The 2024/25 European season is quickly approaching, with 236 clubs set to compete in UEFA’s continental club competitions this season.
With the first qualifying round draws two weeks away, Extratime Talk will be providing a comprehensive coefficient preview. Between now and then, each country will be previewed, and all clubs discussed.
In these articles, we will provide an analyses of what to expect from each country in Europe. We will all explore what is on the line from a coefficient standpoint, and the keys to succeeding, in that country’s case.
We are now in the fifth piece of this preview series, where we focus on Switzerland.
Switzerland In Europe: Country Profile
| Previous Season Coefficient (Rank) | 5.200 (19th) |
| Previous Season’s 5-Year Coefficient (Rank) | 32.975 (12th) |
| Starting 5-Year Coefficient (Rank) | 26.575 (15th) |
At the start of the 2023/24 season, Switzerland was in the running for a top 10 spot. Fast forward to February, and the goal was now just to remain in the top 12, which they ultimately did. It was not convincing, but Switzerland managed to hold off neighbours Austria for 12th and that extra Europa League place.
Entering this season in 15th, about 1.500 points back of 12th place Austria, the challenge to repeat that feat is even greater for Switzerland. A plethora of countries all have a realistic shot of finishing 11th or 12th by season’s end. However, the Swiss have it more difficult this year for another reason: for the first time since the 2001/02 season, Basel will not be in Europe. That is a big loss, and could be pivotal.
Switzerland In Europe: Club Profile
| Club | Qualified As | Round of Entry | Total European Seasons | Last Season’s Performance | 5-Year Club Coefficient (2023/24) | 5-Year Country Coefficient Contribution, 2023/24 (%) |
| Young Boys | Domestic Champion | UCL Playoff Round, CH Path | 30 | UEL Knockout Round Playoffs | 34.500 | 11.425 (34.65%) |
| Lugano | Domestic Runner-up | UCL Q2, League Path | 11 | UECL Q3 | 8.000 | 1.200 (3.64%) |
| Servette | Cup Winner | UEL Q3, Main Path | 32 | UECL Round of 16 | 9.000 | 2.850 (8.64%) |
| FC Zürich | Domestic Fourth Place | UECL Q2, Main Path | 32 | N/A | 6.595 | 1.625 (4.93%) |
| St. Gallen | Domestic Fifth Place | UECL Q2, Main Path | 9 | N/A | 6.595 | 0.125 (0.38%) |
For the sixth time in seven years, Young Boys claimed the Super League title. While they were pushed by Servette and Lugano for a part of the campaign, the side from the capital pulled away in the end. They enter the Champions League playoff round, assuring them Europa League football in the fall. That leaves Young Boys two games away from potentially a third appearance in the UCL proper in four years.
Joining them in UCL qualifying this summer is Lugano, who held of Servette for second spot. Commencing in the second round of qualifying, Lugano just needs to win one tie to enjoy league phase football. Prevail from UCL Q2, and they will be guaranteed a return to the UEL proper. They will not have it easy though: at no point this summer will Lugano be seeded. In fact, they are the lowest ranked team in UCL qualifying in the league path. So, they would have to do it the hard way.
Servette may have lost out on second spot, but they managed to get the better of Lugano in the cup final. As a result, Les Grenats will enter Q3 of the Europa League. Having made the UEL last term, Servette will aim to make it back-to-back seasons in the competition’s main round. Like Lugano, winning at least one tie will secure them European football in the fall. But, given their low coefficient, Servette is also unseeded in both the Q3 and playoff round draws.
After missing out on Europe last term, FC Zürich is back, starting in Q2 of the Conference League. A Europa League regular in the 2010s, FCZ has largely fallen off. At one point, they were in the second tier of Swiss football, though they only stayed there for one season. Having lost their club coefficient, the club will have a long and difficult task ahead in order to make the Conference League proper in September.
Completing the set of Swiss clubs in Europe for this season is St. Gallen, who, like FC Zürich, will participate in Q2 of the UECL. Of the five teams, Espen have the least seasons of European football, with this being their ninth showing. Only once has St. Gallen played group stage football, back in 2013/14. This is just their third continental appearance since then, failing to win a single tie. They are also unseeded past UECL Q2, which makes the objective that much more difficult.
Switzerland’s Season Ambitions
One of the best parts of UEFA’s country coefficient ranking is the constant changes. The top 12 to 15 countries in the ranking always move around. This year will see a multitude of national associations battle it out for a place in the top 15. This includes Switzerland, although they will push for more.
The aim will be to at least maintain their starting position of 15th, but Switzerland will be pushing for more, namely 11th/12th position. Whether they will be able to finish any higher is another matter. After all, this will be the most challenging year the country has faced in quite sometime.
What a Successful Season Would Be for Swiss Football
Under the circumstances, having at least three teams in a league phase should be seen as a success for Switzerland. Keeping in mind that Young Boys is the only side that has any chance at being seeded past Q3, the Swiss teams could have some very cruel draws this summer.
In order to reach the goal of maintaining 15th (or finishing any higher), Switzerland will need at least three teams in the league phase. Any less than three teams, and the likelihood of a top 15 finish will drop considerably.
What to Expect for the Swiss Coefficient in 2024/25
What can we expect from the Swiss clubs this season? Well, seeing that the club responsible for nearly half of their coefficient haul is not in Europe this term (Basel), things do not look promising from the outlook.
Basel reached the semifinals of the Conference League in 2022/23 before a shock humiliation in Q2 of the competition just a few months later. Now, they will not be in Europe for the first time in two decades. This is a massive loss for Swiss football, and it could very well come back to haunt them. For further context, Basel has contributed about 45% Switzerland’s five-year country coefficient. This year’s five teams have combined for about 51%.
Young Boys and Servette kept Switzerland in the top 12 last term, but it is hard to see them doing the same this time around. If the former can make the UCL proper, that will add some welcomed bonus points. Beyond that, Lugano is the only other club with a serious chance of making a league phase. Anything FC Zürich and St. Gallen do in Conference League qualifying is in essence a bonus.
If Switzerland holds on to 15th place, it will not be due to them having a spectacular season. Wolanin does not feel confident that they will have much better of a year either. “I’m honestly not very optimistic. (Switzerland) needs some luck with the draw for sure, as almost all of (the) clubs are unseeded.”
Switzerland will likely miss out on a top 15 place, but do not count them out quite yet. Servette impressed last year, and a repeat performance from any of the clubs could go a long way this year.