Steve von Bergen

Steve von Bergen

Von Bergen with Hertha BSC in 2009
Personal information
Full nameSteve von Bergen[1]
Date of birth10 June 1983
Place of birthNeuchâtel, Switzerland
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing positionCentre back
Club information
Current team
Young Boys
Number5
Youth career
1991–1996Hauterive
1996–2000Neuchâtel Xamax
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2000–2005Neuchâtel Xamax126(1)
2005–2007Zürich68(0)
2007–2010Hertha BSC68(0)
2010–2012Cesena62(0)
2012Genoa0(0)
2012–2013Palermo34(1)
2013–Young Boys62(0)
National team
2003–2004Switzerland U-2125(0)
2006–Switzerland44(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 May 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 September 2014

Steve von Bergen (born 10 June 1983) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as defender for Young Boys. He played for FC Zürich for two full seasons, winning the Swiss Super League in both campaigns and then moved to Hertha BSC, playing there for three years. He managed to establish himself as a regular on the Switzerland national football team, earning over 40 caps since his debut in 2006 and playing at two World Cups.

Club career

Switzerland

Von Bergen began in the youth division of FC Hauterive, before joining Neuchâtel Xamax in 2000. In summer 2005, Lucien Favre, then coach at FC Zürich, scouted the defender and brought him to the club. In his first season in Zürich, Von Bergen earned 36 caps and contributed to the clubs first championship since 1981. The following season, FC Zürich defended their title.

Hertha BSC

When Lucien Favre transferred to Hertha BSC in summer 2007, he brought von Bergen with him to the Bundesliga. Von Bergen made his debut in the German top division on the second match day against Arminia Bielefeld. During his first season in the German capital, Hertha finished tenth, but qualified for the UEFA Cup via fair-play rating. In the 2009–10, after the departure of Josip Šimunić, Von Bergen managed to establish himself as a regular in Hertha's starting formation.

Italy

After his contract in Berlin expired on June 2010, Von Bergen agreed to join newly promoted Italian Serie A club Cesena on a free transfer. At the end of 2011–12 Serie A, Cesena relegated.

In June 2012 he moved to Serie A club Genoa on a free transfer. His stay lasted only two months, as in August he was sold to fellow Serie A club Palermo for €1.7 million[3] in an exchange deal for Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas (permanent for €600,000[3]) and Paraguayan striker Daniel Jara Martínez (on loan).[4] At the end of season Palermo relegated.

Return to Switzerland

On 19 June 2013 he moved to Young Boys for €850,000.[3][5]

International career

Von Bergen made his debut for the Swiss national team on 6 September 2006 against Costa Rica. He has been a constant member of the Swiss team, and was called to a preliminary squad for Euro 2008. Due to a broken hand, Von Bergen was not able to take part in the tournament.

Von Bergen was part of the Swiss national team at the 2010 World Cup. In the first match, where Switzerland shocked Spain 1–0,[6] Philippe Senderos was substituted in the 36th minute after injuring his ankle seriously in an accidental collision with a teammate, and Von Bergen replaced him. It was his first appearance in a major tournament.

At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Von Bergen was himself substituted for Senderos after being injured in the 8th minute of the second group game against France. A high foot from Olivier Giroud fractured his cheekbone and he left the tournament to receive treatment back in Switzerland.[7]

International statistics

Switzerland national team
YearAppsGoals
2006 1 0
2007 3 0
2008 1 0
2009 4 0
2010 10 0
2011 6 0
2012 7 0
2013 7 0
2014 5 0
Total 44 0

Last updated: 8 September 2014
Source: Steve von Bergen at National-Football-Teams.com

Honours

FC FC Zürich[8]

References

  1. "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 11 June 2014. p. 30. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. "S. von Bergen". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 US Città di Palermo SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013 PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA (in Italian)
  4. "VON BERGEN È ROSANERO TZORVAS E JARA MARTINEZ AL GENOA" [VON BERGEN IS ROSANERO; TZORVAS AND JARA MARTINEZ TO GENOA] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  5. "VON BERGEN CEDUTO ALLO YOUNG BOYS" [VON BERGEN MOVED TO YOUNG BOYS] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  6. "Swiss shock kings of Europe". FIFA.com. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  7. "World Cup 2014: Switzerland's Steve von Bergen heads home". BBC Sport. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  8. "Switzerland - S. von Bergen - Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 October 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steve von Bergen.