FC Basel

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Template:Football club infobox Werner Edelmann |

 manager  = Template:Flagicon Christian Gross |
 league   = Swiss Super League |
 season   = 2004-05 |
 position = Swiss Super League, Winner |  
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FC Basel (short for Fussballclub Basel) is a Swiss football club based in Basel.

In 2002 the club qualified for the UEFA Champions League, and was rated one of the best 20 clubs in the world. They won against Juventus and drew with both Manchester United and Liverpool F.C. In 2003 and 2004 they qualified for the UEFA Cup, where they defeated Feyenoord and drew with Schalke 04.

1 History
2 Stadium
3 Honours
4 Current Squad
5 External links

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History

FCB (which is pronounced "Eff Tsay Bay" in Swiss German) was most successful in the 1960s and 1970s. They were Swiss champion seven times and won the national Cup three times. In the 1980s they had to play in the Nationalliga B (the second highest League in Switzerland). In 1994 they went back into the highest League. When St. Jakob-Park was opened in 2001, success returned. In 2002 the FCB won the Double (Swiss Championship and Swiss Cup). In the following season they were the second Swiss team to ever play in the Champions League. Among others, they also defeated Celtic, Liverpool, Deportivo La Coruña and Juventus.

The FCB hasn't lost a league game in the St. Jakob-Park since December 1 2002 against Grasshopper-Club Zürich (1:2). On February 26 2006 FC Basel broke their own club record of 52 unbeaten league games in the St. Jakob Park (new record: 57).

FC Basel is well known for having a big and loyal local following, resulting in what is by far the highest average attendance in Switzerland. The fans have also made themselves a name in numerous international matches in recent years.

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Stadium

St. Jakob Park (Saint James Park in english) is the stadium were FC Basel 1893 play in. "Joggeli" as it is nicknamed, has a capacity of around 33,343 fans and it is due to be fitted with more seats (new capacity of 42,500) in time for Euro 2008, which will be co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria. The stadium is divided into four blocks, A B C and D, each block is a whole side of the stadium. St. Jakob Park is a fairly new stadium, the construction started on the December 13 1998 and the first game that was played in it was on the March 15 2001. The Stadium was designed by world renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron. The "Genossenschaft S.J.P" officially own the stadium, the stadium itself is managed by "Basel United". The stadium cost around 220 million Swiss Francs to build. Within the stadium are 32 stores on 3 different floors. There are also 2 restaurants within the stadium, these are "Restaurant UNO" and "Hattrick Sports Bar". The stadium has parking space for 680 cars on 2 different floors. There are several ways to get to the stadium, either by bus, tram or train (the stadium has its own train station).

The stadium has been awarded 4 stars by UEFA, which is the highest rating that can be awarded to a stadium of its size.

For Euro 2008, the St. Jakob Park will be host to 5 games, one opening game, one group game, two quarter-final games and one semi-final game.

The stadium will be expanded from 2005 until 2008.

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Honours

Swiss League
- Winners (11): 1953, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1980, 2002, 2004, 2005
Swiss Cup
- Winners (7): 1933, 1947, 1963, 1967, 1975, 2002, 2003
Swiss League Cup
- Winners (1): 1973
Alps Cup
- Winners (4): 1969, 1970, 1981, 2003
UEFA Champions League
- Group Stage: 2002