With the recent news that Awer Mabil will swap Spain’s La Liga for the Swiss Super League in 2023-24, we decided to delve into the archives to take a look at the previous Socceroos who have plied their trades in Switzerland's top division.
Photo credit: Grasshopper Club Zurich
There is a rich footballing history between Australia and Switzerland.
The Swiss league has been a breeding ground for several Australians over the years – with the likes of Aurelio Vidmar, Trent Sainsbury, Tomi Juric and Ross Aloisi to name but a few.
From league champions to club golden boot winners to UEFA Cup quarter finalists, there have been a plethora of highlights from Socceroos who have done some extraordinary things in Switzerland.
Mabil is set to join this extensive list in a playing capacity when the Socceroos winger swaps La Liga outfit FC Cadiz for Grasshopper in 2023-24, following in the footsteps of fellow Australian Sainsbury.
As Switzerland awaits the 27-year-old, we look at other current or former Socceroos who have made their mark in Switzerland.
Scott Chipperfield
FC Basel: 2001 - 2012
Socceroos Caps: 68
A two-time FC Basel player of the season winner, Scott Chipperfield enjoyed a vastly successful career in Switzerland, helping Bebbi to 7 Swiss League triumphs and 6 Swiss Cups as well as numerous Champions League campaigns.
Although his time at FC Basel came to an end in 2012, Chipperfield was so fond of Switzerland, he decided to stay on at amateur club FC Aesch as player coach between 2012-2014.
Trent Sainsbury
Grasshopper Club Zürich: 2018
Socceroos Caps: 61
One of Australia’s coolest, calmest, and most collected centre backs ever, Sainsbury has undoubted quality that has seen him play for some of Europe’s’ elite club sides.
Either side of spells with PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan, Sainsbury was at the heart of Grasshopper Club Zürich’s defense in a 2018 loan move. The Socceroo amassed 9 league appearances in an injury affected season before going on to help Australia qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Aurelio Vidmar
FC Sion: 1996
Socceroos Caps: 44
A man that simply lives and breathes Australian football, Auerlio Vidmar is synonymous with the round ball game in green gold but he also slotted a cool 7 goals in 14 league appearances for Sion back in 1996.
The attacking midfielder is a former captain of the national team and has had various coaching roles in the Australian youth and senior team setups. Alongside his brother Tony, the Vidmar's were the heart and soul of several World Cup qualifying campaigns.
Mile Sterjovski
FC Basel: 2004 - 2007
Socceroos Caps: 43
Younger readers will know him as the current coach of Mcarthur FC in the Isuzu UTE A-League but what they may not realize is that Mile Sterjovski was once terrorizing Premier League defenders with Derby County as well as winning a Swiss Super League and Cup with FC Basel.
Also capable of playing as a second striker, Sterjovski later returned to Australia with Perth Glory, where he won a club golden boot in 2010 and an A-League Championship in 2013.
Tomi Juric
FC Luzern: 2016 - 2019
Socceroos Caps: 41
Remembered by most Australian fans as the man who assisted the goal that claimed Australia’s first major international trophy back in 2015, Tomi Juric has forged a successful European career within countries such as Holland, Croatia, Bulgaria and of course, Switzerland.
Juric plied his trade for FC Luzern for three seasons, scoring 21 times in all competitions before a season long stint at CSKA Sofia ensued. He later returned to the A-League where he last played with Melbourne Victory.
David Zdrilic
FC Aarau: 1997/1998
Socceroos Caps: 30
Known fondly by friends, teammates and fans as “Zrdilla”, David Zdrilic was a fantastic forward in sides all over the globe from Scotland and Switzerland to Germany.
Swiss fans will remember him most for his time at AC Aarau where the forward played 25 times in the 1997/1998 season. Zdrilic has gone on to forge a successful coaching career joining the likes of RB Leipzig, Chicago Fire, K.V Oostende and Genoa before recently returning to the books of Sydney FC for the upcoming season.
Dario Vidošić
FC Sion: 2013 - 2105
Socceroos Caps: 23
Used predominantly as a winger and attacking midfielder, Vidosic was a technically gifted player who graced the Swiss Super League for Sion between 2013 – 2015, finding the net 8 times in 46 league appearances.
The 36-year-old also turned out for Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United, Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne City before finishing his professional career in India with ATK.
Paul Agostino
BSC Young Boys: 1992 - 1994, Yverdon-Sport FC: 1994/1995
Socceroos Caps: 18
Winner of the OFC Nations Cup with Australia in 2000, Paul Agostino is a highly respected Socceroo who began his footballing career at Salisbury United in Adelaide.
Agostino played just one season of professional football before Swiss club Young Boys poached the forward from West Adelaide ahead of the 1992/93 season. He would go on to play 3 seasons in what was then called the Nationalliga A, amassing 28 league appearances.
Oliver Bozanic
FC Luzern: 2013 - 2015
Socceroos Caps: 7
One of the few players still active on this list, Western Sydney Wanderers’ Oliver Bozanic was a mainstay in the heart of FC Luzern midfield between 2013 – 2015.
Accumulating an impressive 51 league appearances across his two campaigns, Bozanic had a great knack for finding the goal too, netting 7 times in all competitions from midfield in the 2013/14 season alone.
Ljubo Milicevic
FC Zurich: 2001-2003, FC Basel: 2002/2003, FC Thun: 2003 - 2006, Young Boys: 2006 - 2007
Socceroos Caps: 6
A cult hero everywhere he played, big Ljubo Milicevic was a towering, uncompromising defender who is likely to be one of the better-known Australians to play in the Swiss League.
Turning out for no less than four Swiss clubs, Milicevic captained both FC Thun and Young Boys at the tender age of 25 as well as appearing in European competitions against the likes of Robin Van Persie's Arsenal.
Ross Aloisi
FC Aarau: 1997/98
Socceroos Caps: 3
Brisbane Roar’s current head coach Ross Aloisi makes this list for his standout campaign for FC Aarau in 1997/98 where he played 38 matches in all competitions, scoring 6 goals.
This earned him a move to France with FC Lorient the following year before stints in Austria and Italy ensued but the Adelaide local eventually found his way back home, signing for the reds in 2003.
Joel Griffiths
Neuchâtel Xamax FCS: 2003 - 2006
Socceroos Caps: 3
A fan favourite wherever he played, Joel Griffiths enjoyed a career that took him to England, Japan and China. But before all that, Switzerland’s Neuchâtel Xamax FCS secured the services of Griffiths back in 2003 where the pacey striker would go on to make 72 league appearances before departing in 2006.
A character both on and off the pitch, some may remember Griffith’s colourful antics in popular Australian television show Rexona: Australia’s Greatest Athlete.