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Alexander Frei

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Alexander Frei
Frei withBorussia Dortmundin 2007
Personal information
Full name Alexander Frei[1]
Date of birth (1979-07-15)15 July 1979(age 45)[1]
Place of birth Basel,Switzerland
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 FC Aarau(manager)
Youth career
1987–1988 FC Begnins
1988–1995 FC Aesch
1995–1997 Basel
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Basel 11 (1)
1998–1999 Thun 32 (6)
1999–2000 FC Luzern 53 (17)
2001–2003 Servette 64 (36)
2003–2006 Rennes 100 (47)
2006–2009 Borussia Dortmund 74 (34)
2009–2013 Basel 103 (72)
Total 437 (213)
International career
1995–1996 Switzerland U-18 5 (1)
1996–1997 Switzerland U-19 4 (3)
1999–2000 Switzerland U-21 19 (9)
2001–2011 Switzerland 84 (42)
Managerial career
2013–2014 FC Luzern(sporting director)
2015–2020 Basel(youth)
2018 Basel(interim)
2020–2021 Wil
2021–2022 Winterthur
2022–2023 Basel
2023–2024 Aarau
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander FreiorAlex Frei(born 15 July 1979) is a Swiss professionalfootballcoach and a former player who played as aforward.He was most recently head coach ofFC Aarauin theSwiss Challenge League,the second tier of Swiss football.

Frei began his career atBasel,going on to various other clubs in Switzerland, France and Germany before returning to his home club, where he won theSwiss Super Leaguetitle in all four of his seasons, includingdoubleswith theSwiss Cupin 2010 and 2012.

Frei is the all-time leading scorer of theSwitzerland national teamwith 42 goals in 84 games, and also their sixth-most capped player of all time. He represented the country at twoUEFA European Championshipsand as manyWorld Cups.

Club career

[edit]

Frei started his professional career with his hometown club ofFC Basel,where he later was transferred toFC Thun,FC Luzern,andServette FC,all in his native Switzerland. After a transfer to French clubRennes,he finished as the highest goal-scorer inLigue 1for the2004–05 seasonwith 20 goals. He was named Swiss Footballer of the Year the same season. He was also named Swiss Footballer of the Year in 2004 and 2007.

Frei then signed a four-year contract withBorussia Dortmundon 29 June 2006. Dortmund paid a transfer fee of approximately €5 million for him. In the 2006–07 season, Frei was the highest goal scorer for Borussia Dortmund with 16 goals in 32 matches.

He recovered from a long-term injury in the 2007–08 season to score six times in his last eight appearances for Borussia Dortmund. After speculation regarding his future, he came back to action againstSchalke 04in the fourth fixture of theBundesliga.He scored two goals, equalising in an incredible game.[3]

On 17 July 2009, he left Borussia Dortmund after 74 league matches[4]and, after six years, returned to Switzerland to sign with FC Basel.[5]He made his debut in a 2–1 win overFC Sionon 26 July 2009. He made an assist and also scored the last minute winner in the match at theStade Tourbillon.[6]During the2009–10 seasonhe scored 15 goals in 19 league games and FC Basel won theDouble.During the2010–11 seasonhe scored 27 goals in 35 league games, becoming theSwiss League Top goalscorer.

At the end of the 2011–12 season, Frei won his second Double with Basel, theLeagueChampionship title[7]and theSwiss Cup.[8]

In the2012–13 UEFA Europa League,Basel advanced as far as thesemi-finals,there being matched against the reigningUEFA Champions LeagueholdersChelsea,but were knocked out being beaten 2–5 on aggregate.[9]Frei's last game in this competition was as Basel qualified for thequarter-finalsin the home game againstTottenham Hotspur,whom they beat 4–1 onpenaltiesafter a 4–4 aggregate draw to progress. Frei played his last professional match on 14 April 2013 in the home game atSt. Jakob-Parkas Basel beatZürich3–1. He led the team as captain for this game. He also scored his last goal, a free kick from about 25 meters in the 55th minute. He was substituted some ten minutes later to a standing ovation.[10][11]At the end of theSwiss Super League season 2012–13,Frei was awarded his fourth championship medal[12]and was awarded aSwiss Cup silvermedal.[13]

