Christian Gross
{{Short description|Swiss football manager (born 1954)}}
{{for|the German footballer born 1989|Christian Groß}}
{{Infobox football biography
| image = Christian-gross.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Gross in 2009
| full_name = Christian Jürgen Gross{{cite web |url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/l/l93130.html |title=Gross: Christian Jürgen Gross: Manager |publisher=BDFutbol |access-date=21 December 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|8|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Zürich, Switzerland
| position = {{Flatlist|
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1965
| youthyears2 = 1965–1972
| youthclubs1 = SV Höngg
| youthclubs2 = Grasshopper
| years1 = 1972–1976
| clubs1 = Grasshopper
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 1976–1978
| clubs2 = Lausanne-Sport
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 1978–1980
| clubs3 = Neuchâtel Xamax
| caps3 = 50
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 1980–1981
| clubs4 = VfL Bochum
| caps4 = 29
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 1981–1985
| clubs5 = St. Gallen
| caps5 = 109
| goals5 = 11
| years6 = 1985–1987
| clubs6 = Lugano
| caps6 =
| goals6 =
| years7 = 1987–1988
| clubs7 = Yverdon-Sport
| caps7 =
| goals7 =
| nationalyears1 = 1978
| nationalteam1 = Switzerland
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1988–1993
| managerclubs1 = Wil
| manageryears2 = 1993–1997
| managerclubs2 = Grasshopper
| manageryears3 = 1997–1998
| managerclubs3 = Tottenham Hotspur
| manageryears4 = 1999–2009
| managerclubs4 = Basel
| manageryears5 = 2009–2010
| managerclubs5 = VfB Stuttgart
| manageryears6 = 2011–2012
| managerclubs6 = Young Boys
| manageryears7 = 2014–2017
| managerclubs7 = Al-Ahli
| manageryears8 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs8 = Zamalek
| manageryears9 = 2019–2020
| managerclubs9 = Al-Ahli
| manageryears10 = 2020–2021
| managerclubs10 = Schalke 04
| manageryears11 = 2024–2025
| managerclubs11 = Zamalek
}}
Christian Jürgen Gross (born 14 August 1954) is a Swiss football manager and former player. He played as a sweeper and central midfielder.{{cite web |url=https://www.sport.de/fussball/pe9115/christian-gross/ |title=Christian Gross at Sport.de |website=Sport.de |access-date=4 December 2019 |language=de}}
Gross was manager of Basel from 1999 to 2009, winning four Swiss Super Leagues and four Swiss Cups.
As manager of Tottenham Hotspur between November 1997 and September 1998, Gross became the first Swiss to manage in the Premier League.{{cite news|url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/features/around-the-world-switzerland.html|title=Around the World: Switzerland and the Barclays Premier League|date=31 May 2014|publisher=Premier League|access-date=6 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006144901/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/features/around-the-world-switzerland.html|archive-date=6 October 2015}}
Playing career
Gross began his playing career at SV Höngg before moving to Grasshopper in 1965,{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Herzog |title=Der neue Trainer hält YB bereits auf Trab |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/sport/fussball/Der-neue-Trainer-haelt-YB-bereits-auf-Trab-/story/17545585?track |newspaper=Tages-Anzeiger |date=14 May 2011 |access-date=4 December 2019 |language=de}} which he left in 1976. After two years at Lausanne-Sport and two seasons at Neuchâtel Xamax, he moved to Germany in 1980 to play for VfL Bochum of the Bundesliga. In two seasons Gross made 29 appearances in the Bundesliga and scored four goals. He then returned to Switzerland and spent three years at St. Gallen, Lugano and Yverdon-Sport. Gross was capped once for Switzerland, making his debut on 8 March 1978 in a 3–1 friendly away defeat to East Germany.{{cite news |first1=Mac |last1=Huber |first2=Daniel |last2=Leu |first3=Nicola |last3=Berger |title=Gross und andere Eintagsfliegen im Natitrikot |url=https://www.blick.ch/sport/fussball/nati/gross-und-andere-eintagsfliegen-im-natitrikot-id5437.html |newspaper=Blick |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=4 December 2019 |language=de}}
Managerial career
=Early career=
