Xavier Margairaz Explained

Xavier Margairaz
Fullname:Xavier Margairaz[1]
Birth Date:7 January 1984
Birth Place:Rances, Switzerland
Height:1.85 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1991–1996
Youthclubs1:Rances
Youthyears2:1996–2000
Youthclubs2:Yverdon Sport
Years1:2000–2003
Caps1:46
Goals1:3
Years2:2003–2005
Caps2:34
Goals2:5
Years3:2005–2007
Caps3:78
Goals3:20
Years4:2007–2009
Caps4:13
Goals4:0
Years5:2009
Clubs5:Zürich (loan)
Caps5:13
Goals5:2
Years6:2009–2012
Caps6:80
Goals6:16
Years7:2012–2013
Caps7:35
Goals7:5
Years8:2014
Caps8:10
Goals8:0
Years9:2015–2017
Caps9:53
Goals9:3
Totalcaps:362
Totalgoals:54
Nationalyears1:2005–2010
Nationalcaps1:18
Nationalgoals1:1

Xavier Margairaz (born 7 January 1984) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Margairaz was born in Rances. After beginning professionally with FC Lausanne-Sport and Neuchâtel Xamax, he was part of the 2005–06 and 2006–07 Super League-winning teams of Fussballclub Zürich.

In May 2007, Margairaz signed a three-year contract with Spanish side CA Osasuna,[2] where he struggled with first-team opportunities. In late February 2008, in a friendly match with SD Eibar, he suffered a serious knee injury (anterior cruciate ligament, internal lateral ligament and external meniscus). After a successful surgery in Geneva, he missed UEFA Euro 2008 as his recovery process was estimated to be of at least eight months;[3] this happened a week after another serious knee-injured central midfielder of the Navarrese club, Javad Nekounam, began training.

On 14 January 2009, Margairaz moved back to FC Zürich on loan until the end of the season.[4] In June, after he helped the team to another league title and Osasuna received 400.000, the move was made permanent.

On 15 September 2009, Margairaz became Zürich's first scorer in the UEFA Champions League, netting in a 2–5 home loss against Real Madrid in the group stage.[5] In January 2012, he moved to FC Sion on a three-and-a-half-year contract, leaving in June of the following year.[6]

International career

A member of the Swiss national team since 2005, Margairaz was called up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he had two late substitute appearances.[7] [8]

Personal life

Margairaz's older brother, Sascha, was also a footballer. He played mainly in the lower leagues and amateur football.[9] [10]

Honours

Zürich

2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09

2004–05[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Switzerland . FIFA . 27 . 21 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf . 10 June 2019.
  2. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=553034.html Duo boost Osasuna forward line
  3. http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/osasuna/es/desarrollo/1094551.html Margairaz se lesiona de gravedad y se perderá la Eurocopa (Margairaz suffers serious injury and he will miss the Eurocup)
  4. http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/sport/fussball/fc_zuerich_xavier_margairaz_1.1698761.html Margairaz zurück im FC Zürich (Margairaz returns to Zürich)
  5. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=2000028/match=2000376/report=rp.html Ronaldo has Madrid up and running
  6. http://www.lematin.ch/sports/football/Xavier-Margairaz-va-quitter-Sion/story/19673011 Xavier Margairaz va quitter Sion (Xavier Margairaz to quit Sion)
  7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852856.stm France 0–0 Switzerland
  8. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853466.stm Switzerland 2–0 South Korea
  9. http://www.laregion.ch/je-suis-devenu-mature-sur-le-tard/ «Je suis devenu mature sur le tard» («I matured a bit late»)
  10. http://www.laregion.ch/xavier-margairaz-ou-la-bataille-contre-loubli/ Xavier Margairaz ou la bataille contre l’oubli (Xavier Margairaz or the battle against oblivion)
  11. News: Schweizer-Cup - Swisscom-Cup - Final. football.ch. 2 November 2022.