Stephan Lichtsteiner: Former Juventus, Lazio And Arsenal Ace Becomes FC Basel Head Coach
Stephan Lichtsteiner won seven Serie A titles in a row with Juventus.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 27 January 2026
Stephan Lichtsteiner is the new head coach of Swiss giants FC Basel after playing for the likes of Juventus, Lazio and Arsenal.
The 42-year-old is stepping into his first top-flight management job, with Basel moving quickly after parting company with Ludovic Magnin.
Lichtsteiner made 200 appearances for Juventus, 100 for Lazio and 14 for Arsenal during his playing career. He also won 108 Switzerland caps.
Prior to getting the FC Basel senior role, he coached Basel’s youth squads and Swiss fourth-tier side FC Wettswil-Bonstetten.
Stefan Lichtsteiner pens long-term contract as FC Basel head coach
Stefan Lichtsteiner has signed a long-term contract, reported in multiple outlets as running until summer 2029.
He replaces Magnin despite a dramatic 4-3 win over FC Zurich, in a decision that underlines how quickly results and performances are judged.
Lichtsteiner knows Basel inside out, having worked in Basel’s youth set-up before taking senior coaching responsibilities elsewhere.
His most recent job was with Swiss lower-league side FC Wettswil-Bonstetten, making this appointment a major leap in level and spotlight.
🚨🇨🇭 Stephan Lichtsteiner has signed in as new FC Basel head coach until June 2029. pic.twitter.com/tCIAl0Cvje
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 26, 2026
Basel’s sporting leadership has backed his leadership and tactical qualities, despite his relative lack of experience.
Assistant coach Pascal Bader is also joining the staff, as the club builds a new set-up around their rookie head coach.
Lichtsteiner at Basel: Juventus, Lazio and Arsenal experience sets the bar
As a player, Lichtsteiner became a serial winner at Juventus. He won seven straight Serie A titles and built a reputation for relentless energy.
Lichtsteiner also won 108 Switzerland caps, featuring at major tournaments, and faced many of Europe’s biggest names in the Champions League.
Basel’s squad includes familiar stars too, with Xherdan Shaqiri recently grabbing headlines for a hat-trick in the win over Zurich.
Lichtsteiner must now prove he can transfer his intensity from the right flank to the touchline and get Basel firing on all cylinders.
Elsewhere in Juve-related news, Juventus want Randal Kolo Muani, who is currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.
Juventus are moving for new options up front after talks for Youssef En-Nesyri fell through.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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