FC Vaduz facts for kids
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| Full name | Fussball Club Vaduz | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Residenzler (Residents) Fürstenverein (The Duke's club) Stolz von Liechtenstein (Pride of Liechtenstein) |
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| Short name | FCV | |||
| Founded | 14 February 1932 | |||
| Ground | Rheinpark Stadion Vaduz, Liechtenstein |
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| Capacity | 7,584 (5,873 seated) | |||
| Coordinates | 47°08′25″N 9°30′37″E / 47.1403°N 9.5103°E | |||
| Owner | Prince Alois | |||
| Chairman | Patrick Burgmeier | |||
| Manager | Marc Schneider | |||
| League | Swiss Challenge League | |||
| 2023–24 | Swiss Challenge League, 3rd of 10 | |||
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Fussball Club Vaduz (often called FC Vaduz) is a professional football team from Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. They play their home games at the Rheinpark Stadion. This stadium can hold 5,873 seated fans, with extra standing room for a total of 7,838 people.
FC Vaduz is special because it's the only professional football club in Liechtenstein. Even though they play in the Swiss Challenge League (Switzerland's second-highest league), they represent Liechtenstein in European competitions like the UEFA Europa Conference League. This is because Liechtenstein doesn't have its own national football league.
In the past, many players from Liechtenstein played for FC Vaduz. Many of them also played for the Liechtenstein national football team. Today, most of the players on the first team are from other countries around the world.
A big moment for the club happened on August 25, 2022. FC Vaduz beat Rapid Wien from Austria and made history! They became the first club from Liechtenstein to reach the group stage of a major European football competition, the Europa Conference League.
Contents
- Club History
- Playing in Switzerland
- Rheinpark Stadion
- Club Sponsors
- Team Kit and Sponsors
- Club Achievements
- European Match Highlights
- Club Records
- Individual Awards
- Team Awards
- Club Rankings
- Current Players
- Technical Staff
- Club Management
- FC Vaduz U23 Team
- Famous Former Players
- Former Managers
- Images for kids
- Former Presidents
- FC Vaduz Red Pride Rugby
- See also
Club History
FC Vaduz was started on February 14, 1932, in Vaduz. Johann Walser was the club's first chairman. In their very first practice match, they won 2–1. The team first played in an Austrian football league in 1932–33. But in 1933, they started playing in Switzerland.
Over the years, FC Vaduz played in different levels of Swiss football. They won their first Liechtensteiner Cup in 1949. This cup is a big deal in Liechtenstein! From 1960 to 1973, Vaduz stayed in the Swiss 1. Liga, which was the third level of Swiss football at the time.
Because FC Vaduz plays in Switzerland as a "guest club," they have to pay a fee to the Swiss Football Association. This fee is about £150,000 each year. There have been talks to make sure a team from Liechtenstein can always play in the top Swiss leagues.
Since the 2001–02 season, Vaduz has mostly played in the Swiss Challenge League. This is the second-highest league in Switzerland. They have often been one of the best teams in this league. They even tried to get promoted to the top league, the Swiss Super League, in 2004 and 2005 through special play-off games.
In the 2007–08 season, FC Vaduz finally won the Challenge League! This meant they were promoted to the Swiss Super League on May 12, 2008. It was the first time a team from Liechtenstein played at the highest level of Swiss football. However, they were sent back down to the Challenge League after just one season. They returned to the top league five years later.
In May 2010, FC Vaduz and another Liechtenstein team, USV Eschen/Mauren, decided to work together. This helps young players develop and gives them a path to become professional footballers at FC Vaduz.
European Adventures
FC Vaduz first played in a European football competition in 1992. They entered the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup because they won the Liechtenstein Cup. They didn't do well that year, losing 12–1 to Chornomorets Odesa.
In 1996, they got their first European win! They beat Universitāte Rīga from Latvia in a penalty shootout. But then they lost to the famous Paris Saint-Germain team.
After the Cup Winners' Cup ended, FC Vaduz started playing in the UEFA Cup (now called the UEFA Europa League) almost every year. This is because they kept winning the Liechtenstein Cup. They have won it every year since 1998, except for 2012.
