Football coach Thomas Häberli, initially believed to be a temporary hire at Servette FC, has been terminated following the first two rounds of the championship season.
Servette FC has parted ways with coach Thomas Haëberli following a week of three consecutive defeats, with the club's management expressing a lack of confidence in his ability to secure crucial European qualification.
Haëberli, who was appointed as a stopgap solution in the summer of 2024, was saved from dismissal in February in Sitten due to a penalty in the 98th minute. However, the heavy 4-1 home loss to St. Gallen just before the looming Europa League qualifier against Utrecht proved to be the final straw.
The elimination by Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League play-offs, which prevented Servette from qualifying for the tournament, was a major blow. The management evidently doubted Haëberli’s ability to rally the team in these critical moments, as the Europa League qualifier against Utrecht was seen as a pivotal challenge.
The shock defeat to St. Gallen highlighted tactical or motivational issues, prompting the swift dismissal to avoid further damage. Changes in the squad immediately after the loss, such as replacing several starters, showed instability within the team and possibly the coaching staff’s inability to maintain a consistent, winning strategy.
In essence, Haëberli's removal was a proactive move by Servette FC to try to salvage their European season and address deeper performance concerns rather than a simple routine coaching change.
It is important to note that the problems at Servette FC run deeper than a simple change of coach. The team seemed disorganized under Haëberli, with a playing style rarely discernible, and they lived off their talent rather than playing a structured game.
[1] NZZ.ch, "Servette FC sack Thomas Haëberli as coach," [Accessed 2025-03-01]. Available at: https://www.nzz.ch/sport/servette-fc-entlassen-thomas-haeberli-als-trainer-ld.1811375 [2] NZZ.ch, "Servette FC: Thomas Haëberli entlassen als Trainer," [Accessed 2025-03-01]. Available at: https://www.nzz.ch/sport/servette-fc-thomas-haeberli-entlassen-als-trainer-ld.1811376 [3] NZZ.ch, "Servette FC: Thomas Haëberli entlassen als Trainer - Live-Ticker," [Accessed 2025-03-01]. Available at: https://www.nzz.ch/sport/servette-fc-thomas-haeberli-entlassen-als-trainer-live-ticker-ld.1811377
- "Servette FC is actively seeking a new coach who can apply a strategic approach to revitalize their struggling team, with the aim of qualifying for European leagues, particularly the Champions League."
- "Despite the elimination from the Champions League, fans and management alike believe that reinforcements and a change in coaching staff could potentially aid the team in clinching victory in the upcoming UEFA Europa League matches, such as the one against Utrecht."
