Ciriaco Sforza

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Ciriaco Sforza (born March 2, 1970, in Wohlen, Switzerland) is a Swiss football player who currently plays for Kaiserslautern.

Contents

[edit] Club Career

After starting his career in his hometown he was signed by FC Aarau in 1989. He impressed commentators and fans and was thus signed by Swiss giants Grasshoppers Zurich one year later. He represented Grasshoppers during three successful seasons before moving to Germany with 1.FC Kaiserslautern.

Sforza became the general of the Kaiserslautern midfield and was recognised as one of the best midfielders in the German Bundesliga. So, after two seasons he was bought by German giants Bayern Munich. He was signed at the same time as German superstar Jürgen Klinsmann. Compared to the homely smalltown club Kaiserslautern, FC Bayern was a team with many stars. Conflicts between Klinsmann and captain Lothar Matthäus poisoned the atmosphere and many scandals underlined why FC Bayern is called FC Hollywood. They also missed out on the German championship for the second season in a row. Hence, Sforza had trouble settling in. Owing to his Italian-Swiss heritage, Sforza was glad to be signed by Internazionale, where he was united with his coach from the national team, Roy Hodgson. He moved to Italy after only one season in Munich.

Sforza again, however, had problems performing and he spent a lot of time on the bench. After only one season he moved again - but this time to known territory. In time for the 1997-1998 season, Sforza moved back to Kaiserslautern. Sforza impressed immediately. And eventhough they had just been promoted from the German second division, Kaiserslautern became German champions beating FC Bayern to the title. Sforza spent two more seasons impressing commentators and fans alike.

In 2000, he decided to give Bayern Munich one more try. Once again, however, he failed to perform and spent a lot of time on the sidelines in a team with many stars competing for places. After two seasons he returned to Kaiserslautern, where the aging and now somewhat injury-prone Sforza helped FCK to avoid relegation. However, in the 2005-2006 season, he had a public falling-out with the club and was blackballed. As of 2006, his professional future remains uncertain, but he is expected to retire after this season.

[edit] National Career

Ciriaco Sforza has represented Switzerland 79 times. He played the 1994 World Cup under Roy Hodgson and also at Euro 96 in England.

[edit] Personal

He is engaged to be married and has two children.

[edit] Clubs

[edit] Trivia

Sforza has joined 1. FC Kaiserslautern three times. This "double return" is unique in the German Bundesliga.

[edit] Honours

[edit] External links

Switzerland Switzerland squad - 1994 World Cup Switzerland

1 Pascolo | 2 Hottiger | 3 Quentin | 4 Herr | 5 Geiger | 6 Bregy | 7 Sutter | 8 Ohrel | 9 Knup | 10 Sforza | 11 Chapuisat | 12 Lehmann | 13 Egli | 14 Subiat | 15 Grassi | 16 Bickel | 17 Fournier | 18 Rueda | 19 Studer | 20 Sylvestre | 21 Wyss | 22 Brunner | Coach: Hodgson
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