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Switzerland have Roy Hodgson to thank for their place in world football Switzerland have Roy Hodgson to thank for their place in world football
(about 7 hours later)
Roy Hodgson did once lead a team into the knockout stages of a World Cup but it was with Switzerland, rather than England, when arguably his greatest managerial feat was accomplished. That was more than 20 years ago, when Stéphane Chapuisat and co qualified unexpectedly for USA 1994 and laid foundations in the Swiss game that still resonate today. Roy Hodgson did once lead a team into the knockout stages of a World Cup but it was Switzerland, rather than England, when arguably his greatest managerial feat was accomplished. That was more than 20 years ago, when Stéphane Chapuisat and co qualified unexpectedly for USA 1994 and laid foundations in the Swiss game that still resonate today.
“It’s his own fault that England will play a good team on Monday, because he really started the whole development programme,” says Alain Sutter, the former Bayern Munich midfielder, ahead of Monday night’s European Championship qualifier in Basel. “I think the job Roy did was very important. He was the man who put all the new ideas in.” “It’s his own fault that England will play a good team on Monday because he really started the whole development programme,” says Alain Sutter, the former Bayern Munich midfielder, before Monday night’s European Championship qualifier in Basel. “I think the job Roy did was very important. He was the man who put all the new ideas in.” And it was Sutter who scored the first goal in Switzerland’s 4-1 victory over Gheorghe Hagi’s Romania in Detroit, their best result in a World Cup since 1966 and one that assured qualification for the last 16 where they were beaten by Spain.
It was Sutter who scored the first goal in Switzerland’s 4-1 victory over Gheorghe Hagi’s Romania in Detroit, their best result in a World Cup since 1966 and one that assured qualification for the last 16 where they were beaten by Spain.
That was arguably the high point of Hodgson’s spell as Switzerland manager, which lasted for three years between 1992 and 1995 before his appointment at Internazionale. The 1994 World Cup was followed by an outstanding qualifying campaign for Euro 96 under Hodgson, as the alpine nation flourished on the international stage for the first time in years.That was arguably the high point of Hodgson’s spell as Switzerland manager, which lasted for three years between 1992 and 1995 before his appointment at Internazionale. The 1994 World Cup was followed by an outstanding qualifying campaign for Euro 96 under Hodgson, as the alpine nation flourished on the international stage for the first time in years.
Switzerland rose to third in the world rankings and the foundations were put in place for future success. After Hodgson’s departure they did not qualify for another major tournament in eight years, but since 2004 they have only missed one, something many people put down to the progression of youth development in the early 1990s. Switzerland rose to third in the world rankings and the foundations were put in place for future success. After Hodgson’s departure they did not qualify for another major tournament in eight years but since 2004 they have missed only one, something many people put down to the progression of youth development in the early 1990s.
Credit Suisse became sponsors of the national team in 1993 and have remained so ever since, with half the funding provided by the bank used by the Swiss FA to earmark young talent. This all came after Hodgson, who took over having managed Neuchâtel Xamax for two seasons, inherited a squad from Uli Stielike that had potential but had previously achieved little. Credit Suisse became sponsors of the national team in 1993 and have remained so since, with half the funding provided by the bank used by the Swiss FA to earmark young talent. This all came after Hodgson, who took over having managed Neuchâtel Xamax for two seasons, inherited a squad from Uli Stielike that had potential but had previously achieved little.
Hodgson brought new ideas to Switzerland despite initial scepticism when he was given the job. “At the beginning people thought ‘who is this guy’, but then looking at his past you saw he had international experience,” said Marcel Melcher, a journalist on SRF radio who has covered the team over the last 25 years. Hodgson brought new ideas to Switzerland despite initial scepticism when he was given the job. “At the beginning people thought ‘Who is this guy?’ but then, looking at his past, you saw he had international experience,” said Marcel Melcher, a journalist on SRF radio who has covered the team over the last 25 years.
“In Switzerland people thought he was a real British gentleman, because that is how he moved himself. Pretty quickly he was able to speak German and he spoke French. He started skiing in St Moritz and he became quite good on the slopes actually. He mixed into our social structures here and was actually quite a star. I skied with him and his wife Sheila. He was a natural and took an effort to mix into social life.”“In Switzerland people thought he was a real British gentleman, because that is how he moved himself. Pretty quickly he was able to speak German and he spoke French. He started skiing in St Moritz and he became quite good on the slopes actually. He mixed into our social structures here and was actually quite a star. I skied with him and his wife Sheila. He was a natural and took an effort to mix into social life.”
Hodgson’s biggest challenge was to change the mindset of the Swiss, who had become accustomed to not qualifying for major tournaments. His record in competitive games was excellent, taking a team of previous anonymity onto the international radar. Hodgson’s biggest challenge was to change the mind-set of the Swiss, who had become accustomed to not qualifying for major tournaments. His record in competitive games was excellent, taking a team of previous anonymity on to the international radar. He introduced 4-4-2 to Switzerland and is remembered for his attention to detail as well as having a strict approach during the 1994 World Cup, when he banned the players’ wives and girlfriends from the training camp only to loosen the rules after a meeting with his squad, some of whom were unhappy.
He introduced 4-4-2 to Switzerland and is remembered for his attention to detail as well as having a strict approach during the 1994 World Cup, when he banned the players’ wives and girlfriends from the training camp only to loosen the rules after a meeting with his squad, some of whom were unhappy. “It was sometimes tough, he pushed us to the limit but we were successful,” says Sutter. “I have good memories. He always had an open ear to go to. For me it was absolutely great, for the whole country it was special. He developed the whole movement.
“It was sometimes tough, he pushed us to the limit, but we were successful,” says Sutter. “I have good memories. He always had an open ear to go to. For me it was absolutely great, for the whole country it was special. He developed the whole movement. “Switzerland had not qualified for 28 years. I didn’t think I would play in a World Cup but we had a group of talented players and a good coach. It was a big adventure and the highlight of our careers.”
“Switzerland had not qualified for 28 years. I didn’t think I would play in a World Cup, but we had a group of talented players and a good coach. It was a big adventure and the highlight of our careers.” Hodgson took the job at Inter, whose president Massimo Moratti also had a residence in St Moritz, in 1995. He may have been Switzerland manager for only three years but his impact is remembered fondly to this day.
Hodgson took the job at Inter, whose president Massimo Moratti also had a residence in St Moritz, in 1995. He may have only been Switzerland manager for three years but his impact is remembered fondly to this day.
The Switzerland National Television commentator Beni Thurnheer said: “I had a lot of contact with him, we talked a lot about things outside football – literature and politics and so on. In Switzerland we say you shouldn’t have the frog mentality – looking down all the time. He was more like the bird in the air.The Switzerland National Television commentator Beni Thurnheer said: “I had a lot of contact with him, we talked a lot about things outside football – literature and politics and so on. In Switzerland we say you shouldn’t have the frog mentality – looking down all the time. He was more like the bird in the air.
“He was the No1 coach of Switzerland of all time, a VIP with all the politicians, a big celebrity. I think when he appears at St Jakob-Park there will be applause for him. He belongs to this team forever.” “He was the No1 coach of Switzerland of all time, a VIP with all the politicians, a big celebrity. I think that when he appears at St Jakob-Park there will be applause for him. He belongs to this team forever.”