Neuchâtel Xamax FCS
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| Full name | Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club Serrières | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Xamax | ||
| Founded | 1906 | ||
| Ground | Stade de la Maladière, Neuchâtel | ||
| Capacity | 12,000 | ||
| Owner | Jean-François Collet | ||
| Manager | Anthony Braizat | ||
| League | Swiss Challenge League | ||
| 2024–25 | Swiss Challenge League, 8th of 10 | ||
| Website | www | ||
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Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club Serrières (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]
History
In 1906 the club was founded as FC Cantonal and in 1970 merged with FC Xamax to create the current club.
They have been champions of Switzerland on three occasions, in 1916 and in successive years in 1987 and 1988.[3] The club has also made it to five Swiss Cup finals, the most recent in 2011, but have failed to win any of them.[3]
After many financial crises, the club declared bankruptcy on 26 January 2012 and was consequently excluded from Swiss Super League.[4] 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.[5] 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.[3]
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.[6]
Stadium
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.[7]
Current squad
- As of 14 April 2026[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable players
- Cameroon
Freddy Mveng
- Central African Republic
Louis Mafouta
- Egypt
- Ivory Coast
Eric Tia
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Philippines
Michael Kempter
- Saudi Arabia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mustafa Sejmenović- Ensar Arifović
- Bulgaria
- Hungary
- West Germany
- Ireland
- Liechtenstein
Noah Frick
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
Rene van der Gijp
Honours
- Leagues
- Swiss Super League
- Winner (3): 1915–16, 1986–87, 1987–88
- Swiss Challenge League
- Winner (3): 1972–73, 2006–07, 2017–18
- Swiss Promotion League
- Winner: 2014–15
- 1. Liga Classic
- Winner: 2013–14
- 2. Liga Interregional
- Winner: 2012–13
- Cups
- Swiss Super Cup
- Winner (3): 1987, 1988, 1990
Former coaches
| Coach | Nationality | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Giovanni Ferrari |  |
1946–1948 |
| Fernand Jaccard | .svg.png){kind=small} |
1948–1952 |
| Josef Humpál |  |
1961–1965 |
| Milorad Milutinović | .svg.png){kind=small} |
1968–1969 |
| Josef Humpál | |
1969–1970 |
| Paul Garbani | |
July 1970–Jan 1972 |
| Josef Artimovits |  |
Jan 1972–July 1972 |
| Lev Mantula | |
July 1972–Jan 1975 |
| Branko Rezuar | |
Jan 1975–July 1975 |
| Gilbert Gress |  |
1975–1977 |
| Antonio Merlo | |
July 1977–April 1978 |
| Erich Vogel | – | April 1978–October 1979 |
| Lev Mantula | |
October 1979–July 1980 |
| Jean‑Marc Guillou | |
1980–1981 |
| Gilbert Gress | |
1981–1990 |
| Roy Hodgson |  |
1990–1992 |
| Uli Stielike |  |
Jan 1992–July 1993 |
| Uli Stielike & Don Givens | /  |
1993–1994 |
| Gilbert Gress | |
1994–1997 |
| Alain Geiger | |
1998–2002 |
| Claude Ryf | |
July 2002–Feb 2004 |
| René Lobello & Christophe Moulin | / |
Feb 2004–July 2004 |
| René Lobello & Gianni Della Casa | / |
2004–2005 |
| Alain Geiger | |
2005 |
| Miroslav Blažević |  |
2005–2006 |
| Gérard Castella | |
June 2006–March 2008 |
| Néstor Clausen |  |
2008–Jan 2009 |
| Jean‑Michel Aeby | |
Jan 2009–June 2009 |
| Pierre‑André Schürmann | |
June 2009–April 2010 |
| Jean‑Michel Aeby | |
April 2010–Aug 2010 |
| Didier Ollé‑Nicolle | |
Sept 2010–May 2011 |
| Bernard Challandes | |
May 2011 |
| Sonny Anderson |  |
2011 |
| François Ciccolini | |
July 2011 |
| Joaquín Caparrós |  |
July 2011–Sept 2011 |
| Víctor Muñoz | |
Sept 2011–Jan 2012 |
| Roberto Cattilaz | |
May 2012–Oct 2015 |
| Michel Decastel | |
Oct 2015–Feb 2019 |
| Stéphane Henchoz | |
Feb 2019–June 2019 |
| Joël Magnin | |
July 2019–July 2020 |
| Stéphane Henchoz | |
July 2020–Dec 2020 |
| Martin Rueda | |
Dec 2020 |
| Andrea Binotto | / |
Jan 2021–Aug 2022 |
| Jeff Saibene |  / |
Aug 2022–Apr 2023 |
| Uli Forte | |
Apr 2023–Dec 2024 |
| Anthony Braizat | |
Dec 2024–present |
European record
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References
- ^ "Historique : La Genèse | NEUCHÂTEL XAMAX" (in French). Xamax.ch. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c "Un palmarès plus que respectable" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "Swiss club Xamax bankrupt, Chechen owner arrested - - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ Meisterschaft 2. Liga interregional Deprecated link archived 15 January 2013 at archive.today accessed: 21 July 2012
- ^ "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.
- ^ "LA MALADIÈRE – HISTORIQUE" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "Equipe". Neuchâtel Xamax. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
External links
- Neuchâtel Xamax unofficial website (in French)
- Team profile on Soccerway