Reto Ziegler
Ziegler with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2012
Personal information
Full name Reto Pirmin Ziegler[1]
Date of birth (1986-01-16) 16 January 1986
Place of birth Geneva, Switzerland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Sion
Number 3
Youth career
1993–1995 Gland
1995–1997 Servette
1997–1998 US Terre Sainte
1998–2000 Servette
2000–2002 Grasshoppers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Grasshoppers 41 (0)
2004–2007 Tottenham Hotspur 24 (1)
2005–2006 → Hamburger SV (loan) 8 (0)
2006 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 10 (0)
2007 → Sampdoria (loan) 15 (1)
2007–2011 Sampdoria 127 (4)
2011–2015 Juventus 0 (0)
2011–2012 → Fenerbahçe (loan) 38 (1)
2012–2013 → Lokomotiv Moscow (loan) 6 (0)
2013 → Fenerbahçe (loan) 16 (0)
2013–2014 → Sassuolo (loan) 17 (0)
2015–2017 Sion 72 (12)
2017 Luzern 9 (2)
2018–2020 FC Dallas 80 (11)
2021–2022 Lugano 58 (7)
2023– Sion 26 (4)
International career
2000–2001 Switzerland U15 4 (1)
2001–2003 Switzerland U17 8 (0)
2003–2004 Switzerland U18 4 (0)
2004 Switzerland U19 4 (0)
2004–2009 Switzerland U21 30 (2)
2005–2014 Switzerland 35 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 October 2023

Reto Pirmin Ziegler (born 16 January 1986) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Swiss Challenge League club Sion.

Ziegler has played top-flight football in seven different countries. He earned 35 international caps for Switzerland and played at both the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.

Club career

Early career

In the summer of 2004, Ziegler signed a contract with Tottenham Hotspur, which was initially meant to begin on 1 January 2005, when his contract with Grasshoppers expired. However, the two clubs – reportedly through the initiative of then-Tottenham sporting director Frank Arnesen – agreed to an immediate transfer, and Ziegler joined Spurs in late August of that year.

Tottenham Hotspur

Despite being just 18 years old, Ziegler soon made his debut and became an important member of the team under both head coach Jacques Santini, who left in October after just a few months in charge, and his successor, Martin Jol. Ziegler featured mostly at left midfield but also played a few matches as left full-back, often switching position with Timothée Atouba, another versatile left-sided player with the team at the time.

Ziegler featured in 31 matches in all competitions that season, including 23 in the Premier League. He showed great promise and improvement, and became popular with the fans for his attack-minded play on the left side and good passing ability. One of his most memorable moments from that season came in the home loss to Arsenal. Near the end of the game, he played a delicate chipped pass to Frédéric Kanouté, who scored to make it 4–5. Another memorable moment was in the 1 January 2005 match against Everton, where he scored his first goal en route to a 5–2 Tottenham win.[2] At the time, it was his only goal of his professional career. At the end of the season, he was named the JSM Young Player of The Year, an award given to a young Tottenham player by its junior fan club.[3]

In the summer of 2005, Ziegler was sent on loan to German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV, where he featured in 11 league matches and 3 UEFA Cup matches, but was criticised by manager Thomas Doll for a poor attitude and rarely played more than a few minutes per match. He was recalled from the loan by Tottenham in January 2006, only to be put back out on loan, this time at another Premier League club, Wigan Athletic. He played with Wigan until the end of the 2005–06 season, receiving five starts and five substitute appearances in the Premier League and one start in the FA Cup, performing well but not spectacularly. He also appeared as a substitute in the 2006 Football League Cup Final against Manchester United, a 4–0 defeat.[4]

Ziegler returned to Tottenham for the 2006–07 season and featured in four matches, including starts in the League Cup against Milton Keynes Dons[5] and in the UEFA Cup against Slavia Prague,[6] as well as a substitute appearance against Manchester United in the Premier League.[7] On 31 January 2007, he joined Italian Serie A club Sampdoria on loan until the end of the season.

