2023–24 Grasshopper Club Zürich season

Grasshopper Club Zürich
2023–24 season
ChairmanAndrás Gurovits
ManagerMarco Schällibaum
StadiumLetzigrund,
Zürich, Switzerland
Swiss Super League11th
Swiss Cup2nd Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Tsiy-William Ndenge (8 goals)
All: Tsiy-William Ndenge (8 goals)
Highest home attendance19,326
vs Zürich (28 Jan '24)
Lowest home attendance3,180
vs Lausanne (2 Dec '23)
Average home league attendance6,967 (Green_Arrow_Up +3%)
Biggest win5–0
vs Lausanne (2 Dec '23)
Biggest defeat0–3
vs Young Boys (4 Apr '24)
All statistics correct as of 31 May 2024.

The 2023–24 Grasshopper Club Zürich season is the club's third season back in the Swiss Super League, after winning promotion in 2021. The season will start on 22 July 2023.[1] Grasshoppers will also participate in the Swiss Cup.

As the team finished eleventh (second to last) in the league, they also participate in the relegation play-off, where they faced FC Thun of the Challenge League. The play-off consisted of a two legs, played on 26 and 31 May 2024, respectively.

Squad[edit]

Players[edit]

As of 31 May 2024[2]
No. Name Nationality Pos Date of birth (age) at GCZ since Apps Goals Former club
Goalkeepers
23 Nicolas Glaus Switzerland GK (2002-05-10) 10 May 2002 (age 22) 06/2023 0 0 Stuttgart II
29 Manuel Kuttin Austria GK (1993-12-17) 17 December 1993 (age 30) 06/2023 3 0 free agent
71 Justin Hammel Switzerland GK (2000-12-02) 2 December 2000 (age 23) 06/2022 50 0 Lausanne-Ouchy
90 Steven Deana Switzerland GK (1990-03-04) 4 March 1990 (age 34) 02/2024 1 0 Lugano
Defenders
2 Dirk Abels Netherlands RB (1997-06-13) 13 June 1997 (age 27) 07/2023 28 0 Sparta Rotterdam
3 Nigel Lonwijk Netherlands Suriname RB (2002-10-27) 27 October 2002 (age 21) 07/2023 1 0 Wolverhampton (on loan)
4 Kristers Tobers Latvia CB (2000-12-13) 13 December 2000 (age 23) 07/2023 32 0 Lechia Gdańsk
5 Joshua Laws Australia Scotland CB (1998-02-26) 26 February 1998 (age 26) 08/2023 23 0 Wellington Phoenix
12 Maksim Paskotši Estonia CB (2003-01-19) 19 January 2003 (age 21) 09/2023 29 0 Tottenham Hotspur
14 Théo Ndicka France Cameroon LB (2000-04-20) 20 April 2000 (age 24) 08/2023 30 1 Oostende
15 Ayumu Seko Japan CB (2000-06-07) 7 June 2000 (age 24) 01/2022 86 3 Cerezo Osaka
24 Michael Kempter Philippines Switzerland LB (1995-01-12) 12 January 1995 (age 29) 06/2023 6 0 St. Gallen
52 Samuel Marques Switzerland CB (2005-02-04) 4 February 2005 (age 19) 04/2024 0 0 own youth
54 Liam Bollati Switzerland RB (2003-11-09) 9 November 2003 (age 20) 11/2023 10 0 Kriens (on loan)
57 Elvir Zukaj Albania Switzerland CB (2002-07-07) 7 July 2002 (age 21) 07/2023 3 0 own youth
73 Florian Hoxha Kosovo Switzerland LB (2001-02-22) 22 February 2001 (age 23) 07/2021 29 1 own youth
Midfielders
6 Amir Abrashi Albania Switzerland CM (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 34) 06/2021 239 11 Basel
7 Tsiy-William Ndenge Germany Cameroon DM (1997-06-13) 13 June 1997 (age 27) 07/2022 62 12 Luzern
8 Giotto Morandi Switzerland PM (1999-03-04) 4 March 1999 (age 25) 06/2019 128 19 own youth
10 Meritan Shabani Germany Kosovo AM (1999-03-15) 15 March 1999 (age 25) 07/2022 34 3 Wolverhampton
11 Pascal Schürpf Switzerland AM (1989-07-15) 15 July 1989 (age 34) 06/2023 29 5 Luzern
17 Dion Kacuri Switzerland Kosovo AM (2004-02-11) 11 February 2004 (age 20) 10/2021 31 1 own youth
19 Dijon Kameri Austria AM (2004-04-20) 20 April 2004 (age 20) 02/2024 6 0 RB Salzburg (on loan)
19 Theo Corbeanu Canada Romania RW (2002-05-17) 17 May 2002 (age 22) 07/2023 18 1 Wolverhampton (on loan)
20 Noah Blasucci Switzerland Italy AM (1999-06-19) 19 June 1999 (age 25) 09/2022 3 1 Brühl
40 Robin Kalem Germany MF (2002-07-14) 14 July 2002 (age 21) 06/2020 24 1 own youth
53 Tim Meyer Switzerland CM (2004-07-08) 8 July 2004 (age 19) 07/2023 21 0 own youth
55 Damian Nigg Switzerland RW (2005-04-12) 12 April 2005 (age 19) 07/2023 4 0 own youth
70 Oliver Batista Meier Germany Brazil AM (2001-02-16) 16 February 2001 (age 23) 02/2024 8 0 Dynamo Dresden (on loan)
77 Filipe de Carvalho Switzerland Portugal LW (2003-12-01) 1 December 2003 (age 20) 01/2022 58 4 own youth
Forwards
9 Bradley Fink Switzerland England CF (2003-04-17) 17 April 2003 (age 21) 07/2023 34 4 Basel (on loan)
21 Awer Mabil Australia South Sudan LW (1995-09-15) 15 September 1995 (age 28) 08/2023 22 4 Cádiz
22 Francis Momoh Nigeria ST (2001-03-25) 25 March 2001 (age 23) 08/2021 78 12 Heartland
27 Asumah Abubakar Portugal Ghana CF (1997-05-10) 10 May 1997 (age 27) 01/2024 18 2 Luzern
27 Renat Dadashov Azerbaijan Germany CF (1999-05-17) 17 May 1999 (age 25) 07/2022 40 10 Wolverhampton
74 Elmin Rastoder Switzerland North Macedonia CF (2001-10-07) 7 October 2001 (age 22) 01/2022 11 0 own youth
99 Dorian Babunski North Macedonia Spain ST (1996-08-29) 29 August 1996 (age 27) 08/2023 31 4 Debrecen

