1996–97 FC Zürich season

FC Zürich 1996–97 Sven Hotz Sven Hotz Head-coach Raimondo Ponte Letzigrund 1996–97 NLAQualification round 7th of 12 1996–97 NLAChampionship group 7th of 8 1996–97 Swiss Cup Round 4 Shabani Nonda (8) Shabani Nonda (8) 1995–96 1997–98 The 1996–97 season was FC Zürich's 10th season in their existence, since their foundation in 1896. It was their seventh consecutive season in the top flight of Swiss football, following their promotion at the end of 1989–90 season. Overview The local businessman Sven Hotz was the club's chairman and patron at this time. He had taken over as club president at the AGM in 1986. Raimondo Ponte had been the FCZ first team head-coach during the previous season and during April had had prolonged his contract with the club for this season. The FCZ first team competed in this years domestic first-tier 1996–97 Nationalliga A with the clear intention of retaining their top level status and reaching the championship group for the second half of the season. The team also competed in 1996–97 Swiss Cup. They had not qualified for any of the UEFA European tournaments and they did not enter the 1996 Intertoto Cup. FCZ played their home games in the Letzigrund. The stadium is located in the west of Zurich in the district of Altstetten, which is about three kilometers from the city center. Players The following is the list of the FCZ first team squad this season. It also includes players that were in the squad the day the domestic league season started, on 10 July 1996, but subsequently left the club after that date. SUI GK Ueli Brunner league games: 4 SUI GK Patrick Mäder league games: 1 NIG GK Ike Shorunmu league games: 36 SUI DF Pascal Castillo league games: 31 SUI DF Urs Fischer league games: 34 SUI DF Giuseppe Gambino league games: 23 SUI DF Robert Huber league games: 27 BIH DF Muhamed Konjic league games: 29 SUI DF Giuseppe Mazzarelli league games: 29 SUI DF Kazik Nicolò league games: 1 SUI DF David Pallas league games: 2 SUI DF Carmelo Trande league games: 3 SUI DF René Weiler league games: 25 SUI MF Alijosa Aleksandrovic league games: 1 ITA MF Roberto Baldassarri league games: 18 SUI MF Francesco Di Jorio league games: 32 ITA MF Giuseppe Nocita league games: 2 SUI MF Jürg Studer league games: 28 POL MF Dariusz Szubert league games: 5 SUI MF Daniel Tarone league games: 29 SUI MF Julio Tejeda league games: 33 NOR FW Jørn Andersen league games: 24 SWE FW Tomas Brolin league games: 3 TRI FW Jerren Nixon league games: 33 DRC 1997 FW Shabani Nonda league games: 32 BIH FW Marko Topić league games: 5 ENG FW Roger Walker league games: 9 Players who left the squad The following is the list of the FCZ first team players that left the squad during the previous season or in the off-season, before the new domestic season began. SUI GK Jörg Stiel to St. Gallen SUI DF Mark Disler to Baden SUI DF Marc Hodel to Aarau SUI DF Aniello Tomeo reserves SUI DF Roland Widmer retired SUI MF Philipp Lehner reserves SAF MF August Makalakalane to Baden SUI MF Andreas Schmid to FC Red Star Zürich SUI MF Rony Ziegler to Étoile Carouge SUI FW Urs Güntensperger to Eintracht Frankfurt NED FW John Hoeks to K.F.C. Lommel S.K. SUI FW Sinisa Metlar reserves Results Legend #CCFFCC Win 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFFFCC Draw 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFCCCC Loss 1px solid #AAAAAA #CCCCCC