Sampdoria

Ziegler with Sampdoria after training

On 18 February 2007, Ziegler played his first Serie A match for Sampdoria against Parma.[8] He scored his first goal in his tenth Serie A appearance for the club against Messina on 21 April 2007. In May, Spurs brought in young left back Gareth Bale, and Ziegler opted to sign for Sampdoria permanently on 3 July 2007.[9] During his first season, he was in and out of the starting line-up, and most of his appearances were substitutions.

Ziegler finally managed to retain his place more regularly during the first half of the 2009–10 season. After a string of substitute appearances, he became first-choice left back. During the winter transfer window, he was linked with a move to Juventus. Having just secured his place in the starting 11, he refuted the transfer rumours saying that he wanted to continue his run in the starting line-up in hopes of being selected for the upcoming FIFA World Cup with Switzerland.[10]

Since his contract would expire on 30 June 2011, in January 2011, Ziegler was linked to Milan, as Sampdoria opted to gain some cash. However, he did not leave. Instead, Sampdoria sold its striker Giampaolo Pazzini and let Antonio Cassano leave as a free agent. The team subsequently performed poorly and were eventually relegated to Serie B.

Juventus

Ziegler joined Juventus on a free transfer on 26 May 2011, having signed a four-year contract.[11] He passed a medical on 25 May.

Fenerbahçe

Ziegler with Fenerbahçe

On 2 September 2011, Fenerbahçe announced they were holding discussions with Juventus and Ziegler to loan him for the 2011–12 season. The next day, it was announced that all parties had reached an agreement for his loan. On 22 April 2012, Ziegler scored the first goal in the derby match against Galatasaray, which Fenerbahçe won 2–1.

Lokomotiv Moscow

After his spell with Fenerbahçe, Ziegler was loaned to Russian Premier League side Lokomotiv Moscow.[12]

Fenerbahçe (second spell)

Ziegler returned on loan to Fenerbahçe on 31 January 2013 until the end of the 2012–13 season.[13]

Sassuolo

On 20 August 2013, Sassuolo confirmed it had acquired Ziegler on loan from Juventus for an undisclosed period and fee.[14]

Sion

On 2 February 2015, Ziegler transferred to Sion in his native Switzerland, signing a six-month contract until the end of the season. He would later sign a new contract with Sion and would play for the club until the end of the 2016–17 season.

FC Dallas

On 2 January 2018, MLS club FC Dallas announced the signing of Ziegler.[15][16] In the 2018 season, he was the club's primary starter at left center-back. He scored four goals and was sent off a team-high three times. Ziegler's contract with Dallas expired following their 2020 season.[17]

Lugano

On 25 February 2021, Ziegler joined FC Lugano.[18]

Return to Sion

On 25 December 2022, Ziegler signed a 1.5-year contract with Sion.[19]

International career

Ziegler is a former youth international and was in the Switzerland U-17 squad that won the 2002 U-17 European Championships.[20]

Ziegler made his full debut for Switzerland in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification match against France on 26 March 2005, helping his team secure a point through a 0–0 draw at the Stade de France. He gained two more caps before drifting out of the frame and was not named to Switzerland's squad for the 2006 World Cup.

For the Swiss U-21 team, he scored a late free-kick against the Netherlands in September 2008 to send Switzerland through to the play-off round of the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

On 19 November 2008, Ziegler scored his only senior goal for Switzerland, a powerful left-footed strike against Finland which won the Swiss the match, 1–0. He was selected for the 2010 World Cup squad. He started at left back and played the full 90 minutes in all three matches in the group stage. Switzerland did not advance out of the group. Ziegler was selected again for Switzerland's 2014 World Cup squad. This time, however, he did not appear in any matches.

Personal life

Ziegler's brother Ronald also played as a professional footballer, including for Swiss side ES FC Malley.

