2023–24 Swiss Challenge League

The 2023–24 Swiss Challenge League (referred to as the Dieci Challenge League for sponsoring reasons) is the 126th season of the second tier of competitive football in Switzerland and the 21st season under its current name.

Swiss Challenge League
Season2023–24
Dates21 July 2023 – 20 May 2024
Matches played180
Biggest home win6–0
THU–BAD (4 Aug '23)
All statistics correct as of 1 June 2023.

Overview

Teams

Due to the increased number of teams in the Super League, from ten to twelve,[1] two teams were directly promoted at the end of the last season and no teams were directly relegated, but third and last placed teams advanced to a promotion and relegation play-off, respectively. The remaining six teams were joined by the best placed eligible teams of the 2022–23 Swiss Promotion League, runners-up Stade Nyonnais and third-placed FC Baden, Stade Nyonnais and Baden returned to second tier after 11 and 17 years absence respectively. Last season's last placed team Neuchâtel Xamax FCS remains in the Challenge League as winners of the relegation play-off,[2] while losers of the promotion play-off FC Sion were relegated to this season of the Challenge League, Sion returned to Challenge League after 17 years in top tier.[3]

Schedule

The Swiss Football League (SFL) released a detailed schedule on 7 December 2022.[4][5] The season will begin on 21 July 2023 and conclude on 20 May 2024. As before, the league will go on winter break after matchday 18 on 17 December 2023 and resume on 26 January 2024. Promotion play-offs are scheduled for the week following the final matchday. The two legs of the promotion play-offs are scheduled for 26 and 31 May 2024, respectively.

The fixtures of the first 18 rounds were drawn and published on 21 June 2023,[6] together with the match times for the first nine rounds.[7] Matches of European competitors FC Vaduz may be postponed to Sundays in rounds 7, 8, and 9, subject to their performance in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying.[6]

Teams

Stadia and locations
Locations of clubs in the 2023–24 Swiss Challenge League teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity Ref
FC AarauAarauStadion Brügglifeld8,000 [8]
FC BadenFislisbachEsp Stadium7,000 [9]
AC Bellinzona Bellinzona Stadio Comunale 5,000 [10]
FC Stade NyonnaisNyonStade de Colovray7,200 [11]
FC SchaffhausenSchaffhausenBerformance Arena8,200 [12]
FC Sion Sion Stade Tourbillon 14,283 [13]
FC ThunThunStockhorn Arena10,014 [14]
FC VaduzLiechtenstein VaduzRheinpark Stadion7,584 [15]
FC Wil 1900WilLidl Arena6,958 [16]
Neuchâtel Xamax FCSNeuchâtelStade de la Maladière11,997 [17]

    Personnel and kits
    Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
    Aarau Switzerland Alex Frei Switzerland Olivier Jäckle gpard Credit Suisse
    Baden Switzerland Otto Kirschberger Albania Luca Ladner macron Badener Tagblatt
    Bellinzona Switzerland Davide Callà Switzerland Dragan Mihajlović Acerbis
    Schaffhausen Switzerland Sepp Schultz Switzerland Serge Müller Puma Methabau
    Sion France Didier Tholot Switzerland Reto Ziegler Macron OIKEN
    Nyon France Christophe Caschili Switzerland Quentin Gaillard Adidas
    Thun Switzerland Mauro Lustrinelli Switzerland Marco Bürki Macron Schneider Software AG
    Vaduz Liechtenstein Martin Stocklasa Liechtenstein Benjamin Büchel Puma MBPI
    Wil Italy Brunello Iacopetta Switzerland Philipp Muntwiler ERIMA Weber und Partner AG
    LIKA Group AG
    Xamax Switzerland Uli Forte Switzerland Liridon Berisha Puma groupe e