Postponed 1px solid #AAAAAA Nationalliga A 1996–97 Nationalliga A This was the second season that three points were awarded to the winning team. Qualification phase The first stage of the NLA began on 10 July 1996 and was completed on 1 December. The top eight teams in the qualification phase would advance to the championship group and the last four teams would play against relegation. Round 1 10 July 1996 20:00 Zürich 1–1 FCZ summary Luzern J. Studer 5670 1:1 CastilloAndersen 73 2 0:1 Sermeter Letzigrund, Zürich 6,200 SUI Hans Müller (Bern) D Round 5 14 July 1996 19:00 Grasshopper Club 0–1 FCZ summary Zürich Gämperle 46M. Yakin 52Türkyilmaz 60′Comisetti 90 6 Weiler63 Tejeda79 Topić83 0:1 J. Studer J. Studer Hardturm, Zürich 12,000 SUI Marcel Vollenweider (Rüti, Zürich) W Match brought forward from 31 July. 60th minute Shorunmu saved Türkyilmaz's penalty. Round 2 17 July 1996 20:00 Zürich 1–1 FCZ summaryFCA summary Aarau Di Jorio 0 25Nonda 45 pen 8 Bader13 B. Studer27 Skrzypczak60 pen Wiederkehr Letzigrund, Zürich 7,600 SUI Adrian Stalder (Oberburg, Bern) D Round 3 20 July 1996 20:00 Servette 0–0 FCZ summary Zürich Biaggi 34Sogbie 55 66 Nonda Charmilles Stadium, Geneva 3,800 SUI Kurt Zuppinger (Bremgarten, Aargau) D Round 4 24 July 1996 20:00 Zürich 0–0 FCZ summary St. Gallen Fischer 4Weiler 60 34 Motaung44 Konjić51 Dal Santo Letzigrund, Zürich 8,400 SUI Claude Detruche, (Thônex) D Round 6 3 August 1996 20:00 Zürich 2–1 FCZ summary Sion Nonda 2 1:0Tejeda 38J. Studer 59Nonda 79 pen. 2:1 10 Bühlmann74 1:1 Mirandinha78 Kombouaré Letzigrund, Zürich 5,200 SUI Philippe Leuba (Chexbres) W Round 7 11 August 1996 20:00 Lugano 2–2 FCZ summary Zürich Simo 34Karić 40Karić 62 1:2Kallon 81 2:2 34 Konjic0 36 Castillo42 0:1 Di Jorio58 0:2 Weiler83 Nixon Cornaredo, Lugano 4,200 SUI Claude Detruche, (Thônex) D Round 8 17 August 1996 20:00 Zürich 0–1 FCZ summary Xamax Tarone 55Di Jorio 61Nonda 85 55 Jeanneret58 0:1 Rueda Letzigrund, Zürich 5,800 SUI Markus Nobs (Wohlen bei Bern) L Round 9 25 August 1996 20:00 Lausanne-Sport 3–2 FCZ summary Zürich Savovic 65 1:2Sané 78 2:2Savovic 80 3:2 26 Andersen29 Konjic37 0:1 Nixon51 0:2 Nixon Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne 4,600 SUI Hans Müller (Bern) L Round 10 4 September 1996 20:00 Young Boys 1–2 FCZ summary Zürich Baumann 52Bekirovski64Gianinazzi 65Baumann 82 1:2 8 0:1 Nonda2 52 62 Di Jorio71 Nixon79 Nixon90+1 Gambino Wankdorf Stadium, Bern 3,600 SUI Vincent Dafflon W Round 11 7 September 1996 20:00 Zürich 1–1 FCZ summaryFCB summary Basel Mazzarelli 77 1:1 36 Ceccaroni38 0:1 Giallanza73 Grüter75 Salvi Letzigrund, Zürich 10,500 SUI Urs Meier (Wettingen and Würenlos) D Round 12 14 September 1996 20:00 Luzern 3–0 FCZ summary Zürich Sawu 4 1:0Wolf 11′Fink53Sawu 55 2:0Wolf 77Müller 89 3:0 Stadion Allmend, Luzern 9,060 SUI Serge Muhmenthaler (Grenchen) L 11th minute Shorunmu saves Wolf's penalty. Round 13 18 September 1996 20:00 Aarau 2–1 FCZ summary'FCA summary Zürich Roembiak 32 penĆirić 48 2:0Hodel 79Roembiak 90+1 37 Nonda82 2:1 Andersen Stadion Brügglifeld, Aarau 3,100 SUI Markus Nobs (Wohlen bei Bern) L Round 14 28 September 1996 20:00 Zürich 3–1 FCZ summary Servette Mazzarelli 32Konjic 34 1:0Konjic 63 2:1Fischer 78Castillo 86 3:1 28 Cantaluppi44 Biaggi56 1:1 Ippoliti0 77 Sesa0 83 Nava Letzigrund, Zürich 3,600 SUI Dieter Schoch (Attiswil) W Round 15 9 October 1996 20:00 St. Gallen 1–0 FCZ summary Zürich