Karl Odermatt

Infobox Football biography
playername = Karl Odermatt
fullname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1942|12|17
cityofbirth = Bern
countryofbirth = Switzerland
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height =
position = Midfielder Striker
currentclub =
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1960-1963 1963-1976 1976-1977
clubs = BSC Young Boys FC Basel BSC Young Boys
caps(goals) = 72 (20) 312 (80) 24 (8)
nationalyears = 1965-1975
nationalteam = Switzerland
nationalcaps(goals) = 50 (9)
manageryears = 1992
managerclubs = FC Basel
pcupdate = 10 August 2008
ntupdate = 10 August 2008

Karl Odermatt (born 17 December 1942 in Bern) is a Swiss former footballer who played for BSC Young Boys and FC Basel throughout the 1960's and 1970's. He played as a midfielder or striker and is generally regarded as one of the best players to have worn the FC Basel shirt.

Career

Odermatt began his career with local side BSC Young Boys in 1960 and won the League Title in his debut season. He signed for FC Basel in 1963 and played through, what is now thought to be, Basel's golden years with team-mates such as Helmut Benthaus, René Hasler and Ottmar Hitzfeld. In his first season with Basel he lifted the Swiss Cup and two more would follow during his time at the St. Jakob Stadium. He won his first league-winners medal in 1967. Four more followed, in 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973. In 1976, he returned to Young Boys and helped them win the Swiss Cup before he retired.

Odermatt was also a Swiss internationalist, and earned 50 caps in his ten year international career. He was used mostly in the centre of midfield along-side Köbi Kuhn, and played in all three games at the 1966 World Cup. He scored his first international goal against England at Wembley Stadium on November 10 1971.

In 1992, he had a short spell as caretaker manager of FC Basel with Bruno Rahmen.

Honours

Young Boys
* Swiss League: 1960
* Swiss Cup: 1977

Basel
* Swiss League: 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973
* Swiss Cup: 1963, 1967, 1975
* Swiss League Cup: 1973

References

http://de.uefa.com/uefa/history/onthisday/index,newsid=262247.htmlhttp://www.christoph-merian-verlag.ch/presse/detail.cfm?ObjectID=3AA60485-F014-F4EF-21655FB84BA7D982