Former Arsenal defender Stephan Lichtsteiner takes first ever top-flight managerial role

FC Basel have announced the appointment of former Arsenal defender Stephan Lichtsteiner as their new head coach.

The Swiss giants confirmed the news on Monday evening, just hours after parting company with former boss Ludovic Magnin.

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Despite securing a 4-3 victory over FC Zurich on Sunday, thanks to a Xherdan Shaqiri hat-trick, this proved to be Magnin’s last game in charge as his departure was announced less than 24 hours later.

The decision to change management comes with Basel sitting fourth in the Swiss Super League, ten points adrift of leaders Thun.

And the Swiss champions have rolled the dice with their next appointment, by giving Lichtsteiner his first top-flight coaching role.

Despite boasting a wealth of elite-level playing experience, the former Juventus and Arsenal full-back has only ever managed one team in senior football.

This experience came with Swiss fourth-tier outfit FC Wettswil-Bonstetten, where he had served as manager since July 2024.

Lichtsteiner departs with the club sitting fifth in the league table, having won eight out of 14 matches this term.

The former Switzerland captain also boasts previous coaching experience at Basel, having taken charge of the club’s academy sides between 2022 and 2024.

And Basel cited this as a key factor in the decision to appoint Lichsteiner, as they confirmed his arrival in a club statement.

‘Winning mentality’

On the appointment, Sporting director Daniel Stucki said: “We already know Stephan from the youth academy, where I worked directly with him for over two years.

“He possesses a great tactical understanding and has always been able to inspire his teams and improve them as a collective.

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“We are aware that he is joining us at a demanding time, with crucial matches coming up in a short period. And this without any real experience as a head coach at the professional level.

“But our main goal is to plan for the long term and sustainably. Stephan knows all about high-pressure situations from his playing days, and although he hasn’t yet coached a team at the highest level, we have complete confidence in him for this task.

“He is meticulous and a perfectionist with a clear plan. In addition, he has a tremendous winning mentality, which will help us immediately in the current situation.”

The club also confirmed Lichtsteiner will be joined in the dugout by Pascal Bader as his assistant.

As a player, Lichtsteiner made 621 professional appearances, with his most successful spell coming at Juventus between 2011 and 2018.

He helped the Italian giants to seven consecutive league titles during this time, before spending a season at Arsenal in 2018/19.

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The 42-year-old was also capped 108 times by Switzerland, representing his national team at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups, as well as at Euro 2008 and Euro 2016.

Lichtsteiner ready for challenge at ‘great club’

At Basel, Lichtsteiner will be tasked with transforming the club’s fortunes, who have struggled for form this term.

The reigning Swiss champions have won just two of their last five league games, while their hopes of reaching the Europa League knockout stages are hanging by a thread.

They sit 27th in the league phase standings, and head into their final league clash with Viktoria Plzen needing a win and favourable results elsewhere to secure a spot in the knockout phase play-off draw.

On his appointment, Lichtsteiner told the club: “I am very convinced of the long-term project at FC Basel and am therefore delighted to be a part of it from now on.

“Although the move comes a little earlier than planned, it was a given for me that I wanted to take on this challenge at this great club now, as the situation has arisen.

“I am sure that together we can achieve a lot at FCB.”