Ever since I moved to Switzerland, I’ve found a lot of interest in FC Lugano. The summer I arrived here was also the summer Lugano were bought by Joe Mansueto, who then appointed Mattia Croci-Torti as head coach, despite his extremely limited resume. Under Mansueto and Croci-Torti, Lugano have not only transitioned from a fluctuating top-flight side (after years of financial difficulties) to one that has never since finished outside the top 4, competing in Europe multiple times and picking up their first trophy in almost 3 decades with victory in the Swiss Cup in 2022, but have also become a team built on positive, aggressive, and fluid football. The latter may have meant their physical success has been limited, but it has earned the club – and Croci-Torti in particular – a lot of praise for their approach to the game. Their move to the newly built Ail Arena from next season will, they hope, take them closer to tangible proof of the club’s development. On top of that, Lugano ...
Winterthur has had its ups and downs. Its story revolves around creation and loss, great potential unfulfilled, and a strange connection to one of the most successful teams in football history. The second largest city in the canton of Zurich is far more renowned for its industry and DIY attitude than its significantly fancier sister to the south-west, and that shows in its make-up, both architectural and social. There is no Bahnhofstrasse, for example, in Winterthur; no exclusive shopping district. There are plenty of museums and art galleries, but they are subtle – focused more on what can be found inside than what is presented externally. And, perhaps, all of that sums up Winterthur better than anything, a club that – outwardly – might not inspire many who do not know it, but – internally – has an ethos and culture all of its own. FCW Graffiti on the way to the stadium. Schutzenwiese, or “Schützi” to the regulars, is the oldest football stadium still in use in Switzerland. FC Win...