Christian Gross 3397552 224430097 2008-07-08T20:27:03Z 90.202.94.33 {{Infobox Football biography | playername = Christian Gross | image = | fullname = Christian Jürgen Gross | dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1954|8|14|df=yes}} | cityofbirth = [[Zürich]] | countryofbirth = [[Switzerland]] | dateofdeath = | cityofdeath = | countryofdeath = | height = | position = | currentclub = [[FC Basel]] (manager) | youthyears = | youthclubs = | years = 1973-1975<br />1975-1978<br />1978-1980<br />1980-1982<br />1982-1983<br />1983-1985 | clubs = [[Grasshopper-Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]]<br />[[Lausanne Sports]]<br />[[Neuchâtel Xamax]]<br />[[VfL Bochum]]<br />[[FC St. Gallen]]<br />[[FC Lugano]] | caps(goals) = | nationalyears = | nationalteam = [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] | nationalcaps(goals) = 1 (0) | manageryears = 1988–1993<br />1993–1997<br />1997–1998<br />1999– | managerclubs = [[FC Wil]]<br />[[Grasshopper-Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]]<br />{{fc|Tottenham Hotspur}}<br />[[FC Basel]] }}'''Christian Gross''' (born [[14 August]] [[1954]] in [[Zurich]]) is a professional [[football (soccer)|football]] coach and former player, who has been manager of [[FC Basel]] since [[1 July]] [[1999]].<ref>[http://www.fcb.ch/core.php?dat=Y29tcG9uZW50PXBhcnRuZXImYWN0aW9uPXNob3cmY2F0ZWdvcnk9NDAzJnBhcmVudElEPTQ5MCZuYXZpZ2F0aW9uSUQ9NDUyJnhJRD10cmFpbmVyYmV0cmV1ZXI= FC Basel - Die offizielle Homepage<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Playing career== Gross began his playing career at [[Grasshoppers Zurich]], whom he left in 1975. After three years at [[Lausanne Sports]] and two seasons at [[Neuchatel Xamax]] he moved to [[Germany]] to play for [[VfL Bochum]] of the [[Fußball-Bundesliga|Bundesliga]] in 1980. In two seasons Gross made 29 appearances in the Bundesliga and scored four goals. He then returned to [[Switzerland]] and spent three years at [[FC St. Gallen]] and [[FC Lugano]]. Gross was capped once for [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]. ==Management career== ===Early Success=== Gross began his managerial career at Swiss side [[FC Wil]] in the 2. Liga (the fourth-highest level), for whom he was active as [[player-manager]]. During his reign from 1988 to 1993 Wil climbed into the 1. Liga and then the Nationalliga B (now the [[Swiss Challenge League|Challenge League]]). While at Wil, Gross developed a reputation for an emphasis on fitness and hard work.<ref>[http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/11/20/on_second_thoughts_christian_g.html Guardian Unlimited: Sport blog: On Second Thoughts: Christian Gross<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>He then joined Grasshoppers Zurich as head coach in 1993. Under Gross, Grasshoppers won two Swiss championships and the Swiss Cup. Gross's success with Grasshoppers meant he was a very highly-rated coach in his native Switzerland, but he was still relatively little-known outside central Europe and it was a major shock when in November 1997 he was chosen to succeed [[Gerry Francis]] as manager of [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. ===Spurs=== Gross endured a tough nine months at Tottenham starting in the relegation zone. To further his troubles, his most trusted aide, the Swiss fitness coach [[Fritz Schmid]], who had been an integral part of Gross' training plans at Grasshoppers, was denied a [[work permit]] by the British government and so was unable to take up this role at Tottenham.<ref>[http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/archives.php?id=5519 Maier claims first downhill skiing victory Jordan equals Abdul-Jabbar record as Bulls down Mavs Kallis leads South Africa to safety in first test cric - Turkish Daily News Dec 31, 1997<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Despite this, results were good; a 2–0 win over [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in Gross's first game in charge of Spurs was quickly followed up by defeat with a harsh-looking 6–1 scoreline at the hands of [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] on Gross' home debut. However, despite the team gradually improving and even at times looking startlingly impressive like how they finished the season on a high by only losing one of their last nine game, he was an unpopular figure with the British tabloids.<ref>[http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/11/20/on_second_thoughts_christian_g.html Guardian Unlimited: Sport blog: On Second Thoughts: Christian Gross<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> His preparations for the [[1998-99 in English football|1998–99]] season were hampered by a witch hunt, and when Spurs lost two of their opening three matches, chairman [[Alan Sugar]] decided enough was enough and ended Gross' contract, claiming it had nothing to do with Gross' credentials and blaming the media for destroying his reputation.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/165785.stm BBC News | FA Carling Premiership | Gross: 'I was sacked'<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===FC Basel=== After being fired from the Tottenham job, Gross returned to his native Switzerland, finding work as the coach of [[FC Basel]]. Although the British tabloids retained an image of Gross as a largely incompetent figure, he didn't care and worked steadily to rebuild Basel into the premier force in Swiss football and achieved greater success than when manager of Grasshoppers. Under Gross' guidance, Basel have now won three Swiss championships, two Swiss Cups, and mounted a fairytale run in the [[UEFA Champions League 2002-03|UEFA Champions League]] in [[2002]], beating eventual finalists [[Juventus]] as well as knocking out [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] and drawing with [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] (twice) and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. Gross' success in these games against British sides went a long way towards restoring his reputation among the British media and fans.<ref>[http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/11/20/on_second_thoughts_christian_g.html Guardian Unlimited: Sport blog: On Second Thoughts: Christian Gross<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Honours== {| class="wikitable" |- !Colspan=4|Career as Coach |- !style="text-align:left"|Period !style="text-align:left" Colspan=2|Club !style="text-align:left"|Titles |- ||1988-93||{{flagicon|Switzerland}}||[[FC Wil]]||Promoted to [[Swiss 1. Liga (football)|1. Liga]]<BR>Promoted to [[Swiss Challenge League|Nationalliga B]] |- ||1993-97||{{flagicon|Switzerland}}||[[Grasshopper Club Zürich]]||1994 - [[Schweizer Cup|Swiss Cup]]<BR>1995 - [[Swiss Masters|Championship]]<BR>1996 - Championship |- style="vertical-align:top" ||1997-98||{{flagicon|England}}||[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]|| |- style="vertical-align:top" ||1999-||{{flagicon|Switzerland}}||[[FC Basel]]||2002 - Swiss Cup<BR>2002 - Championship<BR>2002 - [[UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League 2nd Group Stage]]<BR>2003 - Swiss Cup<BR>2004 - Championship<BR>2005 - Championship<BR>2007 - Swiss Cup <BR>2008 - Swiss Cup<BR>2008 - Championship<BR>2008 - [[Swiss Super League|Super League]] Coach of the Year |- |} ==References== {{reflist}} {{Tottenham Hotspur F.C. managers}} {{FC Basel Squad}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gross, Christian}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:Premier League managers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Swiss footballers]] [[Category:Swiss football managers]] [[Category:VfL Bochum players]] [[Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. managers]] [[de:Christian Gross]] [[fr:Christian Gross]] [[it:Christian Gross]] [[fi:Christian Gross]]