Benjamin Siegrist

Benjamin Kevin Siegrist (born 31 January 1992) is a Swiss professional footballer, who plays in the Scottish Premiership for Celtic as a goalkeeper. He was a member of the Switzerland squad at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and went on to represent the Swiss Under-21s.[3] In 2009, Siegrist was part of his nation's FIFA U-17 World Cup winning side, during which he also received the competition's inaugural Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper. During seven years in the Aston Villa Academy Siegrist undertook a series of short-term loans to English Football League and Conference sides. After a spell in the Swiss Super League with Vaduz, Siegrist signed for Scottish club Dundee United in 2018.

Benjamin Siegrist
Siegrist with Aston Villa in 2014
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Kevin Siegrist[1]
Date of birth (1992-01-31) 31 January 1992
Place of birth Therwil, Switzerland
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Celtic
Number 31
Youth career
2000–2002 FC Therwil
2002–2009 FC Basel
2009–2012 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 Aston Villa 0 (0)
2013 → Burton Albion (loan) 0 (0)
2014 → Cambridge United (loan) 3 (0)
2015–2016 → Solihull Moors (loan) 14 (0)
2016 → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 1 (0)
2016–2018 Vaduz 32 (0)
2018–2022 Dundee United 121 (0)
2022– Celtic 0 (0)
International career‡
2009 Switzerland U17 11 (0)
2009 Switzerland U18 1 (0)
2011 Switzerland U19 7 (0)
2013 Switzerland U21 1 (0)
Medal record
Representing   Switzerland
Men's football
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Winner2009 Nigeria
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up2011 Denmark
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:30, 26 July 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 December 2017

Club career

Aston Villa

Siegrist was born in Therwil, Basel-Country. Having been spotted playing for local side FC Therwil, Siegrist continued his youth career at FC Basel in his native Switzerland and during his time there he won both the Swiss U-16 league and cup double in 2008.[4] In January 2009, just prior to his 17th birthday, he signed for Aston Villa of the Premier League. He represented the reserve and academy teams, and in July 2010 he linked up with local side Tamworth with a view to a season-long loan. The loan move never materialised, but Siegrist did play for the club in two pre-season friendlies against Rugby Town and Leamington.[5] As a Villa youth player, he helped the club to the reach the final of the 2009–10 FA Youth Cup (which was lost 3–2 on aggregate to Chelsea) and the 2011–12 Premier Reserve League South title.

Ahead of the 2012–13 season Siegrist was promoted to Aston Villa's first team squad, receiving the number 39 shirt in the process.[6]

Loans

Siegrist joined Football League Two side Burton Albion on a one-month loan deal on 28 November 2013.[7] He was given the number one shirt and was named on the bench for Albion's match with Plymouth Argyle on 30 November 2013.[8] He made no appearances, largely due to the form of Dean Lyness, and returned to Aston Villa after one month.[9]

In March 2014 Siegrist joined Cambridge United of the Conference Premier, the fifth tier of English league football, on loan until the end of the season.[10] On 26 March 2014 Siegrist made his professional debut in a 3–0 win away to Salisbury City.[11] Siegrist played three matches for Cambridge conceding only one goal and helping the club to a second-place league finish and ultimately the 2014 Conference Premier play-off final, before a groin injury ended his spell at the club.

Siegrist joined Solihull Moors of the National League North on a one-month emergency loan on 8 October 2015 having recovered from a serious leg injury in May 2015.[12] He played in the FA Cup third qualifying round for Solihull against Worcester City, the Moors forced a replay with a 1–1 draw in the first match[13] but lost 1–0 in the replay, despite a string of fine saves from Siegrist.[14] Siegrist made his league debut in a 1–1 draw away to Tamworth on 17 October 2015.[15] Siegrist was named man of the match in a 2–2 draw with Lowestoft Town on 7 November 2015, making a string of saves to keep Moors in the game.[16] Following a loan extension until March 2016 his good form continued as Moors moved clear at the top of the league in January 2016, they went on to win the league a few weeks after Siegrist's departure.[17]

On 19 March 2016, Siegrist joined Wycombe Wanderers on loan until the end of the season as cover, ultimately only playing a single match.[18]

Vaduz

Siegrist signed for Vaduz in the Swiss Super League in the Summer 2016 transfer window for a fee of £210,000.[19]

Dundee United

Siegrist signed a two-year contract with Scottish Championship club Dundee United in June 2018.[20] Manager Csaba László initially used Siegrist as understudy to Matej Rakovan, but he had become first choice by the time Robbie Neilson became manager later that year. Siegrist was part of the Dundee United team that were declared Championship winners in 2019–20, and were subsequently promoted to the Scottish Premiership. He made his 100th appearance for the club against Kilmarnock in February 2021.[21] He made 131 saves in Premiership matches during the 2020–21 season, the most of any goalkeeper in the league, and won the club's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards,[22] despite missing the end of the season with a broken wrist.[23] In June 2021, United rejected an official bid to buy Siegrist from English League One club Ipswich Town.[24] In the following summer, Siegrist left Dundee United as a free agent.[25]

Celtic

On 21 June 2022, Siegrist signed for Celtic as a free agent on a 4-year deal.[26] On 31 August 2022, he made his official debut for the club in a 4-1 away win against Ross County in the Scottish League Cup second round.[27]

