Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club Serrières or Neuchâtel Xamax FCS (pronounced [nøʃɑtɛl ksamaks]) is a Swiss football club based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal, founded in 1906 and Swiss champions of 1916, and FC Xamax founded in 1912. The name Xamax comes from legendary Swiss international player 'Xam' Max Abegglen, one of the founding members.[1] Xamax Neuchâtel FCS obtained its current name after a merger with FC Serrières, another side from Neuchâtel, in May 2013.[2]

Neuchâtel Xamax
Full nameNeuchâtel Xamax Football Club Serrières
Nickname(s)Xamax
Founded1912; 112 years ago (1912)
GroundStade de la Maladière,
Neuchâtel
Capacity12,000
OwnerVincent Binggeli
ChairmanChristian Binggeli
ManagerUli Forte
LeagueSwiss Challenge League
2023–24Swiss Challenge League, 4th of 10
Websitehttp://www.xamax.ch/
Current season
Chart of the table positions of Neuchâtel Xamax FCS and its previous incarnations in the Swiss football league system
Stade de la Maladière
Gilbert Gress, championship winning coach of the 1980s.

History

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Students at the Collège Latin in Neuchâtel began playing organized football in 1910. Soon after, in 1912, Neuchâtel Xamax was officially founded.[3]

They have been champions of Switzerland on two occasions, in successive years in 1987 and 1988.[4] The club has also made it to five Swiss Cup finals, the most recent in 2011, but have failed to win any of them.[4]

After many financial crises, the club declared bankruptcy on 26 January 2012 and was consequently excluded from Swiss Super League.[5] The club was reformed, but had to restart in the Swiss amateur leagues, entering the 2. Liga Interregional, the fifth tier of the Swiss football league system, for the 2012–13 season.[6] The club finished first in 2013 and was promoted to the 1. Liga Classic for 2013–14. Once again, Xamax finished first, winning the play-off to secure a second successive promotion. Xamax won 1. Liga Promotion, the third tier of Swiss league system was and promoted to the Challenge League after having a third successive promotion in 2014–15 season.[4]

The club finally won promotion back to the Swiss Super League in 2018, marking the end of a six-year absence from the top flight of Swiss football. At the end of the 2019–20 Swiss Super League season, the club was relegated back to the second division after finishing bottom of the table.[7]

Stadium

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The club plays its home matches at the Stade de la Maladière, which began construction in 2004 and was opened in 2007. It has a capacity of 12,500 spectators.[8]

Current squad

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As of 9 September 2024[9]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   COD Anthony Mossi
3 DF   SUI Jonathan Fontana
4 DF   BIH Sead Hajrović
5 DF   KOS Lavdrim Hajrulahu
6 MF   SUI Fabio Saiz
7 MF   SVN Kenan Fatkič
8 MF   SRB Samir Ramizi
9 FW   KOS Shkelqim Demhasaj
10 FW   FRA Hussayn Touati
11 FW   FRA Salim Ben Seghir
15 DF   SUI Yoan Epitaux
17 FW   SUI Angelo Campos
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF   POR Euclides Cabral
20 FW   CIV Koro Koné
22 FW   NGA Paschal Durugbor
23 DF   SUI Michael Gonçalves
24 MF   SUI Roland Ndongo
26 FW   SUI Guillaume Furrer
27 GK   SUI Edin Omeragić
30 GK   SUI Hugo Bigirimana
31 MF   SUI Francesco Lentini
32 MF   SUI Marouane Calame
38 DF   CIV Brillani Soro
42 MF   SUI Giovani Bamba

Notable players

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Cameroon
Central African Republic
Egypt
Ivory Coast
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Hungary
West Germany
Ireland
Liechtenstein
Spain
Switzerland
Netherlands

Honours

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Leagues
Cups

Former coaches

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European record

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Season Competition Round Opponents Home Away Aggregate
1981–82 UEFA Cup 1R   Sparta Prague 4–0 2–3 6–3
2R   Malmö 1–0 1–0 2–0
3R   Sporting CP 1–0 0–0 1–0
QF   Hamburg 0–0 2–3 2–3
1984–85 UEFA Cup 1R   Olympiacos 2–2 0–1 2–3
1985–86 UEFA Cup 1R   Sportul Studențesc 3–0 4–4 7–4
2R   Lokomotiv Sofia 0–0 1–1 1–1 (a)
3R   Dundee United 3–1 1–2 4–3
QF   Real Madrid 2–0 0–3 2–3
1986–87 UEFA Cup 1R   Lyngby 2–0 3–1 5–1
2R   Groningen 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
1987–88 European Cup 1R   Kuusysi 5–0 1–2 6–2
2R   Bayern Munich 2–1 0–2 2–3
1988–89 European Cup 1R   Larissa 2–1 1–2 3–3 (3–0 PSO)
2R   Galatasaray 3–0 0–5 3–5
1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R   Estrela de Amadora 1–1 1–1 2–2 (3–4 PSO)
1991–92 UEFA Cup 1R   Floriana 2–0 0–0 2–0
2R   Celtic 5–1 0–1 5–2
3R   Real Madrid 1–0 0–4 1–4
1992–93 UEFA Cup 1R   BK Frem 2–2 1–4 3–6
1995–96 UEFA Cup QR   Red Star Belgrade 0–0 1–0 1–0
1R   Roma 1–1 0–4 1–4
1996–97 UEFA Cup QR   Anorthosis Famagusta 4–0 2–1 6–1
1R   Dynamo Kyiv 2–1 0–0 2–1
2R   Helsingborg 1–1 0–2 1–3
1997–98 UEFA Cup Q1   Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol 7–0 3–1 10–1
Q2   Viking 3–0 1–2 4–2
1R   Inter Milan 0–2 0–2 0–4
2003–04 UEFA Cup QR   Valletta 2–0 2–0 4–0
1R   Auxerre 0–1 0–1 0–2

References

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  1. ^ "Historique : La Genèse | NEUCHÂTEL XAMAX" (in French). Xamax.ch. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Le Neuchâtel Xamax FCS est né" (in French). RTS Sport. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  3. ^ "La Genèse" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Un palmarès plus que respectable" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Swiss club Xamax bankrupt, Chechen owner arrested - - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  6. ^ Meisterschaft 2. Liga interregional Archived 15 January 2013 at archive.today accessed: 21 July 2012
  7. ^ "Switzerland side Neuchatel Xamax return to top division six years after bankruptcy, collapse". ESPN. 22 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  8. ^ "LA MALADIÈRE – HISTORIQUE" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Équipe" [Team] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax FCS. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
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