Fabian Frei(born 8 January 1989) is a Swiss professionalfootballerwho plays as adefensive midfielderand acentre-backforSwiss Super LeagueclubFC Winterthurand theSwitzerland national team.Until June 2011, he played for theSwiss U-21team. He made his international debut for Swiss senior team on 7 October 2011. He was selected to represent Switzerland at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He is of no relation to former club and country teammateAlexander Frei.[3]
 Frei withBaselin 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Fabian Frei[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 January 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Frauenfeld,Switzerland | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder,centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Winterthur | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2000 | Frauenfeld | ||
| 2000–2004 | Winterthur | ||
| 2004–2007 | Basel | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2007 | Basel II | 31 | (11) |
| 2007–2015 | Basel | 172 | (15) |
| 2009–2011 | →St. Gallen(loan) | 64 | (13) |
| 2015–2018 | Mainz 05 | 53 | (1) |
| 2018–2024 | Basel | 214 | (25) |
| 2024– | Winterthur | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2004–2005 | Switzerland U16 | 11 | (4) |
| 2005–2006 | Switzerland U17 | 14 | (10) |
| 2006–2007 | Switzerland U18 | 5 | (2) |
| 2007–2008 | Switzerland U19 | 7 | (5) |
| 2008 | Switzerland U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2008–2011 | Switzerland U21 | 18 | (4) |
| 2012 | Switzerland Olympic | 4 | (0) |
| 2011– | Switzerland | 23 | (3) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 September 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 November 2022 | |||
Club career
editBasel
editBorn inFrauenfeld,Frei started his youth football with local amateur clubFC Frauenfeldand then he moved to the youth ofFC Winterthurin summer 2000. However, he came through the ranks withFC Basel,joining their youth department and playing in their U-16 team, winning the Swiss championship title for that age group in the 2004–05 season. He played in their U-18 team during the 2005–06 season, under coachPatrick Rahmenand his assistantMarco Walkerand with them won both the Swiss U-18 championship and the U-19/18 national cup that season.[4]For the 2006–07 season, he advanced to their U-21 team, who played in the third tier, and was given a professional contract.[5]The team won their division and became Swiss champions at U-21 level, Frei, playing as attacking midfielder, made 30 appearances, scoring 11 goals.[6]
Ahead of their2007–08 seasonFrei was called into the first team squad by head coachChristian Gross.[7]After having played in 13 test games, Frei played hisdomestic leaguedebut for the club in the home game in theSt. Jakob-Parkon 22 July 2007 as Basel won 1–0 againstZürich.[8]He played hisUEFA Cupdebut with the team in the home game on 16 August, coming on as substitute, as Basel won 2–1 againstSV Mattersburg.[9]Basel played in the2007–08 UEFA Cup.Winning both matches in the qualification round and both matches in the play-off round, they team advanced to the group stage, which they ended undefeated in second position, after playing 1–0 at home againstStade Rennes,0–0 away againstDinamo Zagreb,1–0 at home againstBrannand 1–1 away againstHamburger SV,to continue the knockout stage. But then they were eliminated here bySporting CP.Frei had seven appearances during the teams 10 European games.[10]At the end of their2007–08 seasonFrei won theDoublewith the club. They won theLeagueChampionship title with four points advantage over second placedYoung Boys.Frei had 24 appearances.[11]In theSwiss CupBasel advanced to the final, and winning this 4–1 againstAC Bellinzonathey won the competition.[12]
To the beginning of the 2008–09 season he was member of the Basel team that won theUhrencup.They beatLegia Warsaw6–1 and played a 2–2 draw withBorussia Dortmundto end the table on top slot above Dortmund andLuzern.[13]Frei played hisUEFA Champions Leaguedebut for Basel on 26 November 2008 in the 5–0 away defeat againstShakhtar Donetsk.[14]He scored his first goal with the team in the home game on 4 December 2008. It was the last goal of the match as Basel won 3–1 againstFC Aarau.[15]
In July 2009, due to the fact that Basel strengthened their squad for the beginning of the2009–10 Swiss Super Leagueseason, Basel's new trainerThorsten Finkloaned Fabian Frei toFC St. Gallen.During his two-year loan in St. Gallen, he played 64 league games in which he scored 13 goals.
