2023–24 Swiss Challenge League

The 2023–24 Swiss Challenge League (referred to as the Dieci Challenge League for sponsoring reasons) is the 126th season of the second tier of competitive football in Switzerland and the 21st season under its current name.

Swiss Challenge League
Season2023–24
Dates21 July 2023 – 20 May 2024
ChampionsSion[1]
PromotedSion
RelegatedBaden
UEFA Conference LeagueVaduz
Matches played180
Top goalscorerDejan Sorgić (Sion)
16 goals
Biggest home win6–0
THU–BAD (4 Aug '23)
VAD–SHA (3 Sep '23)
Biggest away win0–5
BAD–WIL (27 Aug '23)
Highest scoring6–3
THU–VAD (3 Nov '23)
Longest winning runSion (7 wins)
Longest unbeaten runSion (17 games)
Longest winless runVaduz (12 games)
Longest losing runBaden (7 losses)
All statistics correct as of 31 May 2024.

Overview

Teams

Due to the increased number of teams in the Super League, from ten to twelve,[2] two teams were directly promoted at the end of the last season and no teams were directly relegated, but third and last placed teams advanced to a promotion and relegation play-off, respectively. The remaining six teams were joined by the best placed eligible teams of the 2022–23 Swiss Promotion League, runners-up Stade Nyonnais and third-placed FC Baden, Stade Nyonnais and Baden returned to second tier after 11 and 17 years absence respectively. Last season's last placed team Neuchâtel Xamax FCS remains in the Challenge League as winners of the relegation play-off.[3] FC Sion, as losers of the promotion play-off, returned to the Challenge League after 17 years in the Super League.[4]

Schedule

The Swiss Football League (SFL) released a detailed schedule on 7 December 2022.[5][6] The season will begin on 21 July 2023 and conclude on 20 May 2024. As before, the league will go on winter break after matchday 18 on 17 December 2023 and resume on 26 January 2024. Promotion play-offs are scheduled for the week following the final matchday. The two legs of the promotion play-offs are scheduled for 26 and 31 May 2024, respectively.

The fixtures of the first 18 rounds were drawn and published on 21 June 2023,[7] together with the match times for the first nine rounds.[8] Matches of European competitors FC Vaduz may be postponed to Sundays in rounds 7, 8, and 9, subject to their performance in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying.[7]

Teams

Stadia and locations
Locations of clubs in the 2023–24 Swiss Challenge League teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity Ref
FC AarauAarauStadion Brügglifeld8,000 [9]
FC BadenFislisbachEsp Stadium7,000 [10]
AC Bellinzona Bellinzona Stadio Comunale 5,000 [11]
FC Stade NyonnaisNyonStade de Colovray7,200 [12]
FC SchaffhausenSchaffhausenBerformance Arena8,200 [13]
FC Sion Sion Stade Tourbillon 14,283 [14]
FC ThunThunStockhorn Arena10,014 [15]
FC Vaduz VaduzRheinpark Stadion7,584 [16]
FC Wil 1900WilLidl Arena6,958 [17]
Neuchâtel Xamax FCSNeuchâtelStade de la Maladière11,997 [18]

    Personnel and kits
    Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
    Aarau Ranko Jakovljević Olivier Jäckle gpard Credit Suisse
    Baden Michael Winsauer Patrick Muff macron Badener Tagblatt
    Bellinzona Manuel Benavente Matteo Tosetti Acerbis
    Schaffhausen Christian Wimmer Serge Müller Puma Methabau
    Sion Didier Tholot Reto Ziegler Macron OIKEN
    Nyon Christophe Caschili Quentin Gaillard Adidas
    Thun Mauro Lustrinelli Marco Bürki Macron Schneider Software AG
    Vaduz Marc Schneider Benjamin Büchel Puma MBPI
    Wil Brunello Iacopetta Kastrijot Ndau ERIMA Weber und Partner AG
    LIKA Group AG
    Xamax Uli Forte Kenan Fatkič Puma groupe e

    Managerial changes
    Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of departure Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Ref.
    Aarau Boris Smiljanić Departure 28 May 2023 Pre-season Alex Frei 12 June 2023 [19][20]
    Bellinzona Fernando Cocimano (interim) End of interim spell 13 June 2023 Sandro Chieffo 13 June 2023 [21]
    Schaffhausen Selcuk Sasivari (interim) 14 June 2023 Bigi Meier 14 June 2023 [22]
    Sion Paolo Tramezzani Departure 15 June 2023 Didier Tholot 15 June 2023 [23]
    Bellinzona Sandro Chieffo Sacked 3 October 2023 9th Mario Rosas 3 October 2023 [24]
    Schaffhausen Bigi Meier 29 December 2023 10th Christian Wimmer 29 December 2023 [25]
    Vaduz Martin Stocklasa 12 February 2024 8th Marc Schneider 14 February 2024 [26][27]
    Aarau Alex Frei Departure 25 March 2024 3rd Ranko Jakovljević (interim) 25 March 2024 [28]

