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Grasshopper Club Zurich

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"GCZ" redirects here. For the military decoration, see Gold Cross of Zimbabwe.

Grasshopper Club Zurich
Full nameGrasshopper Club Zurich
Nickname(s)Grasshoppers or Hoppers
Short nameGC, GCZ, Grasshoppers
Founded1 September 1886; 138 years ago (1886-09-01)
GroundLetzigrund
Capacity26,104
OwnerLos Angeles FC[1][2]
PresidentStacy Johns
Sporting directorStephan Schwarz
CoachTomas Oral
LeagueSwiss Super League
2023–24Swiss Super League, 11th of 12
Websitegcz.ch
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]

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

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Chart of GCZ table positions in the Swiss football league system
Main article: History of Grasshopper Club Zürich

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

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Main articles: Hardturm and Letzigrund

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

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FC Zurich

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Main article: Zürich Derby

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

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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

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National

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League

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Cups

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European

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Main article: Grasshopper Club Zürich in European football

Players

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Current squad

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

Academy players with first-team contracts

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

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

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
23 GK Switzerland SUI Nicolas Glaus (at Schaffhausen until 31 December 2024)

Women's team

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Main articles: Grasshopper Club Zürich (women) and Swiss Women's Super League

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

Notable former players

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See also: Category:Grasshopper Club Zurich players

Players for the Swiss national football team

Players with World Cup appearances for their national teams

Coaching staff

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List of Coaches (since 1925)

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Organisation

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As of 21 May 2024[27]
Board of Directors
Position Name Since
President United States Stacy Johns 01/2024[1]
Board member United States Larry Freedman 01/2024[1]
Vice-president Switzerland András Gurovits 07/2023
Management
Sporting director Germany Stephan Schwarz 03/2024[28]
Director of Commercial Switzerland Mike-David Burkhard 07/2024[29]
Head of Finance Switzerland Roland Gebhard 02/2023

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "LAFC and Grasshopper Club Zürich form Partnership". Grasshopper Club Zürich. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d "GC Zurich verpflichtet Cheftrainer Tomas Oral" (in Swiss High German). Grasshopper Club Zürich. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  15. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d e f g h i "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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