International career

Siegrist has been part of Switzerland squads at U17, U18, U19, and U21 level. Siegrist won the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria with his nation: the goalkeeper was an integral part of the side that beat the hosts in the final and won the tournament's first Golden Glove award as a result. He was chosen as a backup goalkeeper for Switzerland's U21 squad at the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, but remained an unused substitute throughout the tournament as Switzerland lost 2–0 in the final to Spain. In 2012, Siegrist was chosen as a backup goalkeeper to Diego Benaglio for Pierluigi Tami's 18-man squad to represent Switzerland at the 2012 London Olympic Games.[28]

Career statistics
As of 15 May 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 2013–14[29] Premier League 000000—00
2014–15[30] Premier League 000000—00
2015–16[31] Premier League 000000—00
Total 0000000000
Burton Albion (loan) 2013–14[29] League Two 0000000000
Cambridge United (loan) 2013–14[29] Conference Premier 3000—0030
Solihull Moors (loan) 2013–14[32][13][14] National League North 14020—2[lower-alpha 1]0180
Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 2015–16[31] League Two 1000000010
Vaduz 2016–17[32][33][34] Swiss Super League 27020—2[lower-alpha 2]0310
2017–18[32][35] Swiss Challenge League 5010—0060
Total 320300020370
Dundee United 2018–19[36] Scottish Championship 27030206[lower-alpha 3]0380
2019–20[37] Scottish Championship 280203000330
2020–21[38] Scottish Premiership 3200000—320
2021–22[39] Scottish Premiership 3403050—420
Total 121080100601450
Career total 17101301001002040
  1. Appearances in the FA Trophy
  2. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  3. Two appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs

Honours

Basel Academy

  • Swiss U-16 League: 2007–08[4]
  • Swiss Cup U-16 Cup: 2007–08[4]

Aston Villa Academy & Reserves

Cambridge United

Solihull Moors

FC Vaduz

Dundee United

Celtic

Switzerland

Individual

References
  1. "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). premierleague.com. Premier League. 2 September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  2. "Benjamin Siegrist: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  3. "Men's Football". London2012.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  4. FC Basel 1893 (2008). "Zwei weitere Nachwuchstitel für den FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  5. "Tamworth eye loan deal for Villa keeper Siegrist". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  6. "Clark handed No.6, Vlaar No.4 and Lowton requests No.34". AVFC.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  7. "Burton Albion sign Aston Villa keeper Benji Siegrist on loan". Burton Mail. Archived from the original on 1 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  8. "Plymouth Argyle vs. Burton Albion F.C." BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  9. Sloan, Tom (29 November 2013). "Dean Lyness looks likely to keep Burton Albion number one shirt for Plymouth Argyle trip". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  10. "Cambridge United sign Aston Villa keeper Siegrist". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  11. "Salisbury 0–3 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  12. "Aston Villa Goalkeeper joins Solihull on loan". Birmingham Mail. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  13. Evans, Gregg (10 October 2015). "Solihull Moors 1-1 Worcester City - Match report from the highest ever crowd at The Automated Technology Group Stadium". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  14. "Late goal ends Solihull Moors FA Cup dream". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  15. "Hnours even as Tamworth FC take on leaders Solihull Moors". Tamworth Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  16. "Trawlerboys Net Two But Moors Still Unbeaten". Solihull Moors FC. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  17. "Aston Villa Loan Watch". Birmingham Mail. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  18. "Villa keeper joins on loan". Official Wycombe Wanderers. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  19. "Roberto Di Matteo starts rebuilding at Aston Villa with emphasis on mental side". The Guardian. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  20. "Dundee United sign goalkeepers Matej Rakovan and Benjamin Siegrist". BBC Sport. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  21. Woodger, Calum (11 March 2021). "Exclusive: Benjamin Siegrist jokes 'cream always rises to the top' as he joins Dundee United 100 club - and expresses happiness at Tannadice". The Courier. Dundee. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  22. Temple, Alan (21 May 2021). "Dundee United: Benjamin Siegrist and Lawrence Shankland the big winners in Tannadice awards". The Courier. Dundee. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  23. Woodger, Calum (28 April 2021). "Dundee United latest: Benjamin Siegrist ruled out for the season after scans reveal broken wrist for Swiss stopper". The Courier. Dundee. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  24. Nicolson, Eric (21 June 2021). "Dundee United knock-back Ipswich Town offer for Benjamin Siegrist". The Courier. Dundee. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  25. Burns, Scott (17 May 2022). "Benjy Siegrist is heading for the United exit". scottishdailyexpress. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  26. Sullivan, Joe (21 June 2022). "Ben Siegrist signs for Celtic in 4 year deal". celticfc.com. Glasgow. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  27. "Ross County 1-4 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side book cup quarter-final spot with sixth straight victory". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  28. "Switzerland 2012 Olympic Squad". About.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  29. "Games played by Benjamin Siegrist in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  30. "Games played by Benjamin Siegrist in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  31. "Games played by Benjamin Siegrist in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  32. Benjamin Siegrist at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  33. "FC Triesen vs. FC Vaduz 0:18" (in German). FC Vaduz. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  34. "USV Eschen/Mauren vs. FC Vaduz 1:5" (in German). FC Vaduz. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  35. "Cupsieg Nummer 46: 3:0 Erfolg gegen den FC Balzers" (in German). FC Vaduz. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  36. "Games played by Benjamin Siegrist in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  37. "Games played by Benjamin Siegrist in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  38. "Games played by Benjamin Siegrist in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  39. "Games played by Benjamin Siegrist in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  40. Duncan, Thomas (3 June 2023). "Celtic 3–1 Inverness CT: Ange Postecoglou's side win Scottish Cup to claim treble". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2023.

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