Gross began his managerial career at Swiss side Wil in the 2. Liga (then the fourth-highest level), for whom he was active as player-manager. During his reign from 1988 to 1993,{{cite web|title=Christian Gross|url=https://www.kicker.de/christian-gross/trainer|publisher=kicker|access-date=29 January 2014|language=de}} Wil climbed into the 1. Liga and then the Nationalliga B (now the Challenge League). While at Wil, Gross developed a reputation for an emphasis on fitness and hard work.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/20/1 |title=Guardian Unlimited: Sport blog: On Second Thoughts: Christian Gross |work=The Guardian |date= 20 November 2007 |access-date= 8 April 2009 | location=London | first=Paul | last=Doyle}} He then joined Grasshopper as head coach in 1993.{{cite web|title=Grasshoppers Zürich " Trainerhistorie|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/grasshoppers-zuerich/9/|publisher=World Football|access-date=29 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203031701/http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/grasshoppers-zuerich/9/|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=dead}} Under Gross, Grasshopper won two Swiss championships and the Swiss Cup. Gross's success with Grasshopper meant he was a very highly rated coach in his native Switzerland, but he was still little-known outside central Europe and it was a major shock when in November 1997 he was chosen to succeed Gerry Francis as manager of Tottenham Hotspur.{{cite news |title=Sugar set to explain Gross appointment |url=http://www.fa-carling.com/news9798/thfc/th19119701.html |website=FA Premier League |date=19 November 1997 |access-date=4 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990222014623/http://www.fa-carling.com/news9798/thfc/th19119701.html |archive-date=22 February 1999}}
=Tottenham Hotspur=
Gross was hired on 19 November 1997,{{cite news |first1=Christopher |last1=Davies |first2=Mihir |last2=Bose |title=Spurs find Swiss replacement as Francis departs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/11/19/sfngro19.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=19 November 1997 |access-date=4 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050317093250/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=%2Farchive%2F1997%2F11%2F19%2Fsfngro19.html |archive-date=17 March 2005 |url-status=dead }} with Tottenham in the relegation zone.{{cite news|title=Christian Gross to Juande Ramos: Tottenham managers that came and went|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/3110219/Tottenhams-managerial-timeline-Football.html|access-date=29 January 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=30 September 2008|author=Macaskill, Sandy|author2=Gilmour, Rod}} Swiss fitness coach Fritz Schmid, who had been an integral part of Gross' training plans at Grasshopper, was denied a work permit by the British government and so was unable to take up this role at Tottenham.{{cite news |title=Coach Gross' future at Tottenham in doubt after permit refused |url=http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/archives.php?id=5519 |newspaper=Turkish Daily News |date=31 December 1997 |access-date=4 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930171433/http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/archives.php?id=5519 |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}{{cite news|last=Doyle|first=Paul|title=On Second Thoughts: Christian Gross|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/20/1|access-date=29 January 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=20 November 2007}}
Gross' initial fortunes were mixed; his debut was a 2–0 win over Everton at Goodison Park, followed by a heavy 6–1 home defeat at the hands of Chelsea. However, despite some signs of improvement, he was relentlessly ridiculed by the British tabloids. The ridicule was often linked to his poor grasp of English and first Spurs press conference, where he arrived late from Heathrow Airport brandishing a London Underground ticket with the words: "I want this to become my ticket to the dreams".{{cite web|url=http://www.topspurs.com/cgross.htm |title = Christian Gross: 25 November 1997 – 5 September 1998 |publisher = Topspurs |access-date= 8 April 2009}}{{cite web | url = http://www.onthisfootballday.com/football-history/september-5-sir-alan-sugars-apprentice.php | title = September 5 – Sir Alan Sugar's Apprentice | date = 5 September 2007 | access-date = 30 April 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005233604/http://www.onthisfootballday.com/football-history/september-5-sir-alan-sugars-apprentice.php | archive-date = 5 October 2011 | df = dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8750_4239904,00.html |title=F365's Most Memorable Press Conferences – F365 Features – Football365 News |publisher=Football365.com |access-date=8 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006050559/http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8750_4239904,00.html |archive-date=6 October 2008 }}
Gross' position became increasingly untenable as the 1998–99 season approached, and when Spurs lost two of their opening three matches, chairman Alan Sugar ended Gross' contract on 5 September 1998. In a statement, Sugar blamed the media for destroying Gross' reputation.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/165785.stm |title = Gross: 'I was sacked' |work=BBC News |date= 6 September 1998 |access-date=8 April 2009}} He had won three of his last ten matches.
