Grasshopper Club Zurich

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Grasshopper Club Zurich
GC Zurich Logo.svg
Full nameGrasshopper Club Zurich
Nickname(s)Grasshoppers or Hoppers
Short nameGC, GCZ, Grasshoppers
Founded1 September 1886;138 years ago (1886-09-01)
Ground Letzigrund
Capacity26,104
Owner Los Angeles FC [1] [2]
PresidentStacy Johns
Sporting directorStephan Schwarz
Coach Tomas Oral
League Swiss Super League
2023–24 Swiss Super League, 11th of 12
Website gcz.ch
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Grasshopper Club Zurich (GCZ), commonly referred to as Grasshopper Club or simply just GC, is a professional multisports club based in Zurich, Switzerland. They are nicknamed the Grasshoppers or sometimes just Hoppers. The oldest and best-known department of the club is its football team. With 27 league titles, the Grasshoppers hold the records for winning the most national championships and the Swiss Cups, with 19 trophies in the latter. [3] The club is the oldest football team in Zurich and maintains a substantial rivalry with FC Zurich. [4]

Contents

The origin of Grasshoppers name is unknown, although the most common explanation refers to its early players' energetic post-goal celebrations and that their style of play was nimble and energetic. [5]

After a number of appearances in European Cups and the UEFA Champions League, the Grasshopper Club has become one of Switzerland's most recognizable football clubs. Today, in addition to its main football squad, the club has competitive professional and youth teams in rowing, ice hockey, handball, lawn tennis, court tennis, field hockey, curling, basketball, rugby, squash, floorball and beach soccer. [6]

History

Chart of GCZ table positions in the Swiss football league system Grasshopper Performance Graph.png
Chart of GCZ table positions in the Swiss football league system

Grasshopper Club Zurich was founded on 1 September 1886 by Tom E. Griffith, an English student. In 1893, the Grasshopper Club became the first Swiss team to play in (what was then) Germany, defeating Strasbourg 1–0. The first Swiss championships (then called "Serie A") were held in 1897–98 and were won by the Grasshoppers, as was the first championship played using a league system in 1899–1900. [7]

Their biggest European success to date came in the 1977–78 UEFA Cup where they reached the semi-final against French side Bastia. After a 3–2 win at home, they traveled to Corsica for the second leg but lost 0–1 and were eliminated due to the away goal rule.

In 1997, the Grasshopper Club was incorporated and as of May 2005, it is formally organized as Neue Grasshopper Fussball AG. In doing so, Grasshopper became the first Swiss sports club to go public. [8]

Their to date last Swiss championship title was won in 2003. In 2013, the Grasshoppers ended a ten-year trophy drought with a penalty shoot-out victory over Basel in the Swiss Cup final. It would be the last trophy won for over a decade.

In 2019, the Grasshoppers were relegated to the second division for the first time in 68 years. [9]

In April 2020, it was revealed that the Hong Kong–based Champion Union HK Holding Limited had acquired 90% of GC shares. [10]

On 17 January 2024, a long-term partnership with MLS side Los Angeles FC was announced, with LAFC acquiring over 90% of the shares from the previous owners, Champion Union. [1] [2]

Stadium and grounds

Since September 2007, Grasshopper Club Zurich has played all of its home matches in the Letzigrund stadium which is the regular home ground of FC Zurich. After the completion of the new Stadion Zurich (currently in planning stage), both teams are expected to play there.

From 1929 to 2007, the Grasshopper Club had their own home ground in the Hardturm stadium, however, this was demolished in December 2008. Before 1929, home matches were played at various other venues.

Training facilities and their football academy are located in Niederhasli, where in 2005 the club opened a comprehensive facility including five practice pitches, apartments for youth players and offices.

Rivalries

FC Zurich

FC Zurich was founded ten years after GC in 1896. A year later, the first derby between the two Zurich clubs was held as part of the first Swiss championship, where GC defeated FC Zurich 7–2. As the two teams did not always play in the same league, it would take nearly 70 years until the 100th derby. To date, 251 official derbies have been held, with GC leading with 121 wins to FC Zurich's 90, leaving 39 draws.[ citation needed ]

The 2 October 2011 Swiss league match between the two teams is known by Swiss media as the "Disgrace of Zurich", due to rioting by FC Zurich fans. The violence followed Grasshopper supporters stealing FC Zurich fan banners and displaying them in their own section with a message mocking FC Zurich.

