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Born to Albanian-origin working-class immigrant parents in Switzerland, Xherdan Shaqiri had a tough childhood. His talent in football led him to join Basel’s youth team at age 8. The Swiss footballer is now better known for his stints with clubs such as Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
Swiss footballer and Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka wasn’t just part of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Swiss team but has also been part of 2 FIFA World Cups. In 2022, he posted an apology on social media following his red-card exit in a game against Liverpool.
Popular Croatian central midfielder Ivan Rakitić now represents FC Barcelona. Though born in Switzerland, the talented footballer has never played for the country. Known for his energy on the field, he was instrumental in taking his team to the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Swiss footballer Yann Sommer is best known as the goalkeeper for Borussia Mönchengladbach. He has also been part of the 2 FIFA World Cups and 2 UEFA European Championships for Switzerland. Starting his career with youth teams such as Basel, he later became one of the greatest Bundesliga goalkeepers.
Lucien Favre is one of the best-known football managers from Switzerland. A favorite of various French and Swiss clubs, he is known for bringing the best out of players such as Marco Reus and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. He also played a role in making Hertha and Borussia Mönchengladbach major European teams.
Known for her stint with the WSA club Aston Villa, Swiss footballer Alisha Lehmann was always openly lesbian and even gearing up for a wedding with her Swiss teammate Ramona Bachmann. She later stunned her fans with an Instagram post, confirming her relationship with Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz.
Known for his 20-year stint as a footballer and his successful tenures with teams such as Arsenal and Juventus, Stephan Lichtsteiner has, post-retirement, begun training as a watchmaker with the Swiss timepiece manufacturer Maurice de Mauriac. His powerful runs on the field earned him the nickname Forrest Gump.
Turkish-origin Swiss midfielder Gökhan Inler is best known for his stint with the Turkish club Adana Demirspor. He began his career with Swiss and Turkish youth teams and later also represented Switzerland in 2 FIFA World Cups. His energy and on-field movements have made him a star in Switzerland.
Swiss defender Kevin Mbabu is best known for his stint with the Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg. After Newcastle United let him go, Mbabu went on record saying his performance would make Newcastle regret their decision. He was part of the Swiss squad that played at the 2019 UEFA Nations League finals.
Swiss footballer and Brescia midfielder Valon Behrami scripted history by becoming the first from his country to be part of 4 football World Cups. He once received death threats from Brazilian fans after his on-field conflicts with Brazil's Neymar. He is married to Swiss alpine ski racer Lara Gut.
Professional football goalkeeper Joel Castro Pereira commenced his club career with Manchester United and moving on played for the club as also with several other clubs on loan. He currently plays for the Eredivisie club RKC Waalwijk. He was selected in the 2016 Portugal Olympic football team and in the 2017 Portugal under-21 team for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper, Swiss footballer Roman Bürki is known for his towering 6’4” frame. He has also represented his national team and been part of 2 World Cups, though he later expressed his reluctance in joining his team in 2018, stating he wished he could devote more time to his club.
Former Swiss footballer Philippe Senderos is known for his stints as a defender for teams such as Arsenal, A.C. Milan, and Aston Villa. Born to Serbian and Spanish immigrant parents, he speaks 7 languages. He was once the victim of a hoax that claimed he had converted to Islam.
Swiss-born sports executive Joan Gamper is best remembered as the founder of the legendary football club FC Barcelona. A sports enthusiast since his childhood, he excelled in many sports, such as football, golf, and tennis. He died of suicide at age 52, apparently driven by depression related to financial issues.
