Thomas Häberli
Encyclopedia
Thomas Häberli is a retired Swiss
football
striker
who last played for BSC Young Boys
in the Swiss Super League
. He joined the club from FC Basel
in July 2000. He has made at least 28 league appearances in each of his seven seasons at the Bern club.
just outside his hometown of Lucerne
in Central Switzerland
. In 1994 he moved to FC Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, 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 siffered back problems
and so was forced to cancel his contract at FC Lausanne-Sport and retire 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 5th 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 on to the Swiss capital, Bern to play for BSC Young Boys
where he has remained ever since. Häberli is currently 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 2nd in the goalscoring charts, behind team-mate Hakan Yakin
, as BSC Young Boys
finished 2nd after defeat to winners FC Basel
on the final day of the season.
He was contracted to the club until 30 June 2010.
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.
, 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.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who last played for BSC Young Boys
BSC Young Boys
Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 is a Swiss sporting club based in the capital city of Bern. The name is often abbreviated to YB . Abroad, YB is often referred to as Young Boys Bern. The club's colors are yellow and black....
in the Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
. He joined the club from FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
in July 2000. He has made at least 28 league appearances in each of his seven seasons at the Bern club.
Club history
Häberli began his career with the semi-professional club FC Eschenbach, based in Eschenbach, LucerneEschenbach, Lucerne
Eschenbach is a municipality in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Coat of arms:The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Or, a Castle Sable ensigned with a cross of four flesh-hooks of the same.-Geography:...
just outside his hometown of Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
in Central Switzerland
Central Switzerland
Central Switzerland is the region of the Alpine foothills geographically the heart and historically the origin of Switzerland, with the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Lucerne and Zug....
. In 1994 he moved to FC Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, based in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne
Le Mont-sur-Lausanne
Le Mont-sur-Lausanne is a municipality in the district of Lausanne in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is a suburb of the city of Lausanne.-Geography:...
, in the French-speaking region of Switzerland
Linguistic geography of Switzerland
The four national languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Only three of these languages, however, maintain equal status as official languages at the national level within the Federal Administration of the Swiss Confederation: German, French, and Italian.Native speakers...
. 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 siffered back problems
Back pain
Back pain is pain felt in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.The pain can often be divided into neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain or tailbone pain...
and so was forced to cancel his contract at FC Lausanne-Sport and retire from professional football
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
.
For the 1996/97 season, he signed on with former club FC Hochdorf
FC Hochdorf
FC Hochdorf is a Swiss football club. It currently compete at Regional Verbaende of Innerschweizerischer Fussballverband group .-Players:As of end season 2008/2009.-Staff and board members:* Trainer: Thomas Heitzmann...
in his home Canton of Lucerne
Canton of Lucerne
Lucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton is . , the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.-History:...
, who at the time were playing in the 5th tier of the Swiss football pyramid
Swiss Football League
The Swiss Football League is organised in several leagues.-Proposed system from 2012-13 season onwards:-External links:* * * * *...
. In 1997 he moved to another local side FC Schötz
FC Schötz
Fussballclub Schötz, is a football club from Schötz, Switzerland.The club was founded in 1927, is currently playing in the Swiss 1. Liga.-Squad:As of 18 January 2010-External links:*...
, based in Schötz
Schötz
Schötz is a municipality in the district of Willisau in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Schötz has an area, , of . Of this area, 69.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 10.9% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
. In the summer of 1999, aged 25, Häberli felt fit and ready to resume life as a professional footballer
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He called another local side SC Kriens
SC Kriens
SC Kriens is a football club based in Kriens, Switzerland. It was founded in 1944. They play at the Kleinfeld Stadium. Their local rival is FC Lucerne-Current squad:-Famous players:...
who offered him a trial and impressed enough to earn a contract. His time at playing in the Swiss Challenge League at SC Kriens
SC Kriens
SC Kriens is a football club based in Kriens, Switzerland. It was founded in 1944. They play at the Kleinfeld Stadium. Their local rival is FC Lucerne-Current squad:-Famous players:...
was a success and soon top flight
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
clubs were taking note. In 2000 he signed for FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
but quickly moved on to the Swiss capital, Bern to play for BSC Young Boys
BSC Young Boys
Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 is a Swiss sporting club based in the capital city of Bern. The name is often abbreviated to YB . Abroad, YB is often referred to as Young Boys Bern. The club's colors are yellow and black....
where he has remained ever since. Häberli is currently the longest serving player at the club. He is known at the club for being both loyal and down to earth
Down to Earth
- Media :* Down to Earth , an Indian science and environment magazine* Down to Earth , a 1999 non-fiction book by Tim Winton and Richard Woldendorp* Down to Earth , a 1983–1987 television series...
, qualities that are said to be rare in the modern day professional game.
In the 2007/08 season
Swiss Super League 2007-08
-End of season:Last updated 10 May 2008Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points...
Häberli scored 18 goals and finished 2nd in the goalscoring charts, behind team-mate Hakan Yakin
Hakan Yakin
Hakan Yakin is a Swiss footballer. He currently plays for Swiss Super League club FC Luzern. He was member of the Swiss national team for eleven years.-Personal life:...
, as BSC Young Boys
BSC Young Boys
Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 is a Swiss sporting club based in the capital city of Bern. The name is often abbreviated to YB . Abroad, YB is often referred to as Young Boys Bern. The club's colors are yellow and black....
finished 2nd after defeat to winners FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
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 SwitzerlandSwitzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
against the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
.
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.
Personal life
Häberli is married to Olivia and has two daughters, Lielle and Eline, and lives with them in BallwilBallwil
Ballwil is a municipality in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Ballwil has an area of . Of this area, 76.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 11.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 11.3% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
, in Canton Lucerne
Canton of Lucerne
Lucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton is . , the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.-History:...
. The house is next to the farm which his parents live on.
Away from football he counts playing Jass
Jass
Jass is a trick taking card game and a distinctive branch of the Marriage family, popularly supposed to be the progenitor of the American game of Pinochle...
, swimming and reading
Reading (process)
Reading is a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols for the intention of constructing or deriving meaning . It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas...
as his hobbies.