Between the years from 1997 to 1998 and again from 2009 to 2013 Frei played a total of 217 games for Basel scoring a total of 148 goals. 114 of these games were in theSwiss Super League,15 in theSwiss Cup,38 in the European competitions (Champions LeagueandEuropa League) and 50 were friendly games. He scored 74 goals in the domestic league, 13 in the cup, 22 in the European matches and the other 39 were scored during the test games. With the club he won four league championships and two cup titles.[14]

International career

[edit]
Frei battling for the ball withBrazil'sLuisãoin a November 2006 friendly

Frei representedSwitzerlandat Under-18s,Under-19sandUnder-21slevels. He played his Swiss U-18s debut on 25 October 1995 in the 5-1 away defeat against theFrench Under-18s.His Under-21 debut was on 3 September 1999 in the 3-1 away win againstDenmark.

Frei played his debut asfull internationalon 24 March 2001,[15]being substituted in, during the 1–1 away draw against theRepublic of Yugoslaviaduring theWorld Cup qualification Group 1 match.[16]In the following match, four days later, Frei scored his first three goals for the national team in the 5–0 home win againstLuxembourg.[17]

Frei played forSwitzerlandatEuro 2004.In a group match againstEngland,he was caught on camera appearing to spit atSteven Gerrard.Although no action was taken at the time, Frei was later charged and given a provisional 15-day suspension byUEFA.[18]

He scored six times in2006 FIFA World Cup qualification,including a second-minute penalty in the second leg of the play-off againstTurkeywhich his team won on away goals.[19]At thefinalsin Germany, Frei wasMan of the matchin the 2–0 group stage win overTogoinDortmund,opening the scoring fromTranquillo Barnetta's 17th-minute cross.[20]He concluded a win by the same score againstSouth Koreain the next game to send Switzerland through as group winners. This goal was controversial as refereeHoracio Elizondooverruled a judgement of offside by his assistant.[21]

On 30 May 2008, in Switzerland's final preparation match before co-hostingUEFA Euro 2008,Frei scored twice in a 3–0 friendly win overLiechtenstein.This moved him to 35 goals for the Switzerland national team, surpassing the record ofKubilay Türkyilmaz.[22]However, within the first half of the opening match of the tournament, Frei was injured while captaining the Swiss team and missed the rest of the tournament due to a torn knee ligament in his left knee after a challenge fromCzechdefenderZdeněk Grygera.He decided to remain with the team to show his support. He later underwent surgery.[23]

In a Euro 2012 qualifier at home againstWales,he was booed by his own fans throughout the match, even though Switzerland won the match 4–1. When he was finally substituted the fans in the home sector booed him repeatedly.[24]On 5 April 2011, he decided to quit from the national squad after being criticised again following a 0–0 draw withBulgariaon 26 March for theEuro 2012 qualifying match.[25]

Sports director

[edit]

After Frei ended his career, he became new sports director ofFC Luzern.This was announced by both FC Basel[26]and Luzern[27]on 19 March 2013.

Coaching career

[edit]

He was interim manager ofFC Baselin 2018.[28]

In September 2020, he became head coach ofFC Wil 1900.[29]He stepped down from this position in November 2021 and in December signed on as head coach ofFC Winterthur.[30][31]After successfully leading Winterthur to promotion to theSuper League,he was signed by his former clubFC Baselto be their new head coach.[32]

Frei and Basel parted ways on 7 February 2023, with the team sitting in seventh place in the table.[33]According to FC Basel sporting directorHeiko Vogelthe 0–1 loss away toGrasshopper Club Zürich,following five league games without a win, on 4 February 2023, three days before, "was one defeat too many". On 1 February 2023, Basel had defeated Grasshoppers 5–3 in Zurich in their round of 16 match of the2022–23 Swiss Cup.