Basel

Basel has long been a rival to GC, owing largely to the rivalry between the two cities. As a result, games between FC Zurich and Basel are also often heated games, often leading to clashes between fans.

From the late 60s to the early 80s, both GC and Basel had numerous Swiss championship victories. However, in 1988, Basel was relegated to the Nationalliga B. The rivalry flared up at the beginning of the 21st century, when FCB's improved performance has made them a mainstay at the top the Swiss league. However, with FCB's rise came GC's downfall and the rivalry has become largely one-sided. The most recent notable meeting between the two teams was the Swiss Cup Final in 2013, where Grasshoppers were able to beat Basel in penalties, with a score of 1–1 after extra time.

Honours

National

League

Cups

European

Players

Current squad

As of 29 October 2024 [11]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
2 DF Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Dirk Abels
3 DF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Saulo Decarli
4 DF Flag of Latvia.svg  LVA Kristers Tobers
6 MF Flag of Albania.svg  ALB Amir Abrashi ( captain )
7 MF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Tsiy-William Ndenge
8 MF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Sonny Kittel
9 FW Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Nikolas Muci
10 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Giotto Morandi
11 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Pascal Schürpf
14 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Théo Ndicka
15 DF Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Ayumu Seko
16 DF Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE Noah Persson (on loan from Young Boys )
17 FW Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Tomás Verón Lupi (on loan from RC Montevideo )
18 FW Flag of South Korea.svg  KOR Lee Young-jun
19 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Mathieu Choinière
20 FW Flag of France.svg  FRA Evans Maurin
21 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Awer Mabil
No.Pos.NationPlayer
22 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Benno Schmitz
24 DF Flag of the Philippines.svg  PHI Michael Kempter
25 FW Flag of The Gambia.svg  GAM Adama Bojang (on loan from Reims )
26 DF Flag of Estonia.svg  EST Maksim Paskotši
27 FW Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Asumah Abubakar
28 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Simone Stroscio
29 GK Flag of Austria.svg  AUT Manuel Kuttin
50 GK Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Laurent Seji
52 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Samuel Marques
53 DF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Tim Meyer
55 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Damian Nigg
57 DF Flag of Albania.svg  ALB Elvir Zukaj
71 GK Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Justin Hammel
73 DF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Florian Hoxha
77 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Filipe de Carvalho
99 FW Flag of North Macedonia.svg  MKD Dorian Babunski

Academy players with first-team contracts

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
58 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Yannick Bettkober
59 FW Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Tugra Turhan
— GK Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Orlando Gyr
— GK Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Mark Mihaljevic
— DF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Sead Ahmeti
— DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Maher Darwich(on loan from Bayern Munich U19 )
— DF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Loris Giandomenico
— DF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Diego Poloni
— DF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Livio Spring
No.Pos.NationPlayer
— DF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Davud Sylaj
— MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Tariq Blake
— MF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Dior Gerbovci
— MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Eliano Guido
— MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Leart Kabashi
— FW Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Gabriel González
— FW Flag of Germany.svg  GER Maksim Kličković
— FW Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Samuel Krasniqi
— FW Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Miguel Martins

Out on loan

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
23 GK Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Nicolas Glaus (at Schaffhausen until 31 December 2024)

Women's team

The women's division was founded in 2009, when GC/Schwerzenbach (originally FFC Schwerzenbach) was absorbed into the club.