For the start of the2011–12 Swiss Super Leagueseason he was recalled to Basel, the reigning Swiss Champions, and he immediately won his place in the starting eleven. Frei scored his first Champions League goal for Basel on 14 September 2011 in theGroup C2–1 home win againstOțelul Galați,[16]his second on 27 September in the 3–3 draw atOld TraffordagainstManchester United[17]and his third on 22 November in theArena Națională,inBucharest,as Basel won the away game against Oțelul Galați 3–2.[18]At the end of the 2011–12 season, Frei won theDouble,theLeagueChampionship title[19]and theSwiss Cup[20]with Basel.
At the end of theSwiss Super League season 2012–13Frei won the Championship title[21]and wasSwiss Cup runner upwith Basel.[22]In the2012–13 UEFA Europa LeagueBasel advanced as far as thesemi-finals,there being matched against the reigningUEFA Champions LeagueholdersChelsea,but they were knocked out, losing both home and away tie, beaten 2–5 on aggregate.[23]
At the end of the2013–14 Super League seasonFrei won his fourth league championship with Basel.[24]They also reached the final of the2013–14 Swiss Cup,but were beaten 2–0 byZürichafter extra time. During the2013–14 Champions League seasonBasel reached thegroup stageand finished the group in third position. Thus they qualified forEuropa League knockout phaseand here they advanced as far as the quarter-finals. In theirseason 2013–14Basel played a total of 68 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures, 6 Swiss Cup, 6 Champions League and 10 Europa League and 10 test matches). Frei totaled 66 appearances, 34 League, 6 Cup, 6 Champions League and 10 Europa League as well all 10 in the test games.[25]
The season 2014–15 was a very successful one for Basel and for Frei. The championship was won for the sixth time in a rowthat season[26]and in the2014–15 Swiss Cupthey reached the final. But for the third season in a row, they finished as runners-up, losing 0–3 toFC Sionin the final. Basel entered theChampions Leaguein thegroup stageand reached theknockout phaseas on 9 December 2014 they managed a 1–1 draw atAnfieldagainstLiverpool.[27]Frei scored the goal for FC Basel against Liverpool to help Basel to the next round of the UEFA Champions League. But then Basel then lost toFC Portoin theRound of 16.Basel played a total of 65 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures, 6 Swiss Cup, 8 Champions League and 15 test matches). Under trainerPaulo SousaFrei totaled 56 appearances, 31 in the Super League, 5 Cup, 8 Champions League, as well 12 in test games. He scored a total of 4 goals in these matches.[28]
Mainz 05
editOn 23 June 2015, Frei joined German Bundesliga club1. FSV Mainz 05.[29]
Return to Basel
editOn 23 December 2017, FC Basel announced that Frei would return to the club, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract dated up until June 2022.[30]
Under trainerMarcel KollerBasel won theSwiss Cup in the 2018–19 season.In the first round Basel beat Montlingen 3–0, in the second roundEchallens Région7–2 and in the round of 16Winterthur1–0. In the quarter-finalsSionwere defeated 4–2 after extra time and in the semi-finalsZürichwere defeated 3–1. All these games were played away from home. The final was held on 19 May 2019 in theStade de Suisse Wankdorf BernagainstThun.StrikerAlbian Ajetiscored the first goal, Fabian Frei the second for Basel, thenDejan Sorgićnetted a goal for Thun, but the result was 2–1 for Basel.[31]Frei played in five cup games and scored not only in the final but also a goal in the match against Echallens.
On the final day of the summer 2024 transfer window, FCB announced that theircaptainFabian Frei had decided to rejoin his youth clubWinterthur.On 9 September, his contract with Basel was terminated by mutual consent, so that he can take on a new challenge.[32]Between the years 2007 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2024 Frei played a total of 679 games for Basel scoring a total of 94 goals. 386 of these games were in theSwiss Super League,46 in theSwiss Cup,111 in the UEFA competitions (Champions League, Europa League and Conference League) and 136 were friendly games. He scored 41 goals in the domestic league, 10 in the cup, 13 in the European games and the other 30 were scored during the test games. Fabian Frei is the clubs record holder for the number of competition matches played with the club. He played 543 games in league, cup and UEFA.[33]
FC Winterthur
editOn the day of his departure from Basel, he joined fellow Super League sideFC Winterthur.[34]
International career
editFrei representedSwitzerlandat various age levels. He played hisSwiss Under-16sdebut on 12 October 2004 in the 3–1 away win against the Belgium Under-16s. In 14 games for theSwitzerland U-17 teamhe scored ten goals.
