Sport
The greatest Swiss players in Premier League history
Switzerland has always been an understated footballing power when you look at their achievements. With regular World Cup appearances, this Alpine nation often generates plenty of star names that go unnoticed until they reach a major European league. There have been plenty of names that have appeared in English football too with 35 Swiss players having appeared in the Premier League in the past few decades. Many of these stars have gone on to enjoy successful stints in England winning plaudits from across the football world. But just who are the greatest Swiss players in Premier League history?
Stefan Henchoz
A defender who knew how to clear his lines, Stephane Henchoz was a player that didn’t mess around when he was on the pitch. His defensive prowess was first spotted by Blackburn who signed in from Hamburg in 1997 to boost their backline. Quickly becoming a fan favourite at Ewood Park, Henchoz established himself a first-team regular until Rovers were relegated in 1999 setting up a move to Liverpool. Henchoz’s form remained impeccable whilst at Anfield and formed strong partnerships with the likes of Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise during this time. Even though Henchoz failed to win the league with The Reds, he earned plenty of other silverware including the FA Cup, League Cup and the UEFA Cup. Henchoz’s form was well-received by plenty where he was maned Swiss Player of the Year in both 2001 and 2002. Henchoz left English football in 2005 to join Celtic although he would finish his career with Blackburn in 2008 before moving into coaching.
Johan Djourou
Johan Djourou was a player who benefitted from developing at the highest tier of professional football. Coming through Arsenal’s academy, he debuted for The Gunners in 2004 and impressed with his speed and tenacity at the back. It would be these attributes that saw Djourou become a regular at The Emirates for much of the 2000s as Arsenal achieved top 4 finishes. His efforts didn’t go unrewarded either where he was named 2006 Swiss Rookie of the Year after breaking into the regular Arsenal line-up. Djourou would leave London in 2013 after two loan spells in Germany brought a permanent move to Hamburg in the Bundesliga and ending a decade in English football.
Xherdan Shaqiri
When he first debuted for Bayern Munich, Xherdan Shaqiri looked set to be a generational talent. Injuries would dampen those expectations but it didn’t stop him becoming a creative livewire in the Premier League. Shaqiri achieved this with Stoke after moving there from Intern Milan in 2015. Shaqiri would become the creative hub for his side showcasing deadly passing and wicked free-kicks with ease. After scoring 8 goals in the 2017/18 season, Shaqiri moved to Liverpool where he maintained this form scoring 6 goals in 24 games. Injuries would then hinder his time at Anfield although he was a part of the Liverpool squad that won the 2019-20 Premier League season. Shaqiri left to join Lyon in 2021 but not without leaving his mark on English football. Not only is Shaqiri the only Swiss player to win the Premier League but he is also the nation’s record goalscorer in the competition with 22 goals over 6 seasons.
Fabian Schar
It’s not often a defender is known for their attacking prowess but that is an added edge that Fabian Schar gives to his team. Not only known for excellent ball control and tackling, Schar is an accomplished set-piece taker capable of taking free-kicks and penalties with an excellent conversion rate. Schar has showcased these abilities with Newcastle after moving to Tyneside in 2018 from Deportivo La Coruna. Schar has been a regular for The Magpies having scored 10 goals in just over 100 appearances for the club. This includes a stunning 30-yard strike in 2019 against Burnley where his first of two goals was named Goal of the Month in February 2019. Alongside that, he was named 2019 North-East Footballer of the Year showcasing just how well he has played since moving to Newcastle and English football.
Granit Xhaka
There’s perhaps been fewer footballers who have endured a rollercoaster ride at a club quite like Granit Xhaka at Arsenal. The charismatic midfielder moved to North London in 2016 from Borussia Monchengladbach and won fans over with excellent passing and dedicated nature. As much as Xhaka’s passing is one of the most reliable features of his game, his temperament has seen Xhaka go through spells where he was dropped and even lost the captaincy at the club. However, Xhaka’s resilient nature has seen him re-emerge as one of the most hard-working players at the club and return to being one of the top stars at the club. This is underlined by winning the 2017 Swiss Player of the Year award and with over 200 league appearances for The Gunners, he has appeared in more Premier League games than any other Swiss player. An enduring cult figure if ever there was one.