Players in italic left the club during the season.

Players out on loan[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
27 FW Azerbaijan AZE Renat Dadashov (at Hatayspor until 30 June 2024)
50 MF Switzerland SUI Simone Stroscio (at Schaffhausen until 30 June 2024)
74 FW Switzerland SUI Elmin Rastoder (at Vaduz until 30 June 2024)

Coaching staff[edit]

As of 10 April 2024[3]
Position Name Since
Head coach Switzerland Marco Schällibaum 04/2024[4]
Assistant coach France Aurélien Mioch 06/2023[5]
Assistant coach Albania Burim Kukeli 07/2023[6]
Fitness coach Switzerland Manuel Fässler 06/2023[5]
Athletic coach Switzerland Philippe Hasler 05/2021
Goalie Coach Switzerland Jörg Stiel 06/2021[7]
Video analyst Estonia Rain Nappir 04/2021

Transfers[edit]

Absences[edit]

Test Games[edit]

Competition First match Last match Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Pre-season 24 June 2023 18 July 2023 5 3 0 2 15 12 +3 060.00
Mid-season (Autumn) 2 August 2023 17 November 2023 4 4 0 0 10 1 +9 100.00
Winter break 7 January 2024 13 January 2024 3 1 2 0 6 1 +5 033.33
Mid-season (Spring) 27 February 2024 28 March 2024 3 2 0 1 8 4 +4 066.67
Total 15 10 2 3 39 18 +21 066.67

Last updated: 28 March 2024
Source: Testspiele

  Win   Draw   Loss

Pre-season[edit]

On 30 May 2023, Grasshoppers announced their preparation plan for the pre-season.[75] Preparation starts on 19 June and ends before the season begins on 22 July 2023. It will include a short training camp in Crans-Montana, Valais and four test matches. A fifth test-match against FC Wettswil-Bonstetten of the First League before the season begin was announced on 10 July 2023.[76]