Between 2008 and 2011 Fabian Frei played 18 games for theSwitzerland U-21team. His Under-21s debut was on 19 November 2008 in the 1–1 away draw against theGreece Under-21 team.His last game was the2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Finalon 25 June 2011.
Following this he was called into theSwiss national football teamby trainerOttmar Hitzfeld.Frei gave his international debut for Switzerland on 7 October 2011 in theUEFA Euro 2012 qualifyinggame in theLiberty StadiumagainstWales.
Frei was selected to represent Switzerland in themen's football tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympicsas part of theSwiss under-23 team.[35]He played over 90 minutes in all three games in the tournament, but the team were knocked out, finishing in fourth position of theirGroup.
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of 1 June 2017[36]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Basel | 2007–08 | Swiss Super League | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7[a] | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| 2008–09 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 31 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12 | 31 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 8[b] | 3 | 43 | 9 | ||
| 2012–13 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 16[c] | 1 | 48 | 7 | ||
| 2013–14 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 16[d] | 1 | 56 | 7 | ||
| 2014–15 | 31 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 8[b] | 1 | 44 | 3 | ||
| Total | 172 | 16 | 26 | 6 | 57 | 6 | 255 | 28 | ||
| St. Gallen(loan) | 2009–10 | Swiss Super League | 30 | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | 35 | 7 | |
| 2010–11 | 34 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 37 | 11 | |||
| Total | 64 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 18 | ||
| Mainz 05 | 2015–16 | Bundesliga | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 19 | 1 | |
| 2016–17 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4[a] | 0 | 29 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| Total | 53 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 62 | 3 | ||
| Basel | 2017–18 | Swiss Super League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 289 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 61 | 6 | 389 | 49 | ||
- ^abAppearances in theEuropa League
- ^abcAppearances in theChampions League
- ^Three appearances in theChampions League,thirteen appearances and a goal in theEuropa League
- ^Ten appearances and a goal in theChampions League,six appearances in theEuropa League
International
edit- Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Frei goal.[37]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 November 2014 | Municipal Stadium,Wrocław,Poland |  Poland |
2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 7 October 2017 | St. Jakob-Park,Basel,Switzerland |  Hungary |
2–0 | 5–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 27 March 2018 | Swissporarena,Lucerne,Switzerland |  Panama |
6–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
Honours
editBasel youth
- Swiss champion at U-16 level: 2004–05
- Swiss champion at U-18 level: 2005–06[4]
- Swiss Cup at U-19/U-18 level: 2005–06[4]
- Swiss champion at U-21 level: 2006–07
Basel
- Swiss Super League:2007–08,2011–12,2012–13,2013–14,2014–15
- Swiss Cup:2007–08,2011–12,2018–19;runner up:2012–13,2013–14,2014–15
Switzerland U21
- UEFA Euro U21runner-up:2011
Individual
- Goal of the Year: 2008–09 (5 December 2008 vs.FC Aarau)
- UEFA Europa LeagueSquad of the Season:2019–20[38]
References
edit- ^"FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Switzerland (SUI)"(PDF).FIFA.15 November 2022. p. 28.Retrieved15 November2022.
- ^"Fabian Frei".FC Basel.Retrieved2 September2022.
- ^"Fabian and Alexander Frei Unrelated".Socqer. 14 September 2011.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^abcFC Basel 1893 (2006)."Zwei weitere Titel für FCB-Nachwuchs"[Two more titles for FCB youngsters] (in Swiss High German). FC Basel 1893. Archived fromthe originalon 30 December 2013.Retrieved18 June2006.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^"Fabian Frei: Profivertrag bis 2009"(in German). FC Basel 1893. 24 November 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 30 December 2013.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^Giusti, Giacomo (2007)."Switzerland Third Level 2006/07".Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.Retrieved16 November2023.
