauer am Spiel YB-Stade Reims" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  11. "YB Geschichte" (in German). Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  12. "04.05.2002 – Chapuisat zu YB" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  13. "Das YB-Allstar Team" (in German). Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  14. "Das Wankdorf Stadion" (in German). Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  15. "Das neue Wunder von Bern" (in German). Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  16. "Rohr wird Zaugg-Nachfolger" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  17. "Klassenunterschied auch auf Kunstrasen" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  18. "Martin Andermatt unterschrieb bis Sommer 2008" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  19. "Peter Mast tritt als YB-Verwaltungsrat zurück" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  20. "Thomas Grimm neuer YB-Verwaltungsratspräsident" (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  21. "PUMA – neuer Ausrüster für die Berner Young Boys" (in German). Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  22. "Young Boys 3–2 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 17 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  23. "Wankdorf – Ort des Mirakelspiels" (in German). Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
  24. "History of the Intertoto Cup". Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-14.

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