Stephan Lichtsteiner, new coaching adventure for the'former Juventus player
Stephan Lichtsteiner is the new coach of Basel. The former Juventus player, who is very familiar with the club due to his previous experience in the red and blue youth sector, has signed a contract valid until the summer of 2029. The Rossoblù club also hired Pascal Bader, who will serve as assistant coach. Lichtsteiner’s deputy comes from the youth sector of FC Aarau, where he coached the U16 after previously overseeing the U17.
Born in Adligenswil, Lichtsteiner won seven Italian championships, five Italian Cups and four Super Cups with Juventus. With the Swiss national team, he racked up more than 100 appearances, wore the captain’s armband and was voted “Swiss Footballer of the Year” in 2015. His career took him to the jerseys of Grasshopper, Lille and Lazio, as well as Juventus, with whom he played 259 official matches, before ending his professional career after a season at Arsenal and a final experience, in 2020, at Augsburg.
With his playing career over, Lichtsteiner embarked on his coaching career, gaining his first experiences as deputy of the U16 at SC Kriens and in the Swiss U18 national team. He first came to Basel in February 2022, where in two and a half years he worked as head coach of the U15 and later the U16, serving in parallel as head of the defensive phase for all youth categories. In the summer of 2024, he switched to adult soccer, taking over as head coach of FC Wettswil-Bonstetten and continuing his education.
“We know Stephan from his work in the youth sector and I have worked directly with him for more than two years – commented ds Daniel Stucki -. He brings with him great tactical expertise, he always knows how to drag his teams along, improving them as a collective. Stephan knows pressure situations very well thanks to his playing career, and although he has not yet coached at the highest level, we entrust him with this task with total conviction”.
“I am very convinced of the club’s long-term project and I am happy to be able to be part of it right away – Lichtsteiner’s first words – Although this step comes a little earlier than expected, it was natural for me to accept this challenge at such a prestigious club, given the circumstances. I am sure that together we can achieve important goals”.
