FC Basel has appointed Stephan Lichtsteiner as the new head coach of its first team. The former Augsburg player replaces Ludovic Magnin, who left FCB on Monday.
The 42-year-old, who already knows the club well from his time with the red and blue youth team, has signed a contract until summer 2029. Pascal Bader will join FCB as assistant coach alongside Lichtsteiner.
After ending his playing career, Lichtsteiner embarked on a coaching career and gained his first experience as assistant coach for SC Kriens’ U16 team and the Swiss U18 national team. In February 2022, he moved to the Rhine knee for the first time as a coach, where he spent more than two and a half years as head coach of the U15 team, then the U16 team, and at the same time as defensive coach. Since 2024, he has been on the sidelines at FC Wettswil-Bonstetten, continuing his coaching education.
“I am very convinced of the long-term project at FC Basel and am therefore delighted to be able to be part of it with immediate effect. Although the move comes a little earlier than planned, it was obvious to me that I wanted to take on this challenge at this great club now that the situation has arisen. I am sure that we can achieve a lot together at FCB,” Lichtsteiner is quoted as saying in FC Basel’s press release.
Stucki on the new coach
Sports director Daniel Stucki said: “We already know Stephan from the youth department, where I worked directly with him for over two years. He has a strong tactical understanding and has always known how to inspire his teams and make them better as a collective.”
During his active career, Lichtsteiner played for FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga, among others, and previously played for FC Arsenal and Juventus Turin, among others.
