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Simon Grether

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Simon Grether (born 20 May 1992) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as defender or midfielder. He was also youth international footballer. He retired from professional football in 2022 after spending six seasons with Luzern.

Simon Grether
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-05-20) 20 May 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Fribourg, Switzerland
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender, midfielder[1]
Team information
Current team
 Dornach
Youth career
2000–2006 FC Reinach
2006–2012 Basel
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Basel U21 64 (7)
2012–2014 Basel 2 (0)
2013 → Bellinzona (loan) 9 (0)
2013–2014 → Winterthur (loan) 21 (0)
2014 → Winterthur II (loan) 4 (1)
2014–2016 Wohlen 47 (2)
2016–2022 Luzern 120 (2)
2017 Luzern II 2 (0)
2022 FC Rotkreuz 9 (0)
2023 Black Stars Basel
2023– Dornach
International career‡
2010 Switzerland U-18 1 (0)
2010–2011 Switzerland U-19 13 (0)
2011–2012 Switzerland U-20 10 (0)
2013 Switzerland U-21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 December 2013

Club career

Youth football, Basel

Born in Fribourg, Grether grew up in Reinach, Basel-Landschaft. He started his youth football with local team FC Reinach. In 2006, he moved to the youth department of Basel and progressed through the ranks. He played in their U-16 and U-18 teams and with both he won the Swiss championship, in 2008 and 2010. His teammates in the U-18 squad included Arlind Ajeti, Kofi Nimeley, Sandro Wieser, Stjepan Vuleta and Roman Buess.[2] Grether advanced to Basel's U-21 team who played in the 1. Liga at that time the third highest tier in the Swiss football league system, for the 2010–11 season, becoming regular starter. He signed his first professional contract on 24 May 2012 and He joined Basel's first team for their 2012–13 season under head coach Heiko Vogel.[3]

After having played in eight test games, Grether played his domestic league debut for the team 13 July 2012, in the away game in the Stade de Genève, coming on as a substitute as Basel won 1–0 against Servette.[4] He played his first European match in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round in the home game in the St. Jakob-Park on 24 July as Basel won 3–0 against Flora Tallinn.[5] Apart from these two games and one substitute appearance in the 2012–13 Swiss Cup, Grether gained playing practice in the U-21. One of his rare goals was scored in the away game as they won 5–2 against Yverdon-Sports on 22 October 2012.[6] The FCB U-21 team were pushing to win the championship, but at the end of the season they missed, solely on goal difference.[7]

Loan to Bellinzona and Winterthur

On 31 January 2013, FCB announced that Grether was loaned out to Bellinzona in the Swiss Challenge League to gain more playing experience. He settled in slowly but surely and at the end of the season had nine appearances for the team, eight of which over the full 90 minutes.[8]

At the beginning of the next season Basel announced that Grether had prolonged his contract, but was loaned out to Winterthur. In that 2013–14 Challenge League season, Grether played in 21 league matches, he also had one appearance in the 2013–14 Swiss Cup and four for the reserve team.[9]

Wohlen

Although Grether had a valid contract with Basel, the club released him so that he could continue his career with Wohlen, who also played in the Swiss Challenge League. He played his debut for his new club in the away game on 14 September as Wohlen won 1–0 against Lausanne-Sport. He scored his first goal for his team in the home game as they won 2–1 against Lugano. In his first season with the club, he played 24 league matches, scoring one goal. He also played two games in the Swiss Cup. Then in his second he played 23 league matches, also scoring one goal, the team ended the season in eighth position. He had two appearances in the Swiss Cup this season as well, the team being knocked out of the competition by Zürich in the second round.[10]

Luzern

In June 2016, Grether moved to FC Luzern, signing a two-year contract until the end of June 2018, but with an option for a further year. He joined Luzern's first team for their 2016–17 season under head coach Markus Babbel. He played his domestic league debut for his new club on the first matchday, an away game at the Cornaredo, on 23 July as Luzern won 2–1 against Lugano. He played in 21 of the team's league games that season, the team ending the season in fifth position. He had one appearance in the third qualifying round of the Europa League, coming on as substitute in the 1–1 draw against Sassuolo.[11] He also had four appearances in the 2016–17 Swiss Cup, where the team advanced as far as the semi-finals, but here were beaten 6–5 on penalties by Sion.[12]

