In Switzerland, the establishment of a Task Force signifies urgent action is needed, particularly for the future of football. Patrick Bruggmann, the SFV’s football development director, emphasizes the importance of youth development, which has shown signs of decline despite past successes. The performance of national youth teams and diminishing playing time for young Swiss players in the Super League raise concerns. Bruggmann advocates for strategic changes, aiming to enhance opportunities for Swiss talent through incentives and support within the Swiss football clubs.
In Switzerland, when things go terribly wrong, the good old task force comes into play. It is swiftly convened, and calling for it is a resounding signal that immediate action is required.
In this case, the individual calling for this action is Patrick Bruggmann. This coming Friday, he will advocate for a task force during the session of the Central Board, the top decision-making body of the Swiss Football Association (SFV). His focus is solely on the future of Swiss football.
Bruggmann serves as the Director of Football Development at the SFV and faces the significant responsibility of sustaining Switzerland’s football legacy. The Swiss national team has qualified for ten of the last eleven European and World Championships and has consistently progressed past the group stages since 2014.
This impressive record is remarkable for a small nation. However, in recent years, the idea of a task force concerning Swiss football seemed unnecessary. This was particularly evident last summer when Switzerland nearly reached the semifinals of the European Championship in Germany.
Now, though, Bruggmann is raising alarms, stating that “the Swiss way is in jeopardy.” He emphasizes the urgency for action, declaring, “We have no time to waste,” which has led to the focus on youth development—a crucial foundation for past successes. However, there are growing signs that this foundation is crumbling.
Anticipating the Next Exceptional Talent
Anticipating the Next Exceptional Talent
This comes after the U-21 and U-19 teams failed to qualify for the European Championship, falling short against countries like Romania, the Czech Republic, and Finland.
Moreover, young Swiss players are seeing decreased playing time in the top leagues. Specifically, in the Swiss Super League, there has been a significant decline over the years. A study commissioned by the SFV to evaluate the youth development efforts from the last decade returned devastating results.
The findings reveal that Switzerland has produced significantly fewer top players compared to similar nations. Denmark, for instance, has produced 24, Austria 26, and Belgium an impressive 47. In Switzerland? Just 12. In the latter half of the decade? Merely 2, namely Fabian Rieder and Ardon Jashari.
Additionally, the average age of the national team has raised concerns. During the European Championship this summer, the starting lineup against Scotland averaged 30.3 years old, the oldest in Swiss national team history according to the football portal Transfermarkt. Despite national coach Murat Yakin’s discussions of a potential overhaul, the average age remained almost 29 during the recent match against Serbia, while the Swiss football community has been waiting for a standout talent akin to Granit Xhaka or Xherdan Shaqiri for quite some time.
This accumulating data paints a rather grim picture, suggesting that Swiss football is heading into difficult times. It’s a wake-up call for a nation renowned for developing talent.
What has transpired? And what comes next?
When FC Luzern played to a 2-2 draw against Servette on Thursday night, goalkeeper Pascal Loretz, defenders Luca Jaquez and Severin Ottiger, and forward Lars Villiger—all players who joined the club as youths—represented the local talent, illustrating a successful transition to the first team.
This represents the Luzern approach. According to Remo Meyer, the club’s sports director and one of its key architects, this approach demands one essential quality: courage. A third of the roster spots at FC Luzern is reserved for homegrown players—whatever it takes. Meyer highlighted the positive effect this strategy has throughout the club, motivating both youth coaches and aspiring talents.
The SFL Trophy, which recognizes clubs that provide playing time to young Swiss players under 21, has seen FC Luzern dominate in recent years. During the 2023/24 season, Luzern’s young talents accumulated 14,526 playing minutes—over three times more than any other club.
The Focus on Foreign Talent
The Focus on Foreign Talent
Local professional clubs often claim to focus on developing homegrown talent. The strategy set forth by the Swiss Football League for 2023 to 2027 emphasizes youth development as a primary goal.
However, the statistics tell a different story. Behind FC Luzern, there seems to be an alarming absence of progress. In some clubs, young Swiss talent barely registers. This season, while Luzern’s youth players have already logged 4,267 minutes, clubs like Sion have managed only 32 minutes, St. Gallen 188, and Servette 488.