=Basel=
Gross returned to his native Switzerland, finding work as the manager of Basel on 15 June 1999.{{cite news |first=Josef |last=Zindel |title=120 Jahre FCB! |url=https://www.fcb.ch/de-CH/News/2013/11/16/120-Jahre-FCB |website=FC Basel official website |date=16 November 2013 |access-date=4 December 2019 |language=de |archive-date=4 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204131453/https://www.fcb.ch/de-CH/News/2013/11/16/120-Jahre-FCB |url-status=dead }} He worked to rebuild Basel into the premier force in Swiss football and achieved greater success than when manager of Grasshopper.
Under Gross' guidance, Basel won four Swiss championships, four Swiss Cups, and mounted a fairytale run in the UEFA Champions League in the 2002–03 season, beating eventual finalists Juventus as well as knocking out Celtic and drawing with Liverpool (twice) and Manchester United. Gross' success in these games against British sides went a long way towards restoring his reputation among the British media and fans. He took Basel on another European adventure three seasons later as they reached the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup in 2005–06, before bowing out to English side Middlesbrough 4–3 on aggregate despite leading 2–0 after the first leg at St. Jakob-Park.
On 17 May 2009, Gross was attacked by fans of Zürich on a tram after Basel defeated Zürich that day. He received no serious injuries.{{cite web | url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/05/19/yobs-spit-on-gross-115875-21370832/ | title = Former Tottenham manager attacked by yobs | work = Daily Mirror | access-date = 30 April 2010| date = 19 May 2009}} On 27 May, he was sacked after ten years at the club.{{cite web | url = http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12003_5351223,00.html | title = Gross to leave Basel| publisher = Sky Sports | access-date = 30 April 2010 | date = 27 May 2009}}
=VfB Stuttgart=
On 6 December 2009, Gross was revealed as the new manager of VfB Stuttgart.{{cite news|title=Gross soll es richten|url=https://www.kicker.de/gross-soll-es-richten-518043/artikel|access-date=29 January 2014|newspaper=kicker|date=6 December 2009|language=de}} Sensationally, he guided the team to qualification to the UEFA Europa League. Gross was dismissed from his managerial job on 13 October 2010 after six defeats in seven matches, when Stuttgart found itself at the bottom of the table.{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/gross-beurlaubt---bobic_keine-loesungsansaetze-543509/artikel | title = Gross beurlaubt – Bobic: "Keine Lösungsansätze" | date = 13 October 2009 | access-date = 13 October 2010 | work = Kicker | language = de}}
=Young Boys=
Gross signed a two-year contract on 8 May 2011 to become the new manager of Young Boys, following the sacking of former manager Vladimir Petković.{{cite news|title=Gross übernimmt die Young Boys|url=https://www.kicker.de/gross-uebernimmt-die-young-boys-552167/artikel|access-date=29 January 2014|newspaper=kicker|date=8 May 2011|language=de}} However, after a run of poor results, Gross was sacked on 30 April 2012.{{cite news|first = Peter B.|last = Birrer|title=Ende des grossen Traums|url=http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/sport/fussball/die-young-boys-garantieren-am-sonntagabend-fuer-fette-schlagzeilen_1.16675658.html|access-date=18 May 2012|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|date=30 April 2012 | language = de}}
=Al-Ahli=
