Thomas Häberli

Thomas Häberli (born 11 April 1974)[1] is a Swiss professional footballer manager and former player who played as a striker. He is currently the manager of the Estonia national team.

Thomas Häberli
Thomas Häberli with Martin Andermatt
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-04-11) 11 April 1974
Place of birth Lucerne, Switzerland
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1982–1987 FC Eschenbach
1987–1994 Hochdorf
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994 Le Mont 4 (0)
1995 Lausanne-Sport 0 (0)
1996–1997 Hochdorf 22 (9)
1997–1999 Schötz 51 (21)
1999 Kriens 22 (8)
2000 Basel 8 (0)
2000–2009 Young Boys 217 (52)
National team
2004 Switzerland 1 (0)
Teams managed
2009–2010 FC Perlen-Buchrain
2010–2012 Young Boys (U-18)
2011 Young Boys (caretaker)
2012–2013 Young Boys (assistant)
2013 Young Boys (U-21)
2013–2015 Basel (U-21)
2018–2019 Basel (assistant)
2019 Luzern
2021– Estonia
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 August 2007

Club history

Born in Lucerne, Switzerland, Häberli began his career with the semi-professional club FC Eschenbach, based in Eschenbach, Lucerne just outside his hometown of Lucerne in Central Switzerland. In 1994, he moved to FC Le Mont, based in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. After just four appearances he was quickly snapped up by their bigger local rivals and in 1995, aged 20, he signed for FC Lausanne-Sport. However he suffered back problems and so he cancelled his contract at Lausanne-Sport and retired from professional football.

For the 1996–97 season, he signed on with former club FC Hochdorf in his home Canton of Lucerne, who at the time were playing in the fifth tier of the Swiss football pyramid. In 1997, he moved to another local side FC Schötz, based in Schötz. In the summer of 1999, aged 25, Häberli felt fit and ready to resume life as a professional footballer. He called another local side SC Kriens who offered him a trial and impressed enough to earn a contract. His time at playing in the Swiss Challenge League at SC Kriens was a success and soon top flight clubs were taking note. In 2000, he signed for FC Basel but quickly moved to Bern to play for BSC Young Boys where he remained until the end of his active career. At that time Häberli was the longest serving player at the club. He is known at the club for being both loyal and down to earth, qualities that are said to be rare in the modern day professional game.

In the 2007–08 season Häberli scored 18 goals and finished second in the goalscoring charts, behind teammate Hakan Yakin, as BSC Young Boys finished second after defeat to winners FC Basel on the final day of the season. He was contracted to the club until 30 June 2010.

International career

In 2004, he made his only appearance so far for Switzerland against the Faroe Islands.

For UEFA Euro 2008 there was speculation amongst the media and the fans that he would be recalled due to his excellent forum, and the injury sustained to Blaise Nkufo. He was recalled into the provisional squad by coach Köbi Kuhn and played in a warm up game with the squad in an unofficial friendly against the U21 side of FC Lugano, scoring a goal. However, when the final squad was announced, the next day, Häberli did not make the final cut.

Coaching career

Young Boys

Häberli was hired as U-18 manager for Young Boys in 2010. After first team manager Vladimir Petkovic was fired, Häberli was appointed as the caretaker manager on 8 May 2011 alongside assistant manager Erminio Piserchia, until the 1 July 2011, where Christian Gross would take over.[2] After the summer, the continued coaching the U-18 squad.

On 30 April 2012, Häberli was promoted to first team assistant manager under manager Martin Rueda.[3] In April 2013 it was announced, that Häberli would take over the U-21 squad of the club.[4]

FC Basel

On 26 April 2013 it was confirmed, that Häberli would take charge of FC Basel's U-21 squad from the 2013/14 season.[5] In October 2015, Häberli changed position and was appointed as the club's new talent manager.[6] He held this position until the beginning of the 2018/19 season, where he was appointed as first team assistant manager.[7] Häberli resigned on 3 January 2019.[8]

FC Luzern

On 21 February 2019, he was appointed as the manager of FC Luzern.[9] After a bad start in the 2019-2020 season, he was sacked on 16 December 2019.[10]

Estonia

On 5 January 2021, Häberli was appointed manager of the Estonia national team on a contract due to run until the end of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.[11]

Personal life

Häberli is married to Olivia and has two daughters, Lielle and Eline, and lives with them in Ballwil, in Canton Lucerne. The house is next to the farm which his parents live on.

Away from football he counts playing Jass, swimming and reading as his hobbies.

References
  2. Christian Gross neuer YB-Trainer!, blick.ch, 8 May 2011
  3. RUEDA NEUER YB-TRAINER, HÄBERLI ASSISTENT, bscyb.ch, 30 April 2012
  4. Magnins gemischte Gefühle, Wölflis Forderung, bernerzeitung.ch, 9 April 2013
  5. Thomas Häberli geht zum FC Basel, derbund.ch, 26 April 2013
  6. THOMAS HÄBERLI IN NEUER FUNKTION, fcb.ch, 20 October 2015
  7. Bitter für den FC Luzern: Absage von Wunschkandidat Thomas Häberli, luzernerzeitung.ch, 6 June 2018
  8. Thomas Häberli erklärt den Abgang beim FC Basel, nau.ch, 3 January 2019
  9. Beim dritten Mal kommt Thomas Häberli zum FC Luzern und wird neuer Cheftrainer, nzz.ch, 21 February 2019
  10. , nzz.ch, 16 December 2019
  11. "Eesti meeste koondise eesotsas alustasid uued treenerid" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
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