In their 2017–18 season the team started well but inconsistent. However, this then took a dip to the worse, between September and November the team lost seven of nine games and slipped to last position in the table. At this point Grether rose to become a very important character in the team, although to the beginning of his time with the club he was thought to be back-up player.[13] On 16 April 2018, the club announced that his contract would continue for another year.[14] He thanked them by scoring his first goal for the team just a few days later, on 22 April. It was the winning goal of the game, in the third minute of added time, as Luzern won 2–1 against Zürich.[15] The team rose up the table and at the end of the season they were in third position in the table. Grether had 26 league appearances. He had three appearances in the 2017–18 Swiss Cup, where the team had advanced to the quarter-final, but were eliminated by Basel.[16]

The 2018–19 league season also contained a string of inconsistent results for Luzern. They lost five of their first seven home games, but won five of eight away games. This continued in the second half of the season. Luzern lost five of their nine home matches, but only won two of their away games. Grether was in the starting eleven during most of the games in the first half of the season, but spent most of the second half on the substitutes bench. He had 23 league appearances. He had two cup appearances, where the team advanced to the semi-finals, but were then knocked-out by Thun.[17]

Grether spent a longer period at the beginning of the 2019–20 league season out with injuries.[18] Just as he recovered the team dropped in form and lost six games in a row, slipping into the relegation zone. The second half of the season showed inprovement, the team ended the season in sixth position and Grether had 23 appearances. He had three appearances in the cup, where Luzern were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Young Boys.[19]

On 14 August 2020, before the beginning of the 2020–21 league season, Grether prolongend his contract with the club until the summer of 2022.[20] But as the season began, on 19 September he was out again injured. This time it was adductor injury that kept him out for ten games at the start of the season, the injury reoccured and he missed another five matches in February and March. The team started unstable into the season, slipping immediately into the relegation zone, spending most of the time in second last position. During the second half they found more stability and achieved a number of good results, rising to the fifth position at the end of the season. Grether started in just eight games and had five further appearances as substitute.[21] In the 2020–21 Swiss Cup things ran better. Luzern advanced to the final, played on 24 May 2021 in the Stadion Wankdorf in Bern. Luzern beat St. Gallen 3–1, with Grether coming on as substitute, to win the trophy.[22]

As cup winners in the previous season Luzern were qualified for third qualifying round of the 2021–22 Conference League. Grether played in the return leg on 12 August 2021 and led the team as captain, but they were defeated by Feyenoord.[23] In the 2021–22 league things ran badly from the very beginning, the team remained permanently in the relegation zone throughout the season. They ended in second last position and had to play the relegation play-offs, the first leg ending with a 2–2 draw, Luzern winning the second leg 2–0 and avoiding relegation. Grether had just 14 league appearances this season. To contrary, in the 2021–22 Swiss Cup Luzern advanced to the semi-finals, where they played a 2–2 draw against Lugano, only to be defeated on the penalty shoot-out. Grether had two appearances in the cup. At the end of the season Luzern announced that they would be parting ways with four players, Marvin Schulz, Tsiy William Ndenge, Silvan Sidler and Simon Grether.[24]

Rotkreuz

At this point Grether decided to retire from professional football and he started a job as Salesmanager. The newly promoted to the 1. Liga amateur club FC Rotkreuz, announced on 14 July 2022 that they had signed Grether for their new season.[25]

Black Stars

Spontaneously the opportunity arose for Grether to move back to Basel, he was offered an apartment. In an interview he said that it was always clear to his family that he would go back home, because my family and many of our friends there. In January 2023 Grether joined amateur club Black Stars Basel, who at that time played in the 1. Liga, the fourth highest tier in the Swiss football league system.[26] The club were in desperate need of strengthening because they suffered relegation during the previous season and were pressing for immediate promotion.[27]

Dornach

On 1 July 2023 Grether joined Dornach, who at that time played in the 2. Liga Interregional, the fifth tier.

