FC Winterthur

FC Winterthur
Full name	Fussballclub Winterthur
Nickname(s)	FCW
Founded	1896
Ground	Schützenwiese, Winterthur; (Capacity: 8,550)
Chairman	Hannes W Keller
Manager	Boro Kuzmanovic
League	Challenge League
2007-08	Challenge League, 5th

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FC Winterthur is a Swiss football club based in Winterthur, Canton of Zürich.

[edit] History

The club plays in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football, and was founded in 1896. They play at the Schützenwiese Stadium.

They famously lost to West Auckland F.C., an English amateur team in what is thought to be the first international football club competition, the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy.

[edit] History

The club was founded in 1896 and enjoyed their best success in the early part of the 20th century winning the Swiss Super League three times (in 1906, 1908 and 1917).

The club have also reached the final of the Swiss League Cup twice (in 1972 and 1973) but lost on both occasions. They also reached the final of the Swiss Cup in 1968 and 1975 but also lost on both occasions.

In 2005-06 season the club finished 14th place in the Challenge League but, whilst performing poorly in the league, they made it to the semi finals of the Swiss Cup by defeating Grasshoppers, Lucerne and Servette. The club lost to the eventual winners Sion at home.

[edit] Current Squad

As of 10 April 2009.

No.	Position	Player
2	DF	Mattias Schnorf
3	DF	Nick von Niederhäusern
4	MF	Luca Zuffi
5	MF	Yao Aziawonou
6	DF	Stefan Iten
7	MF	Daniel Senn
8	DF	Visar Berisha
9	FW	Julian Bühler
10	MF	Felipe
11	FW	Michel Sprunger
13	FW	Tomo Barlecaj
14	MF	Sven Lüscher
15	DF	Nesret Ljimani
16	FW	Isuf Llumnica

No.	Position	Player
18	GK	Vaso Vasić
19	MF	Amir Abrashi
20	MF	Matteus Senkal
22	MF	Luís Frangão
23	MF	Sandro Lombardi
24	DF	Luca Radice
25	FW	Kristian Kuzmanovic
26	FW	Coutinho
27	FW	Goran Antić
28	MF	Ermin Lenjani
29	MF	Fabio Bristot
29	MF	Fabian Cecchini
31	GK	Christian Leite

[edit] Stadium

The club play at Stadion Schützenwiese which is a short walk from the centre of Winterthur. It has been their home since 1900. The first grandstand was built in 1922. This was replaced in 1957 using sponsorship money.

In the 1980's the ownership was transferred to Winterthur council as the club faced financial problems. The council are responsible for any maintenance and upkeep.

At one time the stadium capacity was as high as 14,987 but as of 2009 it is 8,550. The stadium consists of around 1,000 seats and the rest is standing area. For a while there has been dialogue between the club and Winterthur council to expand and upgrade the stadium in order for the club to realise their ambitions of playing in the top flight. Currently the stadium is not of high enough safety to stage Super League matches.

The more hardcore supporters of the club stand at one end, which is known as the Bierkurve. They also have a small stand for younger supporters known as the Syrupkurve. Away supporters are housed at the opposite end of the stadium to the Bierkurve.