Gross was appointed manager of Al-Ahli on 18 June 2014,{{cite news |title=Gross übernimmt club in Saudiarabien |url=https://www.bernerzeitung.ch/sport/fussball/gross-uebernimmt-club-in-saudiarabien/story/20301709 |newspaper=Berner Zeitung |date=18 June 2014 |access-date=4 December 2019 |language=de}} He achieved with Al-Ahli the Saudi Professional League, the King Cup and the Saudi Crown Prince Cup but refused to renew his contract allowing him to leave on 30 May 2016.{{cite news |title=Gross verlässt Al-Ahli |url=https://www.srf.ch/sport/fussball/internationale-ligen/gross-verlaesst-al-ahli |website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=4 December 2019 |language=de}} On 3 October 2016, with the sacking of José Gomes, Gross returned to the club for a second spell.{{cite news |first=Ram |last=Youssef |title=Gross returns as Al Ahli coach |url=https://www.goal.com/en-ar/news/19622/saudi-pro-league/2016/10/03/28148062/gross-returns-as-al-ahli-coach |website=Goal |date=3 October 2016 |access-date=4 December 2019}}
=Zamalek=
In April 2018, Gross signed a two-year contract with the Egyptian club Zamalek. He won The Egyptian-Saudi Supercup 2018, and followed that up with a win in the African Confederation Cup in May 2019, which was the first African title for the Egyptian giants since 2002. The deal appeared to collapse in May after the confederation cup final, but it was confirmed to be a one-year deal on 3 July 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44700133 |title=Swiss coach Christian Gross agrees deal with Zamalek after all |publisher=BBC |author=Tarek Talaat |date= 3 July 2018 |access-date=13 July 2018 }} On 1 June 2019, Egypt Today confirmed that Gross had been fired from his position, President Mortada Mansour of the club told Mehwar TV that "Gross is specialist in failure".{{cite web |url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/8/71085/Zamalek-President-fires-team-coach-Christian-Gross |title=Zamalek president fires team coach Christian Gross |work=Egypt Today |date=1 June 2019 |access-date=8 June 2019 }}
=Third spell at Al-Ahli=
On 16 October 2019, Gross returned to Al-Ahli for a third spell.{{cite news |title=Official: Christian Gross returns to Al Ahli |url=https://www.kingfut.com/2019/10/16/al-ahli-christian-gross/ |website=KingFut |date=16 October 2019 |access-date=4 December 2019}} On 17 February 2020, Al-Ahli terminated his contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.kingfut.com/2020/02/17/al-ahli-terminate-christian-gross-contract/|title=Al Ahli terminate Christian Gross' contract|website=kingfut.com|date=17 February 2020}}
=Schalke 04=
On 27 December 2020, Gross became the fourth head coach for Schalke 04 during the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web |url=https://schalke04.de/en/team/christian-gross-schalke-04s-new-head-coach/|title=Christian Gross is Schalke 04's new head coach|date=27 December 2020|website=schalke04.de |publisher=Schalke 04 |access-date=27 December 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://de.reuters.com/article/soccer-germany-s04/schalke-appoint-former-spurs-boss-gross-as-new-manager-idINKBN2910JI|title=Christian Gross becomes Schalke 04's fourth boss this season|work=Reuters|date=27 December 2020}}{{cite web |title=Rücktritt vom Rücktritt: Gross offiziell neuer Schalke-Trainer |url=https://www.kicker.de/ruecktritt-vom-ruecktritt-gross-offiziell-neuer-schalke-trainer-793114/artikel |website=Kicker |publisher=kicker |access-date=27 December 2020 |date=27 December 2020}} On 28 February 2021, Gross was sacked.{{Cite web |url=https://schalke04.de/en/team/fc-schalke-04-relieve-club-management-duties-immediate-effect/|title=FC Schalke 04 relieve sporting management of their duties with immediate effect|date=28 February 2021|website=schalke04.de |publisher=Schalke 04 |access-date=28 February 2021}}
=Second spell at Zamalek=
On 15 December 2024, Gross returned to Zamalek for a second spell.{{cite web |last=Seif |first=Ahmed |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/51/536996/Sports/Egyptian-Football/Zamalek-sign-agreement-with-Christian-Gross-for-nd.aspx |title=Zamalek reach agreement with Christian Gross for 2nd tenure |publisher=ahram.org |date=15 December 2024 }}
Managerial statistics
{{updated|11 February 2025}}