The FCW is a talent factory and more
FC Winterthur employs around 70 trainers who look after 420 children and young people in 24 teams. Many people dream of a professional career, but very few make it.
Manuel Akanji, Admir Mehmedi, Steven Zuber and Remo Freuler – they all once wore the jersey of FCW junior teams. Many people hope to have a career like this when they start at Schützenwiese or move there from other clubs. The region’s greatest talents are already being promoted by trained coaching teams in the FCW’s three U12 teams – these are reported by their clubs or observed by scouts, then selection training takes place over two to three weekends.
To ensure that the top clubs do not steal each other’s youngest players, there are 14 regional partnerships in Switzerland that share the talent of Swiss football among themselves. In the case of FCW, there is cooperation with FC Schaffhausen and a total of 42 clubs from Pfäffikon and Embrach. FC Zurich does not “poach” in the FCW area, which in turn does not “poach” in the FC St. Gallen area – even if juniors from Frauenfeld or Sirnach (home of today’s FCW professional Basil Stillhart) actually live nearby.
Trust in the way
“The system basically works well and is respected by the clubs,” says Roger Etter, the technical director of the FCW and therefore responsible for all junior teams from the smallest to the U21. “A short route to training makes sense; long journeys would also be a burden on school operations,” says the 44-year-old. In bilateral discussions, special cases – after moves or if a player misses a selection – can usually be settled by mutual agreement.
The hunt only starts from the U15 level onwards, and then Etter’s phone occasionally rings when clubs or, in some cases, the first advisors get in touch. “Then it depends on how much the players trust us as a club – if they see themselves being well looked after and see their chance of making it to the top with us, they won’t move. And we have hardly lost any talent in recent years,” says Etter proudly. If a player still changes and signs a contract with the competition, training compensation is due for the training club.
At FCW, however, there are neither contracts nor financial compensation for the juniors. “It is all the more important for them to see that their own young players continue to make the jump into the fanion team, like Loïc Lüthi recently,” emphasizes Etter.
Patience brings roses
On their way through the junior levels, the FCW accompanies the players in more than just a sporting way. Knowing that 98 percent of all talented people are denied a professional career, the focus is also on performance at school or teaching. The FCW is also in contact with teachers and companies.
“With us, no one can pursue a professional career after secondary school – we value a path in the private sector,” says Etter. It goes without saying that pressure situations and problems arise again and again for young people, both in terms of sport and training. In these cases, the FCW relies on patience and gives the players time to get back on track. “Even Manuel Akanji was loaned out to FC Schaffhausen for a few games when he was stagnating. It wasn’t until he returned that things went uphill for him.”
Of course, very few people succeed in such a career. Roger Etter is therefore important: “Even players who don’t make it to the professional level should be able to look back and say that they had a great time at FCW.”
The FCW invites all juniors, families, relatives, acquaintances and fans to Family Day!
Sunday, October 13, 2024, Schützenwiese Stadium
Highlights
• Mix tournament with final in the stadium (2 p.m.)
• Meet & Greet with the first team and all teams
Catering
• Coffee and croissants from 8.45 a.m
• Grill operation from 11.30 a.m
• Libero Bar open all day