24 June 2023 (2023-06-24) Pre-season Grasshopper Club Zürich 4–3 Liechtenstein FC Vaduz Niederhasli, Switzerland
17:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: GC/Campus
Note: Originally scheduled for 14:00 CEST. Postponed due to the playoff final of the U16 squad.[77]
30 June 2023 (2023-06-30) Pre-season Grasshopper Club Zürich 2–1 Austria Austria Lustenau Niederhasli, Switzerland
16:30 CEST (UTC+2) Report Stadium: GC/Campus
Note: Originally scheduled for 14:00 CEST.[78]
7 July 2023 (2023-07-07) Pre-season Stade Lausanne-Ouchy Switzerland 2–1 Grasshopper Club Zürich Lausanne, Switzerland
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
  • Pos 4'
  • Danho 42'
Report Stadium: Stade Olympique de la Pontaise
15 July 2023 (2023-07-15) Pre-season SC Freiburg Germany 6–1 Grasshopper Club Zürich Freiburg, Germany
16:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report Stadium: Europa-Park Stadion
Attendance: 9,500[79]
18 July 2023 (2023-07-18) Pre-season Grasshopper Club Zürich 9–0 Switzerland FC Wettswil-Bonstetten Niederhasli, Switzerland
19:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report Stadium: GC/Campus

Mid-season (Autumn)[edit]

On 26 July 2023, the first mid-season test match against FC Rapperswil-Jona of the Swiss Promotion League was announced for 2 August 2023, between the second and third rounds of the season.[80] Grasshoppers held test matches during all three international breaks of autumn 2023: YF Juventus of the 1st League on 19 September 2023[81] and Challenge League sides FC Schaffhausen and FC Wil on 18 October 2023[82] and 17 November 2023,[83] respectively.

2 August 2023 (2023-08-02) Mid-season Grasshopper Club Zürich 3–0 Switzerland FC Rapperswil-Jona Niederhasli, Switzerland
16:30 CEST (UTC+2)[
  • Meyer 35'
  • Kalem 61'
  • Gasane 87'
Report Stadium: GC/Campus
19 September 2023 (2023-09-19) Mid-season Grasshopper Club Zürich 2–1 Switzerland YF Juventus Niederhasli, Switzerland
19:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report Stadium: GC/Campus
18 October 2023 (2023-10-18) Mid-season Grasshopper Club Zürich 4–0 Switzerland FC Schaffhausen Niederhasli, Switzerland
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report Stadium: GC/Campus
17 November 2023 (2023-11-17) Mid-season FC Wil Switzerland 0–1 Grasshopper Club Zürich Wil, Switzerland[84]
12:00 CET (UTC+1) Report
Stadium: Lidl Arena
Note: Originally planned to be held at the GC/Campus in Niederhasli, the match was relocated to Wil due to the weather and pitch conditions on the GC/Campus.[84][85]

Winter Break[edit]

The preparation schedule for the winter break was announced on 19 December 2023.[86] Following the Christmas break, training will resume on 2 January 2024. During preparation, test games against four Swiss Challenge League teams were scheduled: FC Wil, Neuchâtel Xamax, FC Thun, and FC Baden.

7 January 2023 (2023-01-07) Winter Break FC Wil Switzerland 0–5 Grasshopper Club Zürich Wil, Switzerland
13:00 CET (UTC+1) Report
Stadium: Lidl Arena
10 January 2023 (2023-01-10) Winter Break Neuchâtel Xamax Switzerland 1–1 Grasshopper Club Zürich Neuchâtel, Switzerland
14:30 CET (UTC+1) Rapp 70' Report 89' de Carvalho Stadium: Stade de la Maladière
13 January 2023 (2023-01-13) Winter Break FC Thun Switzerland 0–0 Grasshopper Club Zürich Thun, Switzerland
14:00 CET (UTC+1) Report Stadium: Stockhorn Arena
Note: Match length: 120 minutes (two halves + 30 minutes)[87]
16 January 2023 (2023-01-16) Winter Break FC Baden Switzerland Abandoned Grasshopper Club Zürich
Note: The match was abandoned due to poor pitch conditions.[88]

Mid-season (Spring)[edit]

On 26 February 2024, a test game against FC Rapperswil-Jona was announced for the following day.[89] Two further test games were scheduled during the international break in March.[90]

27 February 2024 (2024-02-27) Mid-season Grasshopper Club Zürich 2–0 Switzerland FC Rapperswil-Jona Niederhasli, Switzerland
16:30 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: GC/Campus
21 March 2024 (2024-03-21) Mid-season Grasshopper Club Zürich 1–2 Switzerland FC Schaffhausen Niederhasli, Switzerland
14:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: GC/Campus
28 March 2024 (2024-03-28) Mid-season Grasshopper Club Zürich 5–2 Liechtenstein FC Vaduz Niederhasli, Switzerland
14:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: GC/Campus

Competitions[edit]

Overview[edit]

Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Super League 22 July 2023 21 May 2024 Matchday 1 11th 38 10 8 20 41 49 −8 026.32
Swiss Cup 20 August 2023 15 September 2023 Round 1 2nd round 2 1 0 1 4 3 +1 050.00
Relegation play-off 26 May 2024 31 May 2024 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 050.00
Total 42 12 9 21 48 54 −6 028.57

Last updated: 31 May 2024
Source: Spielplan

Swiss Super League[edit]

League table[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
8 Basel 38 13 10 15 45 52 −7 49
9 Yverdon-Sport 38 13 8 17 50 71 −21 47
10 Lausanne-Sport 38 11 12 15 48 53 −5 45
11 Grasshopper (O) 38 10 8 20 41 49 −8 38 Qualification for the Relegation play-off
12 Lausanne Ouchy (R) 38 7 8 23 40 77 −37 29 Relegation to 2024–25 Swiss Challenge League
Source: Swiss Super League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored 6) Away goals scored; 7) Draw.[91]
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).

Results Breakdown[edit]

Home/Away Statistics
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 10 8 20 41 49  −8 38 8 3 8 28 21  +7 2 5 12 13 28  −15

Last updated: 21 May 2024.
Source: Spielplan

By Phase
Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Regular Season 22 July 2023 20 April 2024 Matchday 1 11th 33 8 6 19 33 45 −12 024.24
Relegation Group 4 May 2024 21 May 2024 Matchday 34 11th 5 2 2 1 6 4 +2 040.00
Total 38 10 8 20 39 49 −10 026.32

Last updated: 21 May 2024
Source: Spielplan

By Month
Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
July 22 July 2023 29 July 2023 Matchday 1 9th 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 000.00
August 6 August 2023 27 August 2023 Matchday 3 9th 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 033.33
September 2 September 2023 30 September 2023 Matchday 6 11th 4 0 1 3 3 6 −3 000.00
October 7 October 2023 28 October 2023 Matchday 10 10th 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 066.67
November 5 November 2023 26 November 2024 Matchday 13 10th 3 1 0 2 5 6 −1 033.33
December 2 December 2023 16 December 2023 Matchday 16 8th 3 2 1 0 7 1 +6 066.67
January 20 January 2024 31 January 2024 Matchday 19 8th 3 1 1 1 2 2 +0 033.33
February 3 February 2024 24 February 2024 Matchday 22 10th 4 1 0 3 2 4 −2 025.00
March 2 March 2024 16 March 2024 Matchday 26 11th 3 0 2 1 2 4 −2 000.00
April 1 April 2024 20 April 2024 Matchday 29 11th 5 0 0 5 2 9 −7 000.00
May 4 May 2024 21 May 2024 Matchday 34 11th 5 2 2 1 6 4 +2 040.00
Total 38 10 8 20 41 49 −8 026.32

Last updated: 21 May 2024
Source: Spielplan

Results by Round
#1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAHAHZHAHAAHAHAHAZAHZHHAAHHAAHAHAHHA
ResultLDWLLLDLLWWLLWLWWDLWDLLWLDLDLLLLLWDWLD
Position109689991011991010101087898891091010101111111111111111111111
Points014444555811111114141720212124252525282829293030303030303334373738
Updated to match(es) played on 21 May 2024. Source: Spielplan
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; Z = Zürich Derby

Results[edit]

As of 21 May 2024[92]

