Basel sack Lichtsteiner after disastrous start and wipe entire coaching staff

Stephan Lichtsteiner’s debut as a top‑level coach has come to an abrupt halt, with Basel dismissing him after a dismal opening to the Swiss Super League season. The former Juventus and Arsenal full‑back collected only three wins, one draw and three damaging home defeats in seven matches, a return deemed unacceptable for a club built to challenge for the title. Basel had handed Lichtsteiner a long contract through 2029 when he replaced Ludovic Magnin last January, hoping for a swift turnaround, but recent losses to Lugano and Sion proved decisive.

The club responded by completely resetting the technical hierarchy, promoting assistant Luigi Nocentini as interim coach and dismissing vice‑manager Mario Cantaluppi alongside Lichtsteiner. Basel aim to jolt a struggling squad and salvage their season under new leadership. The decision closes a disappointing chapter for Lichtsteiner, whose tenure never delivered the expected progress.