Thomas Häberli
 Martin Andermatt and Thomas Häberli | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 April 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Lucerne, Switzerland | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | FC Basel u21 coach | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1982-1987 | FC Eschenbach | ||
| 1987-1994 | FC Hochdorf | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994 | FC Le Mont | 4 | (0) |
| 1995 | Lausanne-Sports | 0 | (0) |
| 1996-1997 | FC Hochdorf | 22 | (9) |
| 1997-1999 | FC Schötz | 51 | (21) |
| 1999 | SC Kriens | 22 | (8) |
| 2000 | FC Basel | 8 | (0) |
| 2000-2009 | BSC Young Boys | 217 | (52) |
| National team | |||
| 2004 | Switzerland | 1 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 August 2007. | |||
Thomas Häberli (born 11 April 1974 in Lucerne, Switzerland)[1] is a retired Swiss football striker who last played for BSC Young Boys in the Swiss Super League. He joined the club from FC Basel in July 2000. He has made at least 28 league appearances in each of his seven seasons at the Bern club.
Club history
Häberli began his career with the semi-professional club FC Eschenbach, based in Eschenbach, Lucerne just outside his hometown of Lucerne in Central Switzerland. In 1994 he moved to FC Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, based in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. After just four appearances he was quickly snapped up by their bigger local rivals and in 1995, aged 20, he signed for FC Lausanne-Sport. However he siffered back problems and so was forced to cancel his contract at FC Lausanne-Sport and retire from professional football.
For the 1996/97 season, he signed on with former club FC Hochdorf in his home Canton of Lucerne, who at the time were playing in the 5th tier of the Swiss football pyramid. In 1997 he moved to another local side FC Schötz, based in Schötz. In the summer of 1999, aged 25, Häberli felt fit and ready to resume life as a professional footballer. He called another local side SC Kriens who offered him a trial and impressed enough to earn a contract. His time at playing in the Swiss Challenge League at SC Kriens was a success and soon top flight clubs were taking note. In 2000 he signed for FC Basel but quickly moved on to the Swiss capital, Bern to play for BSC Young Boys where he has remained ever since. Häberli is currently the longest serving player at the club. He is known at the club for being both loyal and down to earth, qualities that are said to be rare in the modern day professional game.
In the 2007/08 season Häberli scored 18 goals and finished 2nd in the goalscoring charts, behind team-mate Hakan Yakin, as BSC Young Boys finished 2nd after defeat to winners FC Basel on the final day of the season.
He was contracted to the club until 30 June 2010.
International career
In 2004 he made his only appearance so far for Switzerland against the Faroe Islands.
For UEFA Euro 2008 there was speculation amongst the media and the fans that he would be recalled due to his excellent forum, and the injury sustained to Blaise Nkufo. He was recalled into the provisional squad by coach Köbi Kuhn and played in a warm up game with the squad in an unofficial friendly against the U21 side of FC Lugano, scoring a goal. However, when the final squad was announced, the next day, Häberli did not make the final cut.
Personal life
Häberli is married to Olivia and has two daughters, Lielle and Eline, and lives with them in Ballwil, in Canton Lucerne. The house is next to the farm which his parents live on.
Away from football he counts playing Jass, swimming and reading as his hobbies.
External links
- Swiss Football League profile (German)
- BSC Young Boys profile (German)