In 2002, Vaduz almost made it to the main round of the UEFA Cup. They were playing Livingston, and the score was tied. Vaduz had a corner kick in the last seconds, and Marius Zarn shot the ball towards the goal. But the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game just before the ball crossed the line! Livingston went through, which was very controversial.
In the 2009–10 Europa League, FC Vaduz beat Falkirk from Scotland. But they then lost to Slovan Liberec from the Czech Republic.
A big achievement came in the 2014–15 Swiss Super League season. For the first time ever, Vaduz managed to stay in the Swiss Super League for a second season! They finished in 9th place. That year, they also won their 43rd Liechtenstein Cup. This made them world record holders for winning a domestic cup so many times!
In the 2015–16 season, Vaduz continued their European journey. They beat S.P. La Fiorita from San Marino and Nõmme Kalju FC. They then faced another Swiss team, FC Thun, and lost on the "away goals rule" (meaning the other team scored more goals away from home).
In 2016–17, after three years in the top Swiss league, Vaduz was sent back down.
On August 25, 2022, FC Vaduz made history again! They won against Rapid Wien and qualified for the group stage of the Europa Conference League. This was the first time a team from Liechtenstein reached this level in a European club competition. They played against AZ Alkmaar, Apollon Limassol, and Dnipro-1. They finished last in their group with two points.
Playing in Switzerland
FC Vaduz is one of a few European football clubs that play in another country's league. For example, AS Monaco plays in France. Vaduz is a "guest club" in Switzerland. This means they don't play in the Swiss Cup. They also can't qualify for the UEFA Champions League through the Swiss league. They can only get into European competitions by winning the Liechtenstein Cup.
Rheinpark Stadion
The Rheinpark Stadion is the national stadium of Liechtenstein. It's where the Liechtenstein national football team plays its home games. It's also the home stadium for FC Vaduz. The stadium is right next to the River Rhine, very close to the border with Switzerland.
The stadium has seats for 5,873 people. With standing room, it can hold up to 7,584 fans. It cost about 19 million Swiss francs to build.
The Rheinpark Stadion officially opened on July 31, 1998. The first match was between FC Vaduz and 1. FC Kaiserslautern from Germany. Kaiserslautern won 8–0. Famous clubs like Liverpool F.C. have also played friendly matches here.
The stadium was built because football's world governing body, FIFA, and the European association, UEFA, said Liechtenstein needed a modern stadium. This was important for the country to host European and international matches.
The Rheinpark Stadion is less than 1 kilometer west of Vaduz city center. Vaduz is one of the few capital cities in the world without its own airport or train station. However, there is a train station called Schaan-Vaduz in the nearby town of Schaan.
Club Sponsors
FC Vaduz works with several companies that help support the club. These are called sponsors.
Liechtensteinische Landesbank – main sponsor- MBPI AG – main sponsor
Puma – makes the team's kits (uniforms)
Team Kit and Sponsors
| Years | Kit Maker | Shirt Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2008–19 | Adidas | Liechtensteinische Landesbank/MBPI AG |
| 2019–20 | Puma | |
| 2020–22 | Casino Admiral | |
| 2022–23 | MBPI AG |
Club Achievements
Liechtenstein Trophies
- Liechtenstein Football Championship
- Winners (2): 1932, 1936
- Liechtenstein Football Cup
- Winners (50) (World Record!): 1948–49, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1986, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
- Runners-up (13): 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1954–55, 1971–72, 1976–77, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1990–91, 1996–97, 2011–12
Swiss Trophies
Swiss Challenge League (2nd tier)
- Winners (3): 2002–03, 2007–08, 2013–14
- Runners-up (3): 2003–04, 2004–05, 2019–20
European Match Highlights
FC Vaduz has played many matches in European competitions. Here are some of their biggest wins and losses:
- Biggest European home win: FC Vaduz 5–1 La Fiorita (July 9, 2015, UEFA Europa League)
- Biggest European away win: La Fiorita 0–5 FC Vaduz (July 2, 2015, UEFA Europa League)
- Biggest European home defeat: FC Vaduz 0–5 Chornomorets Odesa (August 19, 1992, European Cup Winners' Cup), FC Vaduz 0–5 Hradec Králové (August 10, 1995, European Cup Winners' Cup), FC Vaduz 0–5 Eintracht Frankfurt (August 8, 2019, Europa League)
- Biggest European away defeat: Hradec Králové 9–1 FC Vaduz (August 24, 1995, European Cup Winners' Cup)
Club Records
- Player with most trophies with FC Vaduz: Franz Burgmeier (16 trophies)
- Player with most appearances: Franz Burgmeier (371 games)
- Player with most goals: Daniele Polverino (91 goals)
- Highest home game attendance: 6,773 fans (against FC Basel and FC St. Gallen)
- Highest European home game attendance: 5,908 fans (against Eintracht Frankfurt)
- Highest European away game attendance: 48,000 fans (against Eintracht Frankfurt at Waldstadion)
- Most capped foreign player: Miguel Mea Vitali (87 games for Venezuela)
- Most capped Liechtenstein player: Peter Jehle (132 games for Liechtenstein, a national record!)