- ^Weber, Dominik (25 June 2007)."FCB-Transfers im Sommer 2007"(in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived fromthe originalon 30 December 2013.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” (22 July 2007)."FC Basel - FC Zürich 1:0 (0:0)".Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv".Retrieved16 November2023.
- ^uefa (16 August 2007)."FC Basel 2-1 SV Mattersburg".uefa.Retrieved16 November2023.
- ^uefa (21 February 2008)."FC Basel - Sporting CP 0:3 (0:2)".uefa.Retrieved16 November2023.
- ^Garin, Erik; Stokkermans, Karel (2018)."Switzerland 2007/08".Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.Retrieved16 November2023.
- ^Swiss Football Verband (SFV) (6 April 2008)."AC Bellinzona - FC Basel 1:4 (0:1)".Swiss Football Verband (SFV) internet site.Retrieved16 November2023.
- ^Garin, Erik (2011)."Coupe Horlogère - Uhren Cup (Switzerland)".Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.Retrieved16 November2023.
- ^"Vereinsspiele"(in German). weltfussball.ch.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” (4 December 2008)."FC Basel - FC Aarau 3:1 (1:1)".Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv".Retrieved16 November2023.
- ^Rogers, Steven (14 September 2011)."Freis double up as Basel beat Oţelul".uefa.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^Hart, Simon (27 September 2010)."United strike late to deny Basel famous win".uefa.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^Haylett, Trevor (22 November 2011)."Basel hang on to set up United showdown".uefa.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^Meister, Remo (29 April 2012)."Jetzt hat Basel den Titel auf sicher"(in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived fromthe originalon 16 October 2013.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^"Matchtelegram FC Basel 1893 5:3 FC Luzern"(in German). football.ch. 16 May 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 4 December 2012.
- ^Schifferle, Michael (10 June 2013)."Season review: Switzerland".uefa.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^"Telegramm Schweizer Cup Final"(in German). Schweizerischer Fussballverband. 20 May 2013.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^Haylett, Trevor (3 May 2013)."Basel take heart after Chelsea defeat".uefa.Retrieved30 December2013.
- ^Grossenbacher, Sacha (2014)."Fotos vom Spiel gegen Lausanne sowie den anschliessenden Feierlichkeiten"(in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2018.Retrieved18 May2014.
- ^Zindel, Josef (2014).Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2014/2015.FC Basel Marketing AG.ISBN978-3-7245-2027-6.
- ^Marti, Caspar (2015)."Der Meisterfreitag im bunten Zeitraffer"(in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2015.Retrieved29 May2015.
- ^"Liverpool 1 Basel 1".BBC Sport.10 December 2014.Retrieved10 December2014.
- ^Zindel, Josef (2015).Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2015/2016.FC Basel Marketing AG.ISBN978-3-7245-2050-4.
- ^"Frei kommt für vier Jahre".1. FSV Mainz 05. 23 June 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 23 June 2015.Retrieved23 June2015.
- ^FC Basel 1893 (2017)."Fabian Frei kehrt zum FCB zurück".FC Basel 1893.Retrieved23 December2017.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv"."FC Basel - FC Thun 2:1 (1:0)".Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv".Retrieved16 November2019.
- ^FC Basel 1893 (9 September 2024)."Fabian Frei wechselt per sofort zum FC Winterthur"[Fabian Frei is moving with immediate effect to FC Winterthur] (in Swiss High German). FC Basel 1893 AG.Retrieved9 September2024.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” (2024)."Fabian Frei - FCB statistic".Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv”.Retrieved9 September2024.
- ^"Fabian Frei zum FCW!".FC Winterthur. 9 September 2024.Retrieved9 September2024.
- ^"Schweiz mit Behrami, Benaglio und Klose an die Olympischen Spiele".Schweizerischer Fussballverband(in German). 3 July 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 29 January 2016.Retrieved4 July2012.
- ^"Fabian Frei Profile".Retrieved22 November2016.
- ^"Frei, Fabian".National Football Teams.Retrieved10 October2017.
- ^"UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season".UEFA.Union of European Football Associations. 26 August 2020.Retrieved26 August2020.
Sources
edit- Josef Zindel (2018).FC Basel 1893. Die ersten 125 Jahre(in German). Basel: Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag.ISBN978-3-7245-2305-5.