    Managerial changes
    Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of departure Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Ref.
    Aarau Switzerland Boris Smiljanić Departure 28 May 2023 Pre-season Switzerland Alex Frei 12 June 2023 [18][19]
    Bellinzona Argentina Fernando Cocimano (interim) End of interim period 13 June 2023 Switzerland Sandro Chieffo 13 June 2023 [20]
    Schaffhausen Switzerland Selcuk Sasivari (interim) 14 June 2023 Switzerland Bigi Meier 14 June 2023 [21]
    Sion Italy Paolo Tramezzani Departure 15 June 2023 France Didier Tholot 15 June 2023 [22]

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
    1 Thun 11 7 3 1 24 10 +14 24 Promotion to Swiss Super League
    2 Sion 11 7 3 1 20 6 +14 24 Advances to promotion play-offs
    3 Wil 11 5 1 5 16 16 0 16
    4 Vaduz 11 4 3 4 23 16 +7 15
    5 Xamax 11 3 5 3 16 14 +2 14
    6 Aarau 11 4 2 5 16 17 −1 14
    7 Nyon 11 3 4 4 12 12 0 13
    8 Bellinzona 11 2 4 5 6 16 −10 10
    9 Baden 11 2 4 5 10 24 −14 10
    10 Schaffhausen 11 1 5 5 7 19 −12 8 Relegation to Swiss Promotion League
    Updated to match(es) played on 20 October 2023. Source: Swiss Challenge League
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored 6) Away goals scored; 7) Draw.[23]

    Results

    Play-offs

    Winner of the play-off is whichever teams scores most in both games (no away goals rule).[24] In case of a tie at the end of the two games, 30 minutes of extra time (two times 15 minutes) are added, followed by a penalty shoot-out, in case the teams are still tied.

    Promotion play-offs

    The promotion play-offs will be played in a two-legged match between the eleventh placed team of the Super League and the second placed team of the Challenge League. The two legs of the play-offs are scheduled for 26 and 31 May 2024, respectively.[4]


    References
    1. "12 Klubs und neuer Modus in der Super League". Swiss Football League. 20 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
    2. "Xamax hält sich in der Challenge League – Nuzzolo sagt «Adieu»". SRF. 3 June 2023.
    3. "Lausanne-Ouchy schickt Sion in die Zweitklassigkeit". SRF. 6 June 2023.
    4. "SFL veröffentlicht Datenplan der Saison 2023/24" (in German). Swiss Football League. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
    5. "Rahmenterminplan 2023/2024" [Calendar 2023/2024] (PDF). Swiss Football League. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
    6. "SFL veröffentlicht die Spielpläne für die Saison 2023/24" (in German). Swiss Football League. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
    7. "Spielplan / Calendrier 2023/24" (PDF) (in German). Swiss Football League. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
    8. "FC Aarau". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    9. "FC Baden". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    10. "AC Bellinzona". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    11. "FC Stade Nyonnais". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    12. "FC Schaffhausen". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    13. "FC Sion". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    14. "FC Thun". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    15. "FC Vaduz". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    16. "FC Wil 1900". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    17. "Neuchâtel Xamax FCS". Swiss Football League. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
    18. "Cheftrainer Smiljanic verlässt den FC Aarau". fcaarau.ch (in Swiss High German). FC Aarau. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
    19. "Alex Frei wird neuer Cheftrainer des FC Aarau". fcaarau.ch (in Swiss High German). FC Aarau. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
    20. "Conduzione tecnica stagione 23/24" [Technical Leadership Season 23/24]. acbellinzona.ch (in Italian). AC Bellinzona. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
    21. "André 'Bigi' Meier wird Cheftrainer beim FC Schaffhausen". fcschaffhausen.ch (in German). FC Schaffhausen. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
    22. "Didier Tholot retrouve le FC Sion !". fcsion.ch (in Swiss French). FC Sion. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
    23. "Reglement für den Spielbetrieb der SFL" (PDF) (in Swiss High German). Swiss Football League. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
    24. "Die wichtigsten Infos zu den Barrage-Spielen CSSL vs. DCL". Swiss Football League. 29 May 2023.
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