Steve von Bergen (born 10 June 1983) is a retired Swiss professional footballer who played as defender. He played for FC Zürich for two full seasons, winning the Swiss Super League in both campaigns and then moved to Hertha BSC, playing there for three years. He managed to establish himself as a regular on the Switzerland national football team, earning over 40 caps since his debut in 2006 and playing at two World Cups.
.jpg) Von Bergen with Hertha BSC in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Steve von Bergen[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 June 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Neuchâtel, Switzerland | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | BSC Young Boys (Sporting Director) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1991–1996 | Hauterive | ||
| 1996–2000 | Neuchâtel Xamax | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2005 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 126 | (1) |
| 2005–2007 | Zürich | 68 | (0) |
| 2007–2010 | Hertha BSC | 68 | (0) |
| 2010–2012 | Cesena | 61 | (0) |
| 2012 | Genoa | 0 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Palermo | 35 | (1) |
| 2013–2019 | Young Boys | 184 | (1) |
| Total | 542 | (3) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2004 | Switzerland U-21 | 25 | (0) |
| 2006–2016 | Switzerland | 50 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2020–2021 | Young Boys U17 (assistant) | ||
| 2021–2022 | Young Boys U18 (assistant) | ||
| 2022 | Young Boys (technical coach) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editSwitzerland
editVon Bergen began in the youth division of FC Hauterive, before joining Neuchâtel Xamax in 2000. In summer 2005, Lucien Favre, then coach at FC Zürich, scouted the defender and brought him to the club. In his first season in Zürich, Von Bergen earned 36 caps and contributed to the clubs first championship since 1981. The following season, FC Zürich defended their title.
Hertha BSC
editWhen Lucien Favre transferred to Hertha BSC in summer 2007, he brought von Bergen with him to the Bundesliga. Von Bergen made his debut in the German top division on the second match day against Arminia Bielefeld. During his first season in the German capital, Hertha finished tenth, but qualified for the UEFA Cup via fair-play rating. In the 2009–10, after the departure of Josip Šimunić, Von Bergen managed to establish himself as a regular in Hertha's starting formation.
Italy
editAfter his contract in Berlin expired in June 2010, Von Bergen agreed to join newly promoted Italian Serie A club Cesena on a free transfer. At the end of 2011–12 Serie A, Cesena relegated.
In June 2012 he moved to Serie A club Genoa on a free transfer. His stay lasted only two months, as in August he was sold to fellow Serie A club Palermo for €1.7 million[3] in an exchange deal for Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas (permanent for €600,000[3]) and Paraguayan striker Daniel Jara Martínez (on loan).[4] At the end of season Palermo relegated.
Return to Switzerland
editOn 19 June 2013, he moved to Young Boys for €850,000.[3][5]
He was part of the Young Boys squad that won the 2017–18 Swiss Super League, their first league title in 32 years.[6]
Von Bergen retired at the end of the 2018–19 season.[7]
International career
editVon Bergen made his debut for the Swiss national team on 6 September 2006 against Costa Rica. He has been a constant member of the Swiss team, and was called to a preliminary squad for Euro 2008. Due to a broken hand, Von Bergen was not able to take part in the tournament.
Von Bergen was part of the Swiss national team at the 2010 World Cup. In the first match, where Switzerland shocked Spain 1–0,[8] Philippe Senderos was substituted in the 36th minute after injuring his ankle seriously in an accidental collision with a teammate, and Von Bergen replaced him. It was his first appearance in a major tournament.
At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Von Bergen was himself substituted for Senderos after being injured in the 8th minute of the second group game against France. A high foot from Olivier Giroud fractured his cheekbone and he left the tournament to receive treatment back in Switzerland.[9]
He was part of the squad for the 2016 European Championships where the team achieved the best result reaching round of 16.[10]
International statistics
edit- As of 25 June 2016[11]
| Switzerland national team | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 4 | 0 |
| 2010 | 10 | 0 |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 |
| 2012 | 7 | 0 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 50 | 0 |
Honours
editFC Zürich[12]
Young Boys
Individual
edit- Swiss Super League Team of the Year: 2018–19[13]
- Swiss Super League Goal of the Year: 2019–20[14]
References
edit- ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 11 June 2014. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ "S. von Bergen". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ a b c US Città di Palermo SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013 PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA (in Italian)
- ^ "VON BERGEN È ROSANERO TZORVAS E JARA MARTINEZ AL GENOA" [VON BERGEN IS ROSANERO; TZORVAS AND JARA MARTINEZ TO GENOA] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "VON BERGEN CEDUTO ALLO YOUNG BOYS" [VON BERGEN MOVED TO YOUNG BOYS] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Soccer – Young Boys end 32-year wait for Swiss title and end Basel dominance". Reuters. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "YB-Captain Steve von Bergen wird Familien-Kapitän". Schweizer Illustrierte (in German). 27 May 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ "Swiss shock kings of Europe". FIFA.com. 16 June 2010. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ "World Cup 2014: Switzerland's Steve von Bergen heads home". BBC Sport. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
- ^ "Switzerland include three teenagers in final squad for Euro 2016". ESPN FC. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ Steve von Bergen at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ "Switzerland – S. von Bergen – Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ "Super League: Kevin Mbabu élu joueur de l'année". RTSSport.ch (in French). 28 January 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Super League: Jean-Pierre Nsame élu meilleur joueur 2019". RTSSport.ch (in French). 20 January 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
External links
edit
- Steve von Bergen at fussballdaten.de (in German)
- Steve von Bergen at ESPN FC