  Win   Draw   Loss

22 July 2023 (2023-07-22) 1 Grasshopper 1–3 Servette Letzigrund, Zürich
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Attendance: 4,371
Referee: Luca Cibelli
Assistant referees: Lukas Fähndrich (VAR)
29 July 2023 (2023-07-29) 2 Lausanne-Sport 1–1 Grasshopper Stade de la Tuilière, Lausanne
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Attendance: 5,045
Referee: Alessandro Dudic
Assistant referees: Stefan Horisberger (VAR)
6 August 2023 (2023-08-06) 3 Grasshopper 3–1 Basel Letzigrund, Zürich
16:30 CEST (UTC+2) Report
Attendance: 7,914
Referee: Luca Piccolo
Assistant referees: Fedayi San (VAR)
Man of the Match: Giotto Morandi[93]
12 August 2023 (2023-08-12) 4 Winterthur 3–1 Grasshopper Schützenwiese, Winterthur
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Attendance: 8,400
Referee: Sandro Schärer
Assistant referees: Fedayi San (VAR)
27 August 2023 (2023-08-27) 5 Grasshopper 0–1 Luzern Letzigrund, Zürich
16:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Attendance: 5,528
Referee: Nico Gianforte
Assistant referees: Sven Wolfensberger (VAR)
2 September 2023 (2023-09-02) 6 Lausanne Ouchy 2–1 Grasshopper Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Attendance: 1,852
Referee: Mirel Turkes
Assistant referees: Stefan Horisberger (VAR)
23 September 2023 (2023-09-23) 7 Grasshopper 1–1 St. Gallen Letzigrund, Zürich
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Attendance: 6,200
Referee: Stefan Horisberger
Assistant referees: Sven Wolfensberger
26 September 2023 (2023-09-26) 8 Zürich 2–1 Grasshopper Letzigrund, Zürich
20:30 CEST (UTC+2) Report
Attendance: 17,653
Referee: Fedayi San
Assistant referees: Sandro Schärer (VAR)
30 September 2023 (2023-09-30) 9 Grasshopper 0–1 Young Boys Letzigrund, Zürich
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Attendance: 5,708
Referee: Johannes von Mandach
Assistant referees: Fedayi San (VAR)
7 October 2023 (2023-10-07) 10 Yverdon-Sport 0–3 Grasshopper Stade Municipal, Yverdon-les-Bains
18:00 CEST (UTC+2) Report
Attendance: 3,400
Referee: Alessandro Dudic
Assistant referees: Mirel Turkes (VAR)
Man of the Match: Awer Mabil[94]
22 October 2023 (2023-10-22) 11 Grasshopper 2–1 Lugano Letzigrund, Zürich
16:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Attendance: 6,102
Referee: Esther Staubli
Assistant referees: Johannes von Mandach (VAR)
28 October 2023 (2023-10-28) 12 St. Gallen 3–1 Grasshopper Kybunpark, St. Gallen
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Attendance: 19,200
Referee: Sandro Schärer
Assistant referees: Johannes von Mandach (VAR)
5 November 2023 (2023-11-05) 13 Luzern 2–0 Grasshopper Swissporarena, Luzern
14:15 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Attendance: 15,235
Referee: Luca Piccolo
Assistant referees: Sandro Schärer (VAR)
12 November 2023 (2023-11-12) 14 Grasshopper 5–2 Lausanne Ouchy Letzigrund, Zürich
14:15 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Attendance: 4,022
Referee: Esther Staubli
Assistant referees: Stefan Horisberger (VAR)
Man of the Match: Francis Momoh[95]
26 November 2023 (2023-11-26) 15 Servette 2–0 Grasshopper Stade de Genève, Genève
16:30 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Attendance: 7,124
Referee: Stefan Horisberger
Assistant referees: Nico Gianforte (VAR)
2 December 2023 (2023-12-02) 16 Grasshopper 5–0 Lausanne-Sport Letzigrund, Zürich
18:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Attendance: 3,180
Referee: Nico Gianforte
Assistant referees: Sandro Schärer (VAR)
Man of the Match: Felipe de Carvalho[96]
9 December 2023 (2023-12-09) 17 Basel 0–1 Grasshopper St. Jakob-Park, Basel
18:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Attendance: 21,172
Referee: Luca Piccolo
Assistant referees: Sandro Schärer (VAR)
Man of the Match: Justin Hammel[97]
16 December 2023 (2023-12-16) 18 Grasshopper 1–1 Yverdon-Sport Letzigrund, Zürich
20:30 CET (UTC+1)
Report Attendance: 4,056
Referee: Stefan Horisberger
Assistant referees: Urs Schnyder (VAR)
Man of the Match: Amir Abrashi[98]
Winter Break
20 January 2024 (2024-01-20) 19 Young Boys 1–0 Grasshopper Stadion Wankdorf, Bern
18:00 CET (UTC+1) Report
Attendance: 22,589
Referee: Urs Schnyder
Assistant referees: Johannes von Mandach (VAR)
28 January 2024 (2024-01-28) 20 Grasshopper 2–1 Zürich Letzigrund, Zürich
16:30 CET (UTC+1)
Report Attendance: 19,326
Referee: Esther Staubli
Assistant referees: Stefan Horisberger (VAR)
31 January 2024 (2024-01-31) 21 Lugano 0–0 Grasshopper Stadio Cornaredo, Lugano
20:30 CET (UTC+1) Report
Referee: Johannes von Mandach
Assistant referees: Mirel Turkes (VAR)
3 February 2024 (2024-02-03) 22 Grasshopper 0–1 Winterthur Letzigrund, Zürich
18:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Attendance: 6,374
Referee: Luca Piccolo
Assistant referees: Johannes von Mandach
10 February 2024 (2024-02-10) 23 Zürich 1–0 Grasshopper Letzigrund, Zürich
18:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report