Lichtsteiner Takes Over Basel Coaching
The Swiss club Basel officially announced the appointment of former Swiss international Stephan Lichtsteiner as the new head coach of the first team, with a long-term contract extending until the summer of 2029.
Lichtsteiner is considered one of the most prominent names in Swiss football history as a player, having played more than 100 international matches with the national team and captained it on several occasions. His professional career spanned major clubs, most notably Lazio and Juventus, where he achieved many domestic titles, in addition to stints with Arsenal in England and Augsburg in Germany, before announcing his retirement in 2020.
On the coaching front, Lichtsteiner began his post-retirement career working with youth categories, taking on coaching roles with Swiss youth teams and working within Basel's academy as a supervisor and coach for several age groups.
In the summer of 2024, he had his first experience as a head coach with the fourth-tier Swiss team Wetzikon-Bonstetten before getting the opportunity to lead Basel's first team.
Basel's management confirmed that the choice of Lichtsteiner was based on his leadership qualities, deep understanding of the club's identity, and the demands of modern football, despite his limited experience in coaching top-tier teams.
For his part, Lichtsteiner expressed his pride in taking on the role, affirming his determination to work hard to bring the team back to strong competition on both the local and continental levels.
Lichtsteiner is considered one of the most prominent names in Swiss football history as a player, having played more than 100 international matches with the national team and captained it on several occasions. His professional career spanned major clubs, most notably Lazio and Juventus, where he achieved many domestic titles, in addition to stints with Arsenal in England and Augsburg in Germany, before announcing his retirement in 2020.
On the coaching front, Lichtsteiner began his post-retirement career working with youth categories, taking on coaching roles with Swiss youth teams and working within Basel's academy as a supervisor and coach for several age groups.
In the summer of 2024, he had his first experience as a head coach with the fourth-tier Swiss team Wetzikon-Bonstetten before getting the opportunity to lead Basel's first team.
Basel's management confirmed that the choice of Lichtsteiner was based on his leadership qualities, deep understanding of the club's identity, and the demands of modern football, despite his limited experience in coaching top-tier teams.
For his part, Lichtsteiner expressed his pride in taking on the role, affirming his determination to work hard to bring the team back to strong competition on both the local and continental levels.
