FC Sion

FC Sion is a Swiss football team from the city of Sion. The club was founded in 1909. The club play their home games at the Stade Tourbillon. As of 2007 it has a limited capacity 16,263 seats, with 11,500 standing places. The Swiss Football Association limits the total capacity to 18,000 spectators, when the stadium could potentially hold 19,600. For this reason, chairman Christian Constantin has put plans in the work for construction of a new stadium in Riddes.

The club has won the Swiss Super League twice in 1992 and 1997 and the Swiss Cup 12 times, the most recent being in 2011.

History

In the decades of the 1970s and 1980s, the club won four Swiss Cups in 1974, 1980, 1982 and 1986. In 1991 the club won its fifth out of five Swiss Cups and the following year the club won its first Swiss Super League. FC Sion added to this success by winning the Swiss Cup back-to-back-to-back times from 1995–1997. The latter was half of the domestic double done by the club by winning the 1997 Swiss Super League. That season marked the highest number of points won by a team during a Swiss season.

Subsequently, the club experienced a slump following these successes and recurring financial problems. Although bankruptcy was averted by the club, after relegation the club was denied its professional license in 2003. After FC Sion attacked the National League and Justice, by order of the cantonal judge, FC Sion was reinstated into the second division in October 2003; while the league had already been going on for over three months. Three seasons later, in 2006, the club became the first second division team to win the Swiss Cup. FC Sion rejoined the elite at the end of this season. In 2011, FC Sion won its 12th Cup final in Switzerland, making them successful all 12 times in the final.

In 2008, the club signed Essam El-Hadary, leading to a ban in transfer windows and an international playing ban for El-Hadary for four months. It was because El-Hadary was under contract with his former club Al-Ahly and the club did not release him to be subject of negotiations in transfer windows. This ban was temporarily suspended due to ongoing appeal processes.

Honours

Swiss Super League: 1991–92, 1996–97

Swiss Cup: 1965, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2006, 2009, 2011

Stadium

Their home ground is Stade Tourbillon, which has a capacity of 16'500. Chairman and architect Christian Constantin is planning construction of a new 20,000 all-seater stadium in nearby Riddes.

Current squad

As of 11 May 2010 (Vice-captain)

Out on loan

Staff

Management

President Christian Constantin

General Manager Domenicangelo Massimo

Manager Alexandre Zen-Ruffinen

Director of Sport Frédéric Chassot

Sports

Head Coach Laurent Roussey

Assistant Coach Blaise Piffaretti

Teamchef Jean-Claude Richard

Technical Coach José Sinval

Goalkeeper Coach Marco Pascolo

Medical

Physic Coach Philippe Troillet

Advisor Zoran Funjak

Masseur Omar Boumaraf Philippe Hofmann

Doctor Roberto Campini

Notable former players

:See also . Juan Barbas (1991–92) Gabriel Calderón (1991–92) Aurelio Vidmar (1995–96) Beto (2007–08) Kléber Pereira (1997–98) Roberto de Assis Moreira (1992–95), (1996–98) Túlio Maravilha (1992–93) Jaime Patricio Ramírez (1989–91) Essam El-Hadary (2008–09) Antoine Kombouaré (1995–96) Ottó Vincze (1992–93), (1996) Darko Pančev (1996–97) Carlitos (2006–07) Carlos Manuel (1987–88) Neil Murray (1996–97) Paulo Diogo (2005) Alain Geiger (1977–81), (1990–95) Dominique Herr (1992–96) Marc Hottiger (1992–94), (1999–02) Yvan Quentin (1990–98), (2003–04) Raphaël Wicky (1993–97), (2007–08) Dennis Lota (1997–98)

Former Personal

(Head Coach U-17) Umberto Barberis (Head Coach U-18) Christian Zermatten

Former coaches

Miroslav Blažević Uli Stielike Alberto Bigon Néstor Clausen

References

External links

Official website

FC Sion soccerway profile

Category:FC Sion Sion Category:Association football clubs established in 1909 Category:Valais