As of 9 August 2024 [12]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
4 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Victoria Laino
6 DF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Luna Lempérière ( captain )
8 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Ella Ljustina
10 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Yllka Kadriu
12 GK Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Isabel Rutishauser
13 DF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Leandra Flury
14 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Petra Mikulića
15 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Noemi Ivelj
16 FW Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Emanuela Pfister
17 GK Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Nicole Studer
No.Pos.NationPlayer
18 GK Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Saskia Bürki
20 FW Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Janina Egli
21 DF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Emma Egli
23 FW Flag of Austria.svg  AUT Noémie Potier
24 MF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Giulia Looser
27 DF Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  SUI Melanie Müller
28 FW Flag of Slovenia.svg  SVN Nina Predanič
32 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Tamar Dongus
46 DF Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Sophie Magee

Notable former players

Players for the Swiss national football team

Players with World Cup appearances for their national teams

Coaching staff

List of Coaches (since 1925)

Organisation

As of 21 May 2024 [27]
Board of Directors
PositionNameSince
President Flag of the United States.svg Stacy Johns01/2024 [1]
Board member Flag of the United States.svg Larry Freedman01/2024 [1]
Vice-president Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg András Gurovits07/2023
Management
Sporting director Flag of Germany.svg Stephan Schwarz03/2024 [28]
Director of Commercial Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Mike-David Burkhard07/2024 [29]
Head of Finance Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Roland Gebhard02/2023

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "LAFC and Grasshopper Club Zürich form Partnership". Grasshopper Club Zürich. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 "LAFC And Grasshopper Club Zürich Form Long-Term Strategic Partnership". Los Angeles FC. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Vilotić seals Swiss Cup success for Grasshoppers". UEFA. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "The great Zurich divide". FIFA. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "GESCHICHTE DES GRASSHOPPER CLUB ZÜRICH". GCZ. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Sektionen". GCZ. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Grasshopper Club Zürich". FIFA. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "White Papers – Resource Library". TechRepublic. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2006.
  9. ↑ Homewood, Brian (16 May 2019). "Relegation completes demise of most successful Swiss club". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  10. ↑ Thomas Schifferle (9 April 2020). "Chinesen übernehmen GC". Tages Anzeiger. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  11. ↑ Zürich, Grasshopper Club. "Kader – Grasshopper Club Zürich". www.gcz.ch. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Kader". www.gcfrauenfussball.ch. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Staff – Grasshopper Club Zürich". www.gcz.ch. Grasshopper Club Zürich. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "GC Zurich verpflichtet Cheftrainer Tomas Oral" (in Swiss High German). Grasshopper Club Zürich. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  15. 1 2 "START OF TRAINING & COACHING STAFF & COMPLETION". Grasshopper Club Zürich. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  16. ↑ "ERMINIO PISERCHIA AND JÖRG STIEL NEW AT GC". www.gcz.ch. Grasshopper Club Zürich. 18 June 2021.
  17. ↑ Zürich, Grasshopper Club. "Youth Performance Center – Grasshopper Club Zürich". www.gcz.ch. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  18. 1 2 "New management structure for the youth division". www.gcz.ch. Grasshopper Club Zürich. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  19. ↑ "SASCHA MÜLLER NEW TALENT MANAGER AT GC ZURICH". www.gcz.ch. Grasshopper Club Zürich. 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Saisonauftakt für den Nachwuchs des GC Zürich". www.gcz.ch. Grasshopper Club Zürich. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  21. ↑ "Dominik Probst appointed as new U19 head coach". www.gcz.ch. Grasshopper Club Zürich. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  22. ↑ "GC ZÜRICH STARTET SAISON MIT NEUEN NACHWUCHSTRAINERN". www.gcz.ch. Grasshopper Club Zürich. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  23. ↑ Thomas Schifferle (9 June 2021). "Giorgio Contini neuer Cheftrainer bei GC". Grasshopper Club Zürich. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "BRUNO BERNER BECOMES THE NEW HEAD COACH". Grasshopper Club Zürich. 9 June 2023. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  25. ↑ "Marco Schällibaum appointed new Head Coach at GC Zurich". Grasshopper Club Zürich. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "GC Zurich parts ways with Marco Schällibaum". Grasshopper Club Zürich. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  27. ↑ "Organisation – Grasshopper Club Zürich". www.gcz.ch. Grasshopper Club Zürich. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  28. ↑ "GC ZURICH APPOINTS STEPHAN SCHWARZ AS SPORTS DIRECTOR". Grasshopper Club Zürich. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  29. ↑ "CHANGE IN THE COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT AT GC ZURICH". Grasshopper Club Zürich. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.

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