International career

Grether played his first ever international game for the Switzerland U-18 team on the day before his 18th birthday. On 19 May 2010 the Swiss team beat Ukraine U-18 2–0. Grether made his debut for the Switzerland U-19 team in the 1–1 draw with Czech Republic U-19 on 4 September 2010. He played his debut for the Switzerland U-20 team in the 3–2 win against the Italian U-20 on 31 August 2011.

On 6 February 2013, Grether made his debut for the Swiss U-21 team in the El Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, being substituted in in the 79th minute. The game ended with a 0–1 defeat against the Slovakian U-21 team.

Private life

Before signing his first professional football contract, Grether completed business school in Basel. Grether is married. His first daughter was born in May 2017.[13]

Titles and honours

Basel

Luzern

References

  1. ^ Simon Grether at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b Marti, Caspar (2010). "Die U18 des FCB ist Schweizer Meister!" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  3. ^ FC Basel 1893 (2012). "Simon Grether: Profivertrag bis 2014" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 24 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” (13 July 2012). "Servette FC - FC Basel 0:1 (0:0)". Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv". Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  5. ^ uefa.com (24 July 2012). "FC Basel - FC Flora 3:0 (2:0)". uefa.com. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  6. ^ (NL) (22 October 2012). "Der FCB-Nachwuchs siegt am Neuenburgersee diskussionslos" [The FCB youngsters won without any debate] (in Swiss High German). bz – Zeitung für die Region Basel. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  7. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (2014). "Switzerland 2012/13". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  8. ^ blick.ch (2013). "Zwei FCB-Talente von Muri zu Haki!". blick.ch. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  9. ^ FC Basel 1893 (2013). "Profiverträge für Nachwuchsspieler und Leihverträge für Profispieler" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 20 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (2018). "Switzerland 2015/16". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  11. ^ uefa.com (28 July 2016). "Luzern 1–1 Sassuolo". uefa.com. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  12. ^ Swiss Football Verband (SFV) (5 April 2017). "Sion 6-5 n.E. Luzern" (in German). Swiss Football Verband (SFV) website. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b Estermann, Linus (15 March 2018). "Simon Grether – der unverzichtbare Lückenbüsser" [Simon Grether – the indispensable stopgap] (in Swiss High German). zentralplus.ch. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  14. ^ red. (16 April 2018). "Simon Grether bleibt beim FC Luzern" [Simon Grether remains with FC Luzern] (in Swiss High German). zentralplus.ch. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  15. ^ red (22 April 2018). "Das Last-Minute-Traumtor von Simon Grether" [Simon Grether's last-minute dream goal] (in German). sport.ch. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  16. ^ Swiss Football Verband (SFV) (29 November 2017). "FC Basel 2–1 FC Luzern" (in German). Swiss Football Verband (SFV) website. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  17. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (2019). "Switzerland 2018/19". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Eine Verletzung setzt den rechten Verteidiger derzeit ausser Gefecht" [The right-back is currently out of action due to an injury] (in German). sport.ch. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  19. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (2021). "Switzerland 2019/20". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  20. ^ red. (14 August 2020). "Der FCL verlängert mit "einem der erfahrensten Spieler im Kader" [The FCL is extending the contract with one of the most experienced players in the squad] (in German). sport.ch. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  21. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (2022). "Switzerland 2020/21". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  22. ^ Swiss Football Verband (SFV) (24 May 2021). "St. Gallen 1–3 Luzern" (in German). Swiss Football Verband (SFV) website. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  23. ^ uefa.com (12 August 2021). "Feyenoord 3–0 Luzern". uefa.com. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  24. ^ red. (29 May 2022). "Der FC Luzern verabschiedet nach dem Klassenerhalt ein Quartett" [FC Luzern says goodbye to a quartet after staying in the league] (in Swiss High German). sport.ch. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  25. ^ red- (14 July 2022). "Simon Grether wechselt zum FC Rotkreuz" [Simon Grether is moving to FC Rotkreuz] (in German). regiofussball.ch. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  26. ^ Durisch, Luc (1 April 2023). "Von der Super League in die Provinz" [From the Super League into the provinces] (in Swiss High German). BaZ. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  27. ^ Stokkermans, Karel; Rohrer, Niklaus (2022). "Switzerland 2022/23". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  28. ^ a b FC Basel 1893 (2008). "Zwei weitere Nachwuchstitel für den FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 15 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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