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Two-year contract - Rafael Wiki becomes new YB coach - Sport

Two-year contract – Rafael Wiki becomes new YB coach – Sport

  • Young Boys’ new coach is named Rafael Wiki.
  • The 45-year-old from Valais has signed a two-year contract with Bernese FC.
  • Most recently, he coached Major League Soccer at the Chicago Fire from December 2019 to September 2021.

As expected, Young Boys start the 2022/23 season with a new coach. Interim coach Matteo Vanetta, who is now leaving the entire YB coaching staff, is followed by 45-year-old Rafael Wiecki in the 15-time Swiss champion. Valais signed a contract with Bernese until the summer of 2024.

“I am proud and looking forward to the challenge here at YB,” Wicky said at a media conference on Thursday. He sees a lot of potential in the club and wants to “capitalize” it again with the staff.

From MLS to the Premier League

Wiki recently coached Major League Soccer in Chicago Fire from December 2019 to September 2021. Previously, the 75-time Swiss international was also briefly the U-17 national coach in the USA, from July 2017 to July 2018, he coached FC Basel in the Premier League.

He’s been free since last fall, but now he’s ready for a new challenge at home. He is looking forward to returning to Switzerland and looking forward to an exciting league. According to sporting director Christoph Speicher, Wicky’s name was already on the list a year ago – before Wagner was signed. But at that time Valaisan was still busy with the Chicago Fire.

Do not turn under the rule of Vanita

Former assistant coach Vanita, who took over temporarily at the beginning of March for David Wagner, was unable to bring about the hoped-for trend reversal in YB. The native Ticino is no longer part of the coaching staff, so the position of assistant coach is still open in the capital.

Under the leadership of Vanita, there were only 4 victories in 11 matches in the championship. YB, who had always been champion in the previous four seasons under Adi Hütter and Gerardo Seoane, finished last season only in third place, 16 points behind champion FC Zurich.

Wagner is not in office for a season

For his part, Wagner only came to Bern in June 2021 for three-time YB head coach Seoane. He led the German Young Boys to the group stage of the Champions League and win at home to Manchester United there. But in the tournament, the defending champion FCZ quickly slipped, and in the fall there was an early exit from the cup.

The new Super League season starts this weekend 16/17. July. The following week, the youngsters will make their first European Cup appearance – in the second qualifying round of the Conference League.