Regtop 61 1:0 Espenmoos, St. Gallen 6,500 SUI Hans Müller (Bern) L Round 16 13 October 1996 17:30 Zürich 2–4 FCZ summary Grasshopper Club Weiler 40 1:1Shorunmu 63Nonda 73 pen. 2:2 3 pen. 1:0 Gren11 Gren29 Türkyilmaz48 Lombardo64 1:2 Moldovan72 Thüler74 Haas85 2:3 Smiljanic90+2 2:4 Moldovan Letzigrund, Zürich 9,600 SUI Carlo Bertolini (Vira-Gambarogno) L Round 17 20 October 1996 14:30 Sion 0–1 FCZ summary Zürich 31 J. Studer33 Konjic77 0:1 Nonda79 Mazzarelli Stade Tourbillon, Sion 9,000 SUI Urs Meier (Wettingen and Würenlos) W Round 18 26 October 1996 14:30 Zürich 1–1 FCZ summary Lugano Castillo 54 1:0Weiler 73 2 9 74 Rezzonico41 Ramondetta47 Morf63 1:1 Giannini Letzigrund, Zürich 4,800 SUI Andreas Schluchter (Schönenbuch) D Round 19 3 November 1996 14:30 Xamax 1–1 FCZ summary Zürich Bonalair 16 1:0 54 Tarone71 1:1 Fischer Stade de la Maladière, Neuchâtel 6,500 SUI Serge Muhmenthaler (Grenchen) D Round 20 17 November 1996 14:30 Zürich 3–0 FCZ summary Lausanne-Sport Weiler 30 1:0Fischer 29Weiler 63 2:0J. Studer 72Nixon 77 3:0 45 Ohrel57 Gualco61 Douglas65 Londono Letzigrund, Zürich 5,800 SUI Claude Detruche, (Thônex) W Round 21 24 November 1996 14:30 Zürich 0–1 FCZ summary Young Boys Konjic 78J. Studer 90 47 0:1 Streun52 Eich Letzigrund, Zürich 4,000 SUI Serge Muhmenthaler (Grenchen) L Round 22 1 December 1996 14:30 Basel 0–0 FCZ summaryFCB summary Zürich Disseris 9Falub 84 22 Gambino42 Di Jorio45 Tarone St. Jakob Stadium, Basel 21,000 SUI Urs Meier (Wettingen and Würenlos) D Qualification table main WDL First stage 5 Q NX Xamax 12 8 2 36 20 GCZ Grasshopper Club 10 9 3 42 27 SIO Sion 9 10 3 33 21 AAR Aarau Stephan Beck 2025 https://www.arowa.ch/index.php?page=ligatabelle&saison=97 Schweizer Meisterschaft 1996/97 FCA Rangliste de-ch Swiss Championship 1996/97 FCA Ranking arowa.ch 2025-11-16 9 8 5 21 14 LS Lausanne-Sports 9 7 6 35 32 STG St. Gallen 6 10 6 20 26 ZÜR Zürich (red) dbFCZ 2025 https://www.dbfcz.ch/saison.php?saison_id=10 FCZ Saison 1996/97 de-ch FCZ season 1996/97 dbFCZ 2025-11-16 6 9 7 24 25 BAS Basel Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" 2025 https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/rangliste?saison=1996/97 FCB Rangliste 1996/97 de-ch FCB Ranking 1996/97 Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" 2025-11-16 5 11 6 32 32 SER Servette Daniel Reichmuth 2025 https://super-servette.ch/Doku/Resultate_Servette_1996-97.pdf Servette 1996/97 Rangliste Servette 1996/97 ranking super-servette-ch fr 2025-11-16 5 9 8 24 25 LUZ Luzern 4 11 7 27 32 LUG Lugano 2 9 11 14 32 YB Young Boys (red) BSC Young Boys AG 2025 https://www.bscyb.ch/archiv-1996-97#mnc_424 YB Saison 1996/97 YB season 1996/97 BSC Young Boys AG de-ch 2025-11-16 3 3 16 17 39 yes green3 Advance to championship roundhalved points (rounded up) as bonus CP CP CP CP CP CP CP CP red3 Continue to promotion/relegation round RP RP RP RP 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Draw. complete rsssf.com Championship group The first eight teams of the qualification phase competed in the Championship round. The teams took half of the points (rounded up to complete units) gained in the qualification as bonus with them. Round 1 2 March 1997 15:00 Basel 1–0 FCZ summaryFCB summary Zürich Zuffi 3Giallanza 22 55 pen. 1:0Ceccaroni 84 9 Andersen55 Shorunmu87 Konjić St. Jakob Stadium, Basel 22,000 SUI Kurt Zuppinger (Bremgarten, Aargau) L Round 2 9 