The 2000–01 Fussball Club Basel 1893 season was their 107th season since the club's foundation on 15 November 1893. Following their promotion in the 1993–94 season this was their seventh consecutive season in the highest tier of Swiss football. René C. Jäggi was the club's chairman for the fifth consecutive season.
Overview FC Basel played their home games in the alternate Stadion Schützenmatte, which is situated in the west of the city, about one and a half kilometers from the city centre. This was their temporary home, because the old St. Jakob Stadium was demolished and the new stadium was built on the same site, situated in the south-east of the city, neighboring the municipalities of Muttenz and Münchenstein. The construction of the new stadium took a little more than two years and was to be opened in March 2001. The new stadium, the St. Jakob-Park, was to be an all seater, the old stadium had standing places on three sides.
Club president prolonged the contract with head coach Christian Gross and he was first team trainer for the second season. Still forming his team, Basel made a number of signings before the season started. Goalkeeper Miroslav König, players André Muff and Hakan Yakin were signed from Grasshopper Club. Two strikers joined to strengthen the attack, Hervé Tum from Sion and Jean-Michel Tchouga from Yverdon-Sports. Mid-fielder Ivan Ergic joined from Juventus and winger Carlos Varela was loaned in from Servette.
In the other direction Luís Calapes moved to Xamax, Didier Tholot and Thomas Häberli moved to Young Boys and Agent Sawu to Wil. Further, Pascal Zuberbühler signed on a one-year loan to Bayer Leverkusen, Marco Tschopp on a one-year loan to Xamax and Edmond N'Tiamoah on a six-month loan to SR Delémont.
The Campaign Friendly games Basel entered the Sempione Cup, which was played in Balsthal. The first match against the Brazilian team Ituano FC was won and the second match against Turkish team Besiktas Istanbul ended in a draw. Basel were placed second in the final standing.
Domestic League The Qualification Round to the League season 2000–01 was contested by twelve teams. The first eight teams of the regular season (or Qualification) then competed in the Championship Playoff Round. The regular season started on 15 July and ended on 10 December. The championship play-offs began on 25 February 2001 and ended on 26 May. The team's aim was to end the qualification round in the top four table and in the championship to reach the 2001–02 UEFA Cup. Basel started the regular season with three wins and three defeats, but then became somewhat more consistent, being defeated just once in the following 12 matches. The end of the first half of the regular season ended on a disappointing note as the team lost four of the last five games and slipped to fifth position in the league table.
Basel were able to play the games of the Championship Group in the new stadium, the St. Jakob-Park opened on 15 March 2001. It was sold out with 33,433 spectators on three occasions, Lausanne-Sport (15.03.2001), St. Gallen (14.04.2001) and Grasshopper Club (15.05.2001) The team were more consistent in the championship, they were only beaten twice. But they only won four matches (eight draws), goal scoring was very rare. Basel ended the season in fourth position in the league table, thus qualifying for the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup.
Domestic Cup The Swiss Cup started for Basel in the Round of 32 on 18 February 2001. Basel defeated lower class Etoile Carouge, but only after a penalty shoot out. In the next round they were drawn against and beat lower classed Bellinzona, but only narrowly. In the quarterfinals Basel were defeated by Lausanne-Sport, again after another penalty shoot out.
Europe Basel were qualified for the UEFA Cup and in the qualifying round they beat Folgore 12–1 on aggregate. In the first round they beat Brann Bergen with an aggregate score of 7–6. In the second round Basel were tied against Feyenoord. Feyenoord won both matches and so the European season came to an end for Basel before Christmas.
Players First team 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 15 July 2000 but subsequently left the club after that date and it includes all players that transferred in during the season.
Transfers in
Transfers out
Results Legend
Friendly matches Pre- and mid-season
Winter break and mid-season
Nationalliga A
Qualifying Phase The Qualification Round to the League season 2000–01 was contested by twelve teams. The first eight teams of the regular season (or Qualification) were then to compete in the Championship Playoff Round. The teams in the ninth to twelfth positions completed with the top four teams of the Nationalliga B in a promotion/relegation round. The qualifying phase started on 15 July 200 and was to be completed on 10 December.
League table
Champions Group The first eight teams of the qualification round competed in the championship group. They took half of the points (rounded up to complete units) gained in the qualification as bonus with them. The championship round began on 25 February 2001 and was completed on 26 May.
League table
Grasshopper Club won the championship and this was GC's 26th championship title to this date.
Swiss Cup
At the end of the season, Servette won the cup and this was their seventh cup title to this date.
UEFA Cup
Qualifying round
Basel won 12–1 on aggregate
First round
Basel won 7–6 on aggregate.
Second round
Feyenoord won 3–1 on aggregate. At the end of the season, Liverpool won the final with a golden goal in extra-time against Alavés for their third title in this competition.
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. Die ersten 125 Jahre / 2018. Publisher: Josef Zindel im Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag, Basel. 2000–01 at "Basler Fussballarchiv” homepage 2000–01 at Joggeli.ch 2000–01 at RSSSF
External links FC Basel official site