Israel Press Release

Press Release

Credit Suisse and the Swiss Football Association are extending their partnership

The successful cooperation between Credit Suisse and the Swiss Football Association (SFA) is entering the next phase. The contract with Credit Suisse governing main partner status for all junior and senior national teams in men's and women's football and the promotion of young talent was due to expire in mid-2020 and will now be extended ahead of schedule for another four years.

Credit Suisse and the Swiss Football Association have renewed their partnership ahead of schedule, extending it for another four years until 2024. As a result, Credit Suisse will continue to be the main partner of all junior and senior national teams in both men's and women's football, including the beach soccer national team. Since 1993, half of the financial commitment has been dedicated to promoting young talent, thus enabling the best possible conditions for success over the long term. In supporting the Credit Suisse Cup, the bank also remains committed to grassroots measures: With over 5,600 teams participating every year, the official schools' football championship is the largest football tournament in Switzerland.

With four European Championship qualifications and five World Cup qualifications since the partnership began in 1993, the men's senior national team is experiencing the most successful era in its history. During the same period, the men's U17 team turned in a superb performance to earn a World Cup title, while the men's U21 players were crowned European Championship runners-up.

It is also pleasing to note the boom enjoyed by the Swiss women's national football team, which Credit Suisse has been supporting since 2008. The women's senior national team has since made the leap to join the world's elite, participating in the European Championship and the World Cup for the first time. The women's junior teams have also stepped up their game, with the U19s making the European Championship semi-finals on two occasions, and the U17 team even reaching the final of the European Championship. Programs to promote young talent in the women's game, such as the SFA's Footura program and the Credit Suisse Academy in Bienne for players aged 13 to 15, aim to ensure that women's football in Switzerland can continue to hold its own at the highest level.

"We are very proud of the sustained and very successful partnership with the SFA," says Thomas Gottstein, CEO of Credit Suisse (Switzerland) Ltd. "The football achievements of our small country are a perfect example of what can happen when good framework conditions are in place; the best talent is brought together, trained professionally, and everyone involved is highly motivated." Dominique Blanc, President of the SFA, adds: "We are very pleased to continue our collaboration and are delighted that we will be able to count on the valuable and professional support from Credit Suisse for another four years."