    Number of teams by regions
    No. of
    teams
    		 Cantons Team(s)
    2  AargauAarau, Baden
    1
     St. GallenWil
     BernThun
     SchaffhausenSchaffhausen
     LiechtensteinFC Vaduz
     VaudNyon
     ValaisSion
     NeuchâtelNeuchâtel Xamax
     TicinoAC Bellinzona

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
    1 Sion (C, P) 36 23 10 3 72 23 +49 79 Promotion to Swiss Super League
    2 Thun 36 23 7 6 73 38 +35 76 Qualification for promotion play-off
    3 Vaduz 36 13 10 13 67 55 +12 49 Qualification for Conference League second qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
    4 Xamax 36 11 16 9 55 45 +10 49
    5 Wil 36 11 11 14 48 52 −4 44
    6 Aarau 36 12 7 17 53 59 −6 43
    7 Nyon 36 11 10 15 45 58 −13 43
    8 Bellinzona 36 11 9 16 37 50 −13 42
    9 Schaffhausen 36 8 14 14 36 55 −19 38
    10 Baden (R) 36 6 8 22 31 82 −51 26 Relegation to Swiss Promotion League
    Source: Swiss Challenge League
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored 6) Away goals scored; 7) Draw.[29]
    (C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
    Notes:
    1. Vaduz qualified for the Conference League second qualifying round by winning the 2023–24 Liechtenstein Cup.

    Results

    Promotion play-off

    The relegation play-off will be played in a two-legged game between the eleventh placed team of the Super League (5th of the relegation group) and the second placed team of the Challenge League. The two legs of the relegation play-offs are scheduled for 26 and 31 May 2024, respectively.[5]

    The winner of the play-off is whichever teams scores most in both games (no away goals rule).[30] In case of a tie at the end of the two games, 30 minutes of extra time (two times 15 minutes) are added, followed by a penalty shoot-out, in case the teams are still tied.

    First leg
    Grasshopper1–1Thun
    • Morandi 90+7' (pen.)
    		 Report
    • 52' Gutbub
    Attendance: 9,045
    Referee: Sandro Schärer

    Second leg
    Thun1–2Grasshopper
    		 Report
    Attendance: 10,014
    Referee: Urs Schnyder

    Grasshopper wins 3–2 on aggregate.

    References
    1. "Sion ist zurück in der Credit Suisse Super League" [Sion is back in the Credit Suisse Super League] (in Swiss High German). Swiss Football League. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
    2. "12 Klubs und neuer Modus in der Super League". Swiss Football League. 20 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
    3. "Xamax hält sich in der Challenge League – Nuzzolo sagt «Adieu»". SRF. 3 June 2023.
    4. "Lausanne-Ouchy schickt Sion in die Zweitklassigkeit". SRF. 6 June 2023.
    5. "SFL veröffentlicht Datenplan der Saison 2023/24" (in German). Swiss Football League. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
    6. "Rahmenterminplan 2023/2024" [Calendar 2023/2024] (PDF). Swiss Football League. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
    7. "SFL veröffentlicht die Spielpläne für die Saison 2023/24" (in German). Swiss Football League. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
    8. "Spielplan / Calendrier 2023/24" (PDF) (in German). Swiss Football League. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
    9. "FC Aarau". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    10. "FC Baden". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    11. "AC Bellinzona". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    12. "FC Stade Nyonnais". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    13. "FC Schaffhausen". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    14. "FC Sion". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    15. "FC Thun". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    16. "FC Vaduz". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    17. "FC Wil 1900". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    18. "Neuchâtel Xamax FCS". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    19. "Cheftrainer Smiljanic verlässt den FC Aarau". fcaarau.ch (in Swiss High German). FC Aarau. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
    20. "Alex Frei wird neuer Cheftrainer des FC Aarau". fcaarau.ch (in Swiss High German). FC Aarau. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
    21. "Conduzione tecnica stagione 23/24" [Technical Leadership Season 23/24]. acbellinzona.ch (in Italian). AC Bellinzona. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
    22. "André 'Bigi' Meier wird Cheftrainer beim FC Schaffhausen". fcschaffhausen.ch (in German). FC Schaffhausen. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
    23. "Didier Tholot retrouve le FC Sion !". fcsion.ch (in Swiss French). FC Sion. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
    24. "Annuncio Ufficiale" [Official Announcement]. acbellinzona.ch (in Italian). AC Bellinzona. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
    25. "Christian Wimmer neuer FCS Trainer". fcschaffhausen.ch (in Swiss High German). FC Schaffhausen. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
    26. "Vaduz trennt sich von Stocklasa". fcvaduz.li (in Swiss High German). FC Vaduz. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
    27. "Marc Schneider neuer Cheftrainer beim FC Vaduz". fcvaduz.li (in Swiss High German). FC Vaduz. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
    28. "Alex Frei löst Vertrag auf und nimmt eine Auszeit". fcaarau.ch (in Swiss High German). FC Aarau. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
    29. "Reglement für den Spielbetrieb der SFL" (PDF) (in Swiss High German). Swiss Football League. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
    30. "Die wichtigsten Infos zu den Barrage-Spielen CSSL vs. DCL". Swiss Football League. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
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