March 1997 14:30 Zürich 1–1 FCZ summary St. Gallen Nonda 38 pen. 1:0 86 1:1 Allenspach Letzigrund, Zürich 6,800 SUI Cornu D Round 3 23 March 1997 14:30 Lausanne-Sport 2–0 FCZ summary Zürich Ohrel 10 1:0Udovič 25 2:0 53 Fischer90 Walker Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne 5,700 SUI Markus Nobs (Wohlen bei Bern) L Round 4 26 March 1997 20:00 Zürich 0–2 FCZ summary Grasshopper Club Fischer 49 52 0:1 Gren88 0:2 Smiljanic Letzigrund, Zürich 10,400 SUI Serge Muhmenthaler (Grenchen) L Round 5 6 April 1997 20:00 Zürich 0–0 FCZ summary Aarau Nixon 49 45 Hodel75 Pavlicevic Letzigrund, Zürich 3,000 SUI Kurt Zuppinger (Bremgarten, Aargau) D Round 6 13 April 1997 20:00 Xamax 3–1 FCZ summary Zürich Leśniak 32 1:0Kunz 50 2:0Gigon 70Perret 74Kunz 85 3:1 8 Di Jorio2 9 84 J. Studer61 og (Cyprien)64 Mazzarelli0 75 Konjic Stade de la Maladière, Neuchâtel 6,750 SUI Carlo Bertolini (Vira-Gambarogno) L Round 7 19 April 1997 20:00 Sion 3–1 FCZ summary Zürich Chassot 26 1:0Lukić 74 2:1Wicky 78 3:1 44 Nixon50 Tejeda67 Di Jorio67 1:1 Castillo79 Gambino Stade Tourbillon, Sion 11,000 SUI Urs Meier (Wettingen and Würenlos) L Round 8 26 April 1997 20:00 Zürich 0–0 FCZ summary Sion 36 Quentin50 Biaggi Letzigrund, Zürich 3,200 SUI Werner Müller (Obererlinsbach) D Round 9 3 May 1997 20:00 Zürich 0–0 FCZ summary Xamax Tarone 35 24 Vernier Letzigrund, Zürich 3,200 SUI Claude Detruche, (Thônex) D Round 10 10 May 1997 20:00 Aarau 1–1 FCZ summary Zürich Pavlicevic 24 1:0 2 21 51 Mazzarelli89 1:1 Tejeda Stadion Brügglifeld, Aarau 4,100 SUI Dominique Tavel (Lonay) D Round 11 15 May 1997 20:00 Grasshopper Club 1–1 FCZ summary Zürich Smiljanic 39M. Yakin 82 1:1 34 Huber58 0:1 Nixon Hardturm, Zürich 11,800 SUI Werner Müller (Obererlinsbach) D Round 12 24 May 1997 20:00 Zürich 1–2 FCZ summary Lausanne-Sport Nonda 25 1:1Gambino 50 5 0:1 Douglas67 Triki70 1:2 Douglas79 Celestini Letzigrund, Zürich 3,200 LIE Roland Beck (Triesenberg) L Round 13 31 May 1997 20:00 St. Gallen 1–2 FCZ summary Zürich Dal Santo 62Regtop 83 pen 9 0:1 Nixon49 Walker76 Tejeda80 0:2 Nixon0 90+1 Weiler Espenmoos, St. Gallen 6,000 SUI Philippe Leuba (Chexbres) W Round 14 4 June 1997 20:00 Zürich 1–1 FCZ summaryFCB summary Basel Studer 39Studer 74 1:1 50 0:1 La Placa Letzigrund, Zürich 4,800 SUI Markus Nobs (Wohlen bei Bern) D Final league table main WDL Champions group 5 Q y SIO Sion 9 3 2 18 10 19 NX Xamax 6 6 2 22 14 22 GCZ Grasshopper Club 7 4 3 37 18 20 LS Lausanne-Sports 8 2 4 20 16 17 AAR Aarau 3 4 7 17 22 18 STG St. Gallen 3 4 7 13 26 14 ZÜR Zürich 1 7 6 9 18 14 BAS Basel 3 2 9 16 28 13 green1 Swiss champions, qualified for 1997–98 Champions League EC blue1 qualified for 1997–98 UEFA Cup UC1 blue1 qualified for 1997–98 UEFA Cup UC2 blue3 entered 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup IT1 blue3 entered 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup IT2 1) points; 2) Position in the qualification. complete rsssf.com Swiss Cup The first-tier clubs from the 1994–95 Nationalliga A were granted byes for the first two rounds, eight of them joined the competition in this round. The four clubs that were competing in the UEFA European competitions were granted byes for this round as well. The eight participating first-tier teams were seeded and cound not be drawn against each other. The draw respected regionalities, when possible, and the lower classed team was granted home