On 12 June 2023, he was announced as the new head coach ofFC Aarau,[34]thus returning to theSwiss Challenge League.On 25 March 2024, he departed his position by mutual consent with the club to take a step back from coaching.[35]At the time of his departure, Aarau were in 3rd place, however with a significant gap to a promotion spot. In his last game, his team managed a late 2–0 win against cantonal rivalsFC Baden.

Personal life

[edit]

Alexander is of no relation to club and country team mateFabian Frei.[36]However, he is the second-cousin ofSeattle Sounders FCgoalkeeper and former Swiss youth internationalStefan Frei.[37]His younger sister Andrea plays football for the Basel ladies team. He is married to Nina and they have a daughter born in 2012.[38]

Career statistics

[edit]

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year[39][40]
National team Year Apps Goals
Switzerland 2001 8 5
2002 6 2
2003 8 7
2004 9 2
2005 11 7
2006 11 8
2007 3 1
2008 8 5
2009 9 3
2010 9 2
2011 2 0
Total 84 42
Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Frei goal.
List of international goals scored by Alexander Frei[39][40]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 28 March 2001 Hardturm,Zürich,Switzerland Luxembourg 1–0 5–0 2002 World Cup qualifier
2 2–0
3 5–0
4 2 June 2001 Svangaskarð,Toftir,Faroe Faroe Islands 1–0 1–0 2002 World Cup qualifier
5 5 September 2001 Stade Josy Barthel,Luxembourg,Luxembourg Luxembourg 1–0 3–0 2002 World Cup qualifier
6 21 August 2002 St. Jakob-Park,Basel,Switzerland Austria 2–1 3–2 Friendly
7 8 September 2002 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland Georgia 1–0 4–1 Euro 2004 qualifier
8 12 February 2003 Športni Park,Nova Gorica,Slovenia Slovenia 3–0 5–1 Friendly
9 5–0
10 30 April 2003 Stade de Genève,Geneva,Switzerland Italy 1–0 1–2 Friendly
11 7 June 2003 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland Russia 1–0 2–2 Euro 2004 qualifier
12 2–0
13 11 June 2003 Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland Albania 2–1 3–2 Euro 2004 qualifier
14 11 October 2003 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland Republic of Ireland 2–0 2–0 Euro 2004 qualifier
15 18 February 2004 Stade Moulay Abdellah,Rabat,Morocco Morocco 1–2 1–2 Friendly
16 9 October 2004 Ramat Gan Stadium,Ramat Gan,Israel Israel 1–1 2–2 2006 World Cup qualifier
17 30 March 2005 Hardturm, Zürich, Switzerland Cyprus 1–0 1–0 2006 World Cup qualifier
18 4 June 2005 Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Faroe Islands 2–1 3–1 2006 World Cup qualifier
19 3–1
20 17 August 2005 Ullevaal Stadion,Oslo,Norway Norway 1–0 2–0 Friendly
21 3 September 2005 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland Israel 1–0 1–1 2006 World Cup qualifier
22 7 September 2005 GSP Stadium,Nicosia,Cyprus Cyprus 1–0 3–1 2006 World Cup qualifier
23 16 November 2005 Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium,Istanbul,Turkey Turkey 1–0 2–4 2006 World Cup play-offs
24 3 June 2006 Hardturm, Zürich, Switzerland China 1–0 4–1 Friendly
25 3–0
26 19 June 2006 FIFA WM Stadion Dortmund,Dortmund,Germany Togo 1–0 2–0 2006 World Cup
27 23 June 2006 FIFA WM Stadion Hannover,Hanover,Germany South Korea 2–0 2–0 2006 World Cup
28 16 August 2006 Rheinpark Stadion,Vaduz,Liechtenstein Liechtenstein 1–0 3–0 Friendly
29 2–0
30 2 September 2006 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland Venezuela 1–0 1–0 Friendly
31 6 September 2006 Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland Costa Rica 2–0 2–0 Friendly
32 25 March 2007 Miami Orange Bowl,Miami,United States Colombia 1–1 1–3 Friendly
33 24 May 2008 Cornaredo Stadium,Lugano,Switzerland Slovakia 2–0 2–0 Friendly
34 30 May 2008 AFG Arena,St. Gallen,Switzerland Liechtenstein 1–0 3–0 Friendly
35 2–0
36 11 October 2008 AFG Arena, St. Gallen, Switzerland Latvia 1–0 2–1 2010 World Cup qualifier
37 15 October 2008 Karaiskakis Stadium,Piraeus,Greece Greece 1–0 2–1 2010 World Cup qualifier
38 28 March 2009 Zimbru Stadium,Chişinău,Moldova Moldova 1–0 2–0 2010 World Cup qualifier
39 1 April 2009 Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland Moldova 2–0 2–0 2010 World Cup qualifier
40 9 September 2009 Skonto Stadium,Riga,Latvia Latvia 1–0 2–2 2010 World Cup qualifier
41 17 November 2010 Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland Ukraine 1–0 2–2 Friendly
42 2–1

