Neuchâtel Xamax FCS

Neuchâtel Xamax
Full nameNeuchâtel Xamax Football Club Serrières
Nickname(s)Xamax
Founded1906 (1906)
GroundStade de la Maladière,
Neuchâtel
Capacity12,000
OwnerJean-François Collet
ManagerAnthony Braizat
LeagueSwiss Challenge League
2024–25Swiss Challenge League, 8th of 10
Websitewww.xamax.ch

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 9 July 2025[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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  COD Anthony Mossi
2 DF  CIV Ismaël Sidibé
3 DF  SUI Jonathan Fontana
4 MF  KOS Eris Abedini
5 DF  KOS Lavdrim Hajrulahu
6 MF  SUI Fabio Saiz
7 DF  SUI Mickaël Facchinetti
8 MF  SUI Malik Deme (on loan from Young Boys)
9 FW  KOS Shkelqim Demhasaj
10 FW  FRA Hussayn Touati
11 MF  FRA Salim Ben Seghir
15 DF  SUI Yoan Epitaux
16 DF  SUI Léo Seydoux
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF  FRA Romain Bayard
19 DF  POR Euclides Cabral
20 FW  CIV Koro Koné
22 FW  NGA Paschal Durugbor
27 GK  SUI Edin Omeragić
31 MF  SUI Francesco Lentini
35 MF  SUI Altin Azemi
36 DF  SUI Shiloh Reinhard
38 DF  CIV Brillani Soro
77 MF  SUI Noah Streit
88 MF  SUI Musa Araz

Notable players

Cameroon
Central African Republic
Egypt
Ivory Coast
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Hungary
West Germany
Ireland
Liechtenstein
Spain
Switzerland
Netherlands

Honours

Leagues
Cups

Former coaches

European record

Season Competition Round Opponents Home Away Aggregate
1981–82 UEFA Cup 1R Sparta Prague 4–0 2–3 6–3
2R Malmö 1–0 1–0 2–0
3R Sporting CP 1–0 0–0 1–0
QF Hamburg 0–0 2–3 2–3
1984–85 UEFA Cup 1R Olympiacos 2–2 0–1 2–3
1985–86 UEFA Cup 1R Sportul Studențesc 3–0 4–4 7–4
2R Lokomotiv Sofia 0–0 1–1 1–1 (a)
3R Dundee United 3–1 1–2 4–3
QF Real Madrid 2–0 0–3 2–3
1986–87 UEFA Cup 1R Lyngby 2–0 3–1 5–1
2R Groningen 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
1987–88 European Cup 1R Kuusysi 5–0 1–2 6–2
2R Bayern Munich 2–1 0–2 2–3
1988–89 European Cup 1R Larissa 2–1 1–2 3–3 (3–0 PSO)
2R Galatasaray 3–0 0–5 3–5
1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Estrela de Amadora 1–1 1–1 2–2 (3–4 PSO)
1991–92 UEFA Cup 1R Floriana 2–0 0–0 2–0
2R Celtic 5–1 0–1 5–2
3R Real Madrid 1–0 0–4 1–4
1992–93 UEFA Cup 1R BK Frem 2–2 1–4 3–6
1995–96 UEFA Cup QR Red Star Belgrade 0–0 1–0 1–0
1R Roma 1–1 0–4 1–4
1996–97 UEFA Cup QR Anorthosis Famagusta 4–0 2–1 6–1
1R Dynamo Kyiv 2–1 0–0 2–1
2R Helsingborg 1–1 0–2 1–3
1997–98 UEFA Cup Q1 Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol 7–0 3–1 10–1
Q2 Viking 3–0 1–2 4–2
1R Inter Milan 0–2 0–2 0–4
2003–04 UEFA Cup QR Valletta 2–0 2–0 4–0
1R Auxerre 0–1 0–1 0–2

References

  1. ^ "Historique : La Genèse | NEUCHÂTEL XAMAX" (in French). Xamax.ch. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ a b c "Un palmarès plus que respectable" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Swiss club Xamax bankrupt, Chechen owner arrested - - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  5. ^ Meisterschaft 2. Liga interregional Archived 15 January 2013 at archive.today accessed: 21 July 2012
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "LA MALADIÈRE – HISTORIQUE" (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Équipe" [Team] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax FCS. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
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