He has been married to Swiss former alpine skier[21] Elodie Rudaz since June 2017.[22] The couple have two daughters.[23]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 11 December 2021[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Grasshoppers 2002–03 Nationalliga A 1000000—100
2003–04 Swiss Super League 3100000—310
Total 410000000410
Tottenham 2004–05 Premier League 23150—3[lower-alpha 1]0311
2006–07 10002[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 1]040
Total 241502040351
Hamburger SV (loan) 2005–06 Bundesliga 800000—80
Wigan (loan) 2005–06 Premier League 10010—2[lower-alpha 1]0130
Sampdoria (loan) 2006–07 Serie A 15100——151
Sampdoria 2007–08 Serie A 2000000—200
2008–09 220008[lower-alpha 2]0—300
2009–10 3721000—382
2010–11 341206[lower-alpha 3]0—421
Total 113330140001303
Juventus 2011–12 Serie A 0000000000
Fenerbahçe (loan) 2011–12 Süper Lig 38140——421
Lokomotiv Moscow (loan) 2012–13 Russian Premier League 6010——70
Fenerbahçe (loan) 2012–13 Süper Lig 70208[lower-alpha 2]0—170
Sassuolo (loan) 2013–14 Serie A 17010——180
Sion 2014–15 Swiss Super League 17130——201
2015–16 303307[lower-alpha 2]0—403
2016–17 25851——309
Total 721211170009013
FC Luzern 2017–18 Swiss Super League 9210——102
FC Dallas 2018 MLS 304102[lower-alpha 4]0—334
2019 33511——346
2020 17200——172
Total 80112120008412
Lugano 2020–21 Swiss Super League 15110——161
2021–22 16420——184
Total 315300000345
Career total 471363423306054438
  1. 1 2 3 Appearances in the League Cup
  2. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in the UEFA Cup
  3. ↑ 2 appearances in the Champions League and 4 in the Europa League
  4. ↑ Appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League

International

Score and result list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Ziegler goal.
International goal scored by Reto Ziegler
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
119 November 2008AFG Arena, St. Gallen, Switzerland Finland1–01–0Friendly

Honours

Grasshoppers

Wigan Athletic

Fenerbahçe

Sion

Lugano

Switzerland U17

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2005). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/2006. Queen Anne Press. p. 450. ISBN 1-85291-662-1.
  2. ↑ "Tottenham 5–2 Everton". BBC Sport. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  3. ↑ "Reto is JSM Young Player of Year". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 15 May 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Man Utd ease to Carling Cup glory". BBC Sport. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "MK Dons 0-5 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Tottenham 1-0 S Prague (agg: 2-0)". BBC Sport. 28 September 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "Man Utd 1-0 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 9 September 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
  9. ↑ "Ziegler makes switch to Sampdoria". BBC Sport. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2007.
  10. ↑ Kern, Max (12 January 2010). "Lieber in Genua bleiben: Ziegler gibt Juventus einen Korb!". blick.ch (in German). Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  11. ↑ "Ziegler signs for Juventus". Juventus FC. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  12. ↑ "Reto Ziegler Joins Lokomotiv". FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Reto Ziegler İstanbul'da". Fenerbahçe. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Ufficiale: arriva Ziegler dalla Juventus". Archived from the original on 2 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  15. ↑ Carrick, Buzz (2 January 2018). "FC Dallas announces Reto Ziegler signing". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  16. ↑ Stejskal, Sam (2 January 2018). "FC Dallas sign veteran Swiss defender Reto Ziegler". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "FC Dallas Announces Roster Decisions for 2021 Season | FC Dallas". Archived from the original on 15 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "Ziegler definitiv beim FC Lugano". Die Südostschweiz. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "Reto Ziegler est de retour au FC Sion !" (in French). Sion. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  20. ↑ Tschoumy, Renaud (10 November 2009). "Les "Rouge" admirent les "Rougets"". Le Matin (in French). Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
  21. ↑ "Le FC Sion félicite Ziegler pour ses fiançailles avec une skieuse valaisanne". Le Nouvelliste (in French). 31 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "Reto Ziegler et Élodie se sont dit oui". Le Matin (in French). 19 June 2017.
  23. ↑ "FC Lugano, Reto Ziegler si presenta così: «Non sono qui per soldi, ma perché mi è stata data la chance di fare ciò che amo»". chalcio.com (in Italian). 26 February 2021.
  24. ↑ Reto Ziegler at Soccerway
  25. ↑ svizzera, RSI Radiotelevisione. "Tripudio bianconero, la Coppa è del Lugano!". rsi.
  26. ↑ "SAFP Golden 11 2016". Golden11. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
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