Individual Awards
Liechtenstein Awards
The "Liechtensteiner Footballer of the Year" award has been given out since 1980. Since 2009, the Liechtenstein Football Association also gives out awards for "Young Player of the Year" and "Coach of the Year."
Liechtensteiner Footballer of the Year
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1980–81 | Branko Eškinja |
| 1982–83 | Branko Eškinja |
| 1984–85 | Roland Moser |
| 1985–86 | Roland Moser |
| 1986–87 | Harry Schädler |
| 1991–92 | Martin Oehri |
| 1995–96 | Harry Zech |
| 1996–97 | Daniel Hasler |
| 1997–98 | Martin Stocklasa |
| 2003–04 | Benjamin Fischer |
| 2007–08 |  Gaspar Odirlei |
| 2014 | Peter Jehle |
| 2015 | Nicolas Hasler |
| 2016 | Peter Jehle |
| 2017 | Nicolas Hasler |
| 2022 | Benjamin Büchel |
Liechtensteiner Coach of the Year
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2010 |  Eric Orie |
| 2014 | Giorgio Contini |
| 2016 | Giorgio Contini |
| 2022 | Mario Frick |
Switzerland Awards
Swiss Challenge League Top Scorers
| Season | Name | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Gaspar Odirlei |
31 |
| 2010 | Nick Proschwitz |
23 |
International Awards
In 2004, for UEFA's 50th birthday, each country chose their best player from the past 50 years. Golden Player
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Rainer Hasler |
Team Awards
Fairplay Trophy
| Season | League | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Swiss Challenge League |
65 |
| 2022–23 | Swiss Challenge League |
90 |
Club Rankings
UEFA Ranking
This ranking shows how well clubs perform in European competitions. As of March 20, 2023
| Rank | Team | Points | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 158 |  Olimpija Ljubljana |
9.000 | 2.500 |
| 159 |  Linfield |
8.500 | 1.716 |
| 160 | Vaduz |
8.500 | 2.200 |
| 161 |  Zrinjski |
8.500 | 1.950 |
| 162 |  Dunajská Streda |
8.500 | 3.950 |
Club World Ranking
This ranking shows how clubs compare globally. As of December 31, 2015
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 166 |  Odds |
99.00 |
| 166 | Crusaders |
99.00 |
| 166 | Vaduz |
99.00 |
| 171 |  Qadsia |
98.50 |
| 172 |  Independiente del Valle |
98.00 |
Current Players
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Players on Loan
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Technical Staff
These are the people who coach and support the team.
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Club Management
These are the people who run the club.
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FC Vaduz U23 Team
FC Vaduz U23 is the reserve team for FC Vaduz. They play in the 2. Liga, which is the sixth level of Swiss football. In the 2014–15 season, they reached the semi-finals of the Liechtenstein Cup.
U23 Current Squad
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U23 Technical Staff
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Famous Former Players
Many great players have played for FC Vaduz. Some are especially remembered by fans for their long and important contributions to the club.