Managerial

[edit]
As of 12 November 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat. From To Record
G W D L Win %
FC Wil Switzerland 7 September 2020 9 November 2021 52 16 11 25 030.77
Winterthur Switzerland 20 December 2021 30 June 2022 18 10 6 2 055.56
Basel Switzerland 1 July 2022 7 February 2023 34 14 10 10 041.18
Aarau Switzerland 12 June 2023 Present 16 6 3 7 037.50
Total 120 46 30 44 038.33

Honours

[edit]

Servette

Basel

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 List of Players"(PDF).FIFA.p. 30. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 10 January 2019.
  2. ^"Alex Frei"(in German). FC Basel. Archived fromthe originalon 17 February 2013.Retrieved26 January2013.
  3. ^"Borussia Dortmund 3–3 Schalke 04".ESPN Soccernet. 13 September 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 29 June 2011.Retrieved15 July2010.
  4. ^Arnhold, Matthias (5 December 2019)."Alexander Frei - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga".RSSSF.com.Retrieved6 December2019.
  5. ^"Alex Frei verlässt Dortmund"(in German). Derstandard.at. 17 July 2009.Retrieved15 June2013.
  6. ^Weber, Dominik (26 July 2009)."Alex Frei schiesst FCB in letzter Minute zum Sieg in Sion!".FC Basel 1893. Archived fromthe originalon 22 June 2009.Retrieved15 June2013.
  7. ^"Der 15. Meistertitel für den FCB – die Bilanz einer grandiosen Saison"(in German). fcb.ch. 29 April 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 16 October 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.
  8. ^"Matchtelegram FC Basel 1893 5:3 FC Luzern"(in German). football.ch. 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 4 December 2012.Retrieved16 May2012.
  9. ^Haylett, Trevor (3 May 2013)."Basel take heart after Chelsea defeat".UEFA.Retrieved21 October2013.
  10. ^Marti, Caspar (14 April 2013)."Der FCB schlägt den FCZ bei der Verabschiedung von Alex Frei mit 3:1"(in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived fromthe originalon 21 October 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.
  11. ^Meister, Remo (14 April 2013)."Das isch emol e Abschied"(in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived fromthe originalon 21 October 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.
  12. ^Schifferle, Michael (10 June 2013)."Season review: Switzerland".UEFA.Retrieved21 October2013.
  13. ^"Telegramm Schweizer Cup Final"(in German). Schweizerischer Fussballverband. 20 May 2013.Retrieved21 October2013.
  14. ^Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” (2013)."Alex Frei - FCB Statistic".Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv”.Retrieved16 November2020.
  15. ^Mamrud, Roberto (5 December 2019)."Alexander Frei – Goals in International Matches".RSSSF.com.Retrieved6 December2019.
  16. ^"Yugoslavia – Switzerland / Match report".FIFA.com. 24 March 2001. Archived fromthe originalon 17 May 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.
  17. ^"Switzerland – Luxembourg / Match report".FIFA.com. 28 March 2001. Archived fromthe originalon 16 May 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.
  18. ^"Frei given 15-day ban".BBC Sport.21 June 2004.Retrieved25 May2015.