advantage. Round 3 22 September 1996 FC Uzwil (red) Ostschweizer Fussballverband 2025 https://matchcenter.ofv.swiss/default.aspx?v=1751&oid=9&lng=1 FC Uzwil Ostschweizer Fussballverband de 2025-11-16 0–10 FCZ summary Zürich 12 0:1 Andersen28 0:2 Andersen41 0:3 Tarone50 0:4 Tarone53 0:5 Andersen60 0:6 Castillo73 0:7 Studer78 0:5 Castillo82 0:9 Mazzarelli88 0:10 Di Jorio Rüti, Uzwil 1,600 SUI Massimo Busacca (Monte Carasso/Bellinzona) W Uzwil played the 1996/97 season in the 3. Liga (sixth-tier Round 5 March 1997 FC Wil 3–1 FCZ summary Zürich Puce 12 1:1Hafner 46 2:1Hafner 63Python 63 3:1Puce 65 12 0:1 Andersen33 Nonda Stadion Bergholz, Wil 1,600 SUI Nicolas Daina L Wil played the 1996/97 season in the NLB (second-tier) Friendly matches Pre-season Exhibition game 16 June 1996 Zürich 3–0 FCZ summary Yverdon-Sports Güntensperger 2 1:0N'Sunda 15 2:0Nonda 30 3:0 Allmend Brunau, Zürich 100 W N'Sunda was a test player Exhibition game 19 June 1996 Zürich 1–0 FCZ summary Lausanne-Sport Castillo 72 1:0 Linthstrasse, Tuggen 150 W Exhibition game 23 June 1996 FC Wallisellen 0–7 FCZ summary Zürich Wallisellen W Match as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of FC Wallisellen. Exhibition game 23 June 1996 Zürich 0–1 FCZ summary Baden 89 0:1 Colacino Allmend Brunau, Zürich L Exhibition game 29 June 1996 Lugano 3–3 FCZ summary Zürich Ramondetta 25 1:0Manfreda 64 2:2Ramondetta 89 3:3 31 1:1 J. Studer59 1:2 Castillo85 2:3 J. Studer Rancate D Exhibition game 5 July 1996 Baden 0–0 FCZ summary Zürich D Baden is the replacement opponent for FC Basel, who had to cancel the originally planned test match due to many injuries. Exhibition game 28 July 1996 18:00 Zürich 3–1 FCZ summary Grasshopper Club Fischer 46 1:0Nonda 52 2:0Castillo 71 3:0 83 3:1 Berger Jr. Letzigrund, Zürich 5,000 SUI Dieter Schoch (Attiswil) W Match as part of the FCZ 100th anniversary tournament (first semi-final). The match was interrupted in the 40th minute due to a severe thunderstorm. Exhibition game 29 July 1996 20:30 Zürich 2–1 FCZ summary Juventus Turin Nonda 19 1:0Castillo 23 2:0 38 2:1 Bokšić Letzigrund, Zürich 14,000 SUI Kurt Zuppinger (Bremgarten, Aargau) W Match as part of the FCZ 100th anniversary tournament (final) Mid-season 23 August 1996 Zürich 4–0 FCZ summary Campo Grande Eddi Eddi Piu Nixon Stadion Gurzelen, Biel/Bienne W Eddi and Piu were both test-players Winter break Exhibition game 31 January 1997 Lugano 1–2 FCZ summary Zürich 1:1 0:1 Nondapen Lugano W Exhibition game 10 February 1997 D.C. United 1–2 FCZ summary Zürich 1:2 0:1 Baldassarri0:2 Nonda Tampa, Florida W Exhibition game 12 February 1997 D.C. United 1–2 FCZ summary Zürich 1:2 0:1 Andersen0:2 Nonda Bradenton, Florida W Exhibition game 16 February 1997 Luzern 0–3 FCZ summary Zürich 25 0:1 Castillo71 0:2 J. Studer87 0:3 Castillo Unterallmend, (Root, Switzerland) 650 W Exhibition game 19 February 1997 Lausanne-Sport 2–1 FCZ summary Zürich Douglas 30 1:0Rehn 65 2:0 88 2:1 Castillo Lausanne campus L Exhibition game 22 February 1997 Zürich 4–2 FCZ summary Schaffhausen Nonda 5 1:0Nixon 39 2:0Nonda 67 3:0Nonda 73 4:1 71 3:1 Agoye75 4:2 Ogg Letzigrund, Zürich 400 W Exhibition game 23 February 1997 Zürich 3–0 FCZ summary YF Juventus Mazzarelli 1:0Mazzarelli 2:0Tejeda 3:0 Letzigrund, Zürich W References Sources dbFCZ Homepage Switzerland 1996–97 at RSSSF FC Zürichseasons 1995–96 1997–98 Category:FC Zürich seasons Zürich