- Armando Sadiku
(played 2016) - Jodel Dossou
(played 2018–2019) - Odirlei de Souza Gaspar (played 2005–2009)
- Stjepan Kukuruzović
(played 2015–2017) - Markus Neumayr (played 2013–2015)
- Nick Proschwitz (played 2010–2011)
- Pak Kwang-ryong
(played 2013–2015) - Hekuran Kryeziu
(played 2014–2015) - Nicolas Hasler (played 2011–2017)
- Martin Stocklasa (played 1997–1999, 2002–2006)
- Rainer Hasler (played 1978–1979)
- Pape Omar Faye
(played 2006–2007) - Dušan Cvetinović
(played 2011–2013) - Goran Obradović
(played 2005) - Pascal Schürpf (played 2013–2017)
- Simone Grippo (played 2013–2017)
- Moreno Merenda (played 2001–2002, 2010–2012)
- Yann Sommer (played 2007–2009)
- Fakhreddine Galbi
(played 2008–2009) - Marko Dević
(played 2017–2018) - Caleb Stanko
(played 2016–2017)
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Players of Vaduz at Big International Tournaments
| Tournament | Player |
|---|---|
 AFC Asian Cup 2015 |
Pak Kwang-Ryong |
 UEFA Euro 2016 |
Armando Sadiku |
| Naser Aliji |
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 Africa Cup of Nations 2019 |
Jodel Dossou |
Former Managers
These are some of the coaches who have led FC Vaduz.
- Otto Pfister (1961–63)
Tibor Lőrincz (1969–71)
Željko Perušić (1974–75)- Peter Blusch (1980–82)
- Hans Krostina (1983–85)
- Helmut Richert (1989–90)
Hans Trittinger (1990–91)- Hans-Joachim Abel (1994–96)
- Hansruedi Fässler (1996–97)
- Alfons Dobler (1997–99)
- Uwe Wegmann (1999–02)
- Walter Hörmann (2002–03)
- Martin Andermatt (2003–05)
- Hans-Joachim Weller (2005)
Mats Gren (2005–06)
Maurizio Jacobacci (2006–07)- Hans-Joachim Weller (2007)
- Heinz Hermann (2007–08)
- Pierre Littbarski (2008–10)
- Eric Orie (2010–12)
- Sebastian Selke (2012) (Interim)
- Giorgio Contini (2012–17)
- Daniel Hasler (2017) (Interim)
- Roland Vrabec (2017–2018)
- Mario Frick (2018–2022)
- Alessandro Mangiarratti (2022)
- Jürgen Seeberger (2023)
- Jan Meyer (interim) (2023)
- Martin Stocklasa (2023–2024)
Marc Schneider (2024–present)
Images for kids
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Otto Pfister
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Walter Hörmann
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Martin Andermatt
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Heinz Hermann
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Pierre Littbarski
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Eric Orie
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Giorgio Contini
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Roland Vrabec
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Former Presidents
These are the people who have been president of FC Vaduz.
- Johannes Walser (1932–1933)
- Willy Huber (1933–1934)
- Anton Konrad (1934–1936)
- Rudolf Strub (1936–1943)
- Hans Verling (1943–1948)
- Albert Caminada (1948–1950)
- Felix Real (1950–1951)
- Hans Verling (1951–1955)
- Anton Ospelt (1955–1956)
- Otto Hasler (1956–1961)
- Engelbert Schreiber (1961–1964)
- Hilmar Ospelt (1964–1967)
- Kurt Frommelt (1967–1971)
- Norbert Vogt (1971–1973)
- Reinhard Walser (1973–1979)
- Reinold Ospelt (1979–1983)
- Alfons Thöny (1983–1988)
- Andy Rechsteiner (1988–1990)
- Werner Keicher (1990–1997)
- Manfred Moser (1997–2001)
- Marc Brogle (2001–2003)
- Hanspeter Negele (2003–2008)
- Franz Schädler (2008–2009) (Interim)
- Lorenz Gassner (2009–2010) (Acting)
- Albin Johann (2010–2013)
- Ruth Ospelt (2013–2019)
- Patrick Burgmeier (2019–)
FC Vaduz Red Pride Rugby
On March 12, 2012, a new club called FC Vaduz Rugby was started. This rugby union club is part of the FC Vaduz family. Rugby is a small but growing sport in Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein doesn't have its own rugby organization, so it's part of the Swiss Rugby Federation.
See also
In Spanish: Fussball Club Vaduz para niños