  19. ^"Turkey 4–2 Switzerland".BBC Sport.16 November 2005.Retrieved25 May2015.
  20. ^"Togo 0–2 Switzerland".BBC Sport.19 June 2006.Retrieved25 May2015.
  21. ^"Switzerland 2–0 South Korea".BBC Sport.23 June 2006.Retrieved25 May2015.
  22. ^"Switzerland coast home against Liechtenstein".Swissinfo.30 May 2008.Retrieved25 May2015.
  23. ^"Switzerland 0–1 Czech Republic".BBC News.8 June 2008.Retrieved15 July2010.
  24. ^"Former Players: Frei booed by his own fans".Stade Rennais Online. 18 October 2010.Retrieved7 October2017.
  25. ^"Swiss pair Frei and Strellar [sic] announce retirements".BBC News.5 April 2011.Retrieved5 April2011.
  26. ^FC Basel 1893 (19 March 2013)."Alex Frei wird ab Mitte April 2013 Sportdirektor beim FC Luzern"(in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived fromthe originalon 16 June 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^"Alex Frei wechselt am 15. April zum FC Luzern"(in German). FC Luzern. 19 March 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.
  28. ^ALEX FREI WIRD NEUER ASSISTENZTRAINER U14 UND U16Archived27 July 2018 at theWayback Machine‚ fcb.ch, 15 May 2015
  29. ^Alex Frei wird neuer Trainer beim FC Wil.Nau. 7 September 2020.
  30. ^FC Wil 1900 und Alex Frei trennen sich.FC Wil. 9 November 2021.
  31. ^Alex Frei neuer Trainer beim FCW.Archived30 March 2022 at theWayback MachineFC Winterthur. 20 December 2021.
  32. ^"Alex Frei ist der neue FCB-Trainer"[Alex Frei is the new FCB coach].FC Basel(in German). 23 May 2022.Retrieved31 May2022.
  33. ^"DER FCB TRENNT SICH VON CHEFTRAINER ALEX FREI"[Alex Frei and FCB part ways].FC Basel(in German). 7 February 2023.Retrieved7 February2023.
  34. ^"Alex Frei wird neuer Cheftrainer des FC Aarau".fcaarau.ch(in German).FC Aarau.12 June 2023.Retrieved12 June2023.
  35. ^"Alex Frei löst Vertrag auf und nimmt eine Auszeit".fcaarau.ch(in Swiss High German).FC Aarau.25 March 2024.Retrieved25 March2024.
  36. ^"Fabian Frei & Alexander Frei both scored for Basel tonight but are unrelated – are any players in this season's Champions League that are related?".socqer.com. 14 September 2011.Retrieved15 June2013.
  37. ^"Swiss striker Frei has a nose for goal".CBC News.13 May 2010.Retrieved29 April2012.
  38. ^"Glückwünsche für Nina und Alex Frei: Töchterchen Lia ist da!"(in German). FC Basel. 26 June 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 15 January 2013.Retrieved2 November2012.
  39. ^abAlexander Freiat National-Football-Teams.com
  40. ^ab"Alexander Frei - Goals in International Matches".RSSSF.Retrieved18 February2020.
  41. ^ab"Player of the year » Switzerland".World Football.Retrieved28 July2019.
  42. ^"Swiss skipper Frei nets football award".Swiss Info. 30 May 2007.Retrieved29 July2019.
  43. ^"2010/11 / Letzte Jahre Home - Swiss Golden Player Award"(in German). goldenplayer.ch. Archived fromthe originalon 3 May 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.
  44. ^"Best Forward 2012"(in German). goldenplayer.ch. Archived fromthe originalon 3 May 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.
[edit]
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Switzerlandcaptain
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
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