Vaduz, or the history of a non-Swiss team in the Swiss league

Someone has a reason to celebrate: “AUFSTIEGSFEIER”

A whole nation has a reason to celebrate.

Have you ever heard of a team of a different country join the main league of a different country?
No, it’s not a matter of Celtic or Rangers joining the Premiership.
And it’s not what the Basques say about Bilbao in the Liga.

It’s the story of a tiny capital who has finally fulfilled its biggest ambition: Vaduz, the capital with more banks than bakers.

A draw against already relegated Chiasso would have been enough for FC Vaduz (in the Challenge League, Switzerland’s first division) to ensure its top spot which means Super League, of course. A goal they had narrowly missed in 2004 and 2005 (losing the play-offs).

A goalless draw was enough to make the whole town erupt with joy! “It was pure adrenaline until the last second, but my team coped with the pressure,” said Vaduz coach Heinz Hermann who, by the way, is also Switzerland’s most capped player!

A terrific year for tiny Liechtenstein who had their best result ever (2 wins vs. Latvia and Iceland and one draw in the qualifier stage) despite being the only team to ever lose to San Marino and the only country without a National League (which is the reason why Vaduz always played in the Swiss League). Vaduz has been the holder of the Liechtenstein cup for 11 years in a row (this year they defeated Balzers) and will now represent Liechtenstein competing with the likes of Basel, Grasshoppers and Zurich.

Unsurprisingly Vaduz had the biggest budget in the Challenge League thanks to some special sponsorship deals. “Some people thought that we would have it much easier, but in the end it’s the result that matters, and the result is the right one,” said Vaduz president Hanspeter Negele.

However there will be certain conditions in the Super League. They will only be able to enter European football by winning the Liechtenstein Cup, they will have to pay a separate fee to the Swiss Football Association and cannot be crowned Swiss Champions.

FC Vaduz plays in Rheinpark Stadion (6,127 spectators) and have won 35 Liechtenstein Cups.
Their current team is a very international one with only 5 Liechtenstein players (Hasler, Rohrer, Fischer, Rizberger, Polverino), 8 Swiss players (Sommer, Akdemir, Reinmann, Zarn, Maggetti, Wutrich, Cerrone, Sutter), 2 Brazilian players (Gaspar, Alexandre), 2 German players (Grossklaus, Wieczorek), 1 Bosnian (Dzombic), 1 Australian (Harnwell), 1 Argentinian (Bevacqua), 1 Italian (Aquaro) and 1 Austrian (Sturm).

The new season will be a challenging one for the Liechtenstein side.
Their UEFA CUP results having shown great improvements (they were kicked out by Basel on away goals 2-1, 0-1), two star players like Sommer (a certain future goalkeeper for the Swiss national team) and Gaspar that interest many Swiss clubs, and a budget that will rise from 4.5 million francs to a possible 8 million, Vaduz might be the big surprise in the 2008-2009 season.

We shall see if they shall be followed by Bellinzona, second in the Challenge League and Swiss Cup Finalists, who will play against Skt. Gallen in a tight playoff for the Super League. The main Swiss League has been lacking an Italian-speaking team in some years.
With 6 German-speaking teams, 2-French-Speaking Teams and one Liechtenstein team, Bellinzona succeeding in joining the top flight would make the Super League the most varied Championship in Europe.