The 1998–99 Fussball Club Basel 1893 season was their 106th season since the club's foundation. Following their promotion at the end of the 1993–94 season this was their fifth consecutive season in the highest tier of Swiss football. René C. Jäggi was the club's chairman for the third consecutive year.
Overview In the first half of this season, until 13 Dezember, FCB played their home games in the St. Jakob Stadium, which was situated in the south-east of the city, neighboring the municipalities of Muttenz and Münchenstein. However, from 7 March 1999 the team played their home games in the Stadion Schützenmatte, situated in the west of the city about one and a half kilometers from the city centre. This would become their temporary home for two years, because the old stadium was demolished and the new stadium was to be built on the same site. The construction of the new stadium was to be completed in a little more than two years. The new stadium, the St. Jakob-Park, was to be an all seater, the old stadium had standing places on three sides.
Guy Mathez, who had taken over the coaching in January of that year, was appointed as the FCB new head-coach by club-president René C. Jäggi at the start of the season with a three year contract. However, on 16 May 1999, Mathez was dismissed without notice from his contract with the club, which was valid until the end of June 2001, because, among other things, he was alleged to have unlawfully profited from the transfer of the Brazilian Fabinho. Mathez was replaced immediately by Marco Schällibaum (ad interim) until the end of the season.
The Campaign Transfers The club made many new signings as the season started, these included Mario Cantaluppi who returned from Servette. Also from Servette came the Romanian international Dan Potocianu and, on loan, the youngster Carlos Varela. Aleksandr Rytchkov was signed from 1. FC Köln and Philippe Cravero signed in from lower classed Etoile Carouge. Benjamin Huggel was signed in from local amateur club FC Münchenstein, however he had played the previous season on loan to FC Arlesheim in the fourth tier of Swiss football.
The Ivorian international Ahmed Ouattara, the young Brazilians Abedi and Argemiro Veiga were signed in from Sion. The transfers of Ouattara, Veiga, and Abedi (Robson Vicente Gonçalves) happened as part of a sudden, rushed "Blitzaktion" (lightning action) that moved multiple players between clubs at one time. The rushed deal move was finalised in a hectic, last-minute administrative flurry ahead of the season. The transfers faced complications primarily due to financial disputes and contractual wrangling involving Sion's contentious club management at the time. This was characterised by disputes over player registrations, unpaid wages, and fierce negotiations regarding transfer fees with club hierarchy. The Swiss Football Association (SFV/ASF) scrutinized the validity and clearance of multiple simultaneous transfers between the two rival clubs, delaying official eligibility for the start of the 1998–99 season. Because several players were shifted in a disorganized mass operation under tight deadlines, sorting out registrations, contractual details, and club clearances caused friction and delays at the start of the season.
In the other direction Adrian Knup, Daniel Salvi and Jürgen Hartmann all ended their football careers. Dario Zuffi returned to his club of origin Winterthur after having playing five years for the club. Jan Berger moved to Aarau and Maurizio Gaudino moved on to VfL Bochum. Further, youngster Alexander Frei was loaned out to second-tier Thun so that he could obtain more playing time.
Domestic League The club's priority aim was to remain in the top flight of Swiss football. The season started fairly well, with five victories and three draws in the first ten rounds. However, seven defeats in the next nine rounds let the team slip down into the bottom areas of the table. Basel ende the qualification stage with eight victories, four draws and ten defeats, with just 21 goals scored and 34 conceded, with 28 points in sixth position in the league table. With this tally they were qualified for Champions Group for the second half of the season. The club's new aim was to aim for the European competitions, but, with an average second half of the season, winning five games, drawing four and losing five, Basel ended in the league tables fifth position and managed a position to qualify for the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup, but were nine points away from a slot for the European competitions. With four goals in the qualification round and six in the championship round Mario Frick was the team's top goal scorer.
Swiss Cup All eyes were set on the cup season. But despite a draw against second-tier Stade Nyonnais, Basel's cup season came to an abrupt end, because they were unable to pass this hurdle, losing the match on penalties. Lausanne-Sport won the Swiss Cup final on 13 June 199 in the Wankdorf Stadium, winning 2–0 against Grasshopper Club.
Players Squad The following is the list of the Basel first team squad. It includes all players that were in the squad the day the season started on 18 July 1998 but subsequently left the club after that date and it includes all players that transferred in during the season.
Transfers in
Transfers out The following is the list of the FCB first team players that left the squad during the previous season or in the off-season, before the new domestic season began.
Results Legend
Friendly matches Pre- and mid-season
Winter break
Nationalliga A
Qualification phase The first stage of the NLA began on 18 July 1998 and was completed on 13 December. The top eight teams in the qualification phase would advance to the championship group and the last four teams would play against relegation.
Qualification table
Championship round The first eight teams of the qualification phase competed in the Championship round. The teams took half of the points (rounded up to complete units) gained in the qualification as bonus with them. This phase began on 28 February 1999 and was completed on 2 June.
Final league table
Swiss Cup
See also History of FC Basel List of FC Basel players List of FC Basel seasons
References
Sources Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2015/2016. Publisher: FC Basel Marketing AG. Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2017/2018. Publisher: FC Basel Marketing AG. Die ersten 125 Jahre / 2018. Publisher: Josef Zindel im Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag, Basel. 1998–99 at Joggeli.ch 1998–99 at RSSSF
External links FC Basel official site