Alexander Frei

2.1. Club career

Frei began his professional journey with his hometown club, FC Basel, playing for them from 1997 to 1998. He then moved to other Swiss clubs, including FC Thun (1998-1999), FC Luzern (1999-2001), and Servette FC (2001-2003). With Servette, he won the Swiss Cup in the 2000-01 season.

In January 2003, Frei transferred to French club Rennes in Ligue 1. He quickly made an impact, scoring 19 goals in the 2003-04 season, finishing second in the league's scoring charts. In the subsequent 2004-05 season, he emerged as the league's highest goalscorer, netting 20 goals. His performances garnered significant attention across Europe.

On 29 June 2006, Frei signed a four-year contract with German club Borussia Dortmund, with a transfer fee of approximately 5.00 M EUR. In his inaugural 2006-07 season, he was Dortmund's leading goalscorer, with 16 goals in 32 matches. Despite a long-term injury in the 2007-08 season, he made a strong return, scoring six goals in his final eight appearances. He notably scored two goals in an eventful 3-3 draw against rivals Schalke 04 in the 2008-09 Bundesliga. Overall, he played 74 league matches for Dortmund, scoring 34 goals, and 83 official matches with 37 goals.

On 17 July 2009, Frei left Borussia Dortmund and returned to Switzerland, rejoining FC Basel on a three-year contract, six years after his initial departure, with a transfer fee of approximately 4.00 M EUR (around 530.00 M JPY). He made his debut on 26 July 2009 in a 2-1 away victory against FC Sion at the Stade Tourbillon, where he provided an assist and scored the winning goal in the final minute. In the 2009-10 season, he scored 15 goals in 19 league games, contributing to FC Basel winning the Double (Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup). He continued his prolific form, becoming the Swiss League Top goalscorer in the 2010-11 season with 27 goals in 35 league games, and again in the 2011-12 season with 24 goals. On 21 September 2011, he scored his 100th Super League goal in a match against FC Lausanne-Sport. At the end of the 2011-12 season, he secured his second Double with Basel, winning both the league championship and the Swiss Cup.

In the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League, Basel reached the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by reigning UEFA Champions League holders Chelsea with a 2-5 aggregate score. Frei's last game in this competition was the quarter-final home match against Tottenham Hotspur, which Basel won 4-1 on penalties after a 4-4 aggregate draw. His final professional match took place on 14 April 2013, a home game at St. Jakob-Park where Basel defeated Zürich 3-1. Serving as captain for this match, he scored his last career goal from a free kick approximately 82 ft ^{(25 m)} out in the 55th minute, receiving a standing ovation when he was substituted ten minutes later. At the conclusion of the 2012-13 Swiss Super League season, Frei was awarded his fourth consecutive championship medal and a Swiss Cup silver medal.

Between his two stints, from 1997 to 1998 and again from 2009 to 2013, Frei played a total of 217 games for Basel, scoring 148 goals. This included 114 league games (74 goals), 15 Swiss Cup matches (13 goals), 38 European competition matches (22 goals in Champions League and Europa League), and 50 friendly games (39 goals). With FC Basel, he won four league championships and two cup titles.

2.2. International career

Frei represented Switzerland at various youth levels, including Under-18s, Under-19s, and Under-21s. He debuted for the Swiss U-18 team on 25 October 1995 in a 5-1 away defeat against the French Under-18s. His Under-21 debut was on 3 September 1999 in a 3-1 away victory against Denmark. He scored two goals in the 2002 U-21 European Championship.

Frei made his debut for the senior full international squad on 24 March 2001, coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 away draw against the Republic of Yugoslavia during a World Cup qualification Group 1 match. Four days later, on 28 March 2001, he scored his first three goals for the national team in a 5-0 home win against Luxembourg.

He participated in UEFA Euro 2004. During a group match against England, he was captured on camera appearing to spit at Steven Gerrard. Although no immediate action was taken, Frei was later charged by UEFA and received a provisional 15-day suspension.

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, Frei scored six goals, including a second-minute penalty in the second leg of the play-off against Turkey, which Switzerland won on away goals to qualify for the finals. At the finals in Germany, Frei was named Man of the match in Switzerland's 2-0 group stage victory over Togo in Dortmund, where he opened the scoring from Tranquillo Barnetta's cross. He also scored in the subsequent 2-0 win against South Korea, a goal that was controversial due to an initial offside call overruled by referee Horacio Elizondo, which helped send Switzerland through as group winners.

On 30 May 2008, in Switzerland's final preparation match before co-hosting UEFA Euro 2008, Frei scored two goals in a 3-0 friendly win over Liechtenstein. These goals brought his tally to 35 for the Switzerland national team, surpassing the previous record held by Kubilay Türkyilmaz and establishing him as the all-time leading scorer. However, during the first half of the opening match of Euro 2008 against the Czech Republic, Frei, captaining the Swiss team, sustained a torn knee ligament in his left knee after a challenge from Czech defender Zdeněk Grygera. This injury forced him to miss the remainder of the tournament, though he chose to remain with the team to offer his support and later underwent surgery.

In a Euro 2012 qualifier at home against Wales, Frei was booed by his own fans throughout the match, despite Switzerland winning 4-1. The booing intensified when he was substituted. On 5 April 2011, he announced his retirement from the national squad after facing renewed criticism following a 0-0 draw with Bulgaria in a Euro 2012 qualifying match on 26 March. His last goals for the national team were two goals in a friendly against Ukraine in November 2010. He concluded his international career with 42 goals in 84 appearances, solidifying his record as Switzerland's all-time top scorer.

3.1. Sports director

After retiring from playing, Frei took on the role of sports director for FC Luzern. This appointment was jointly announced by FC Basel and FC Luzern on 19 March 2013, with his tenure officially beginning in mid-April 2013.

3.2. Coaching career

Frei began his coaching journey within the youth system of his former club, FC Basel, starting in 2015. He also served as an interim manager for the senior team in 2018.

In September 2020, he was appointed head coach of FC Wil 1900 in the Swiss Challenge League, the second tier of Swiss football. He stepped down from this position in November 2021. In December 2021, he signed on as the head coach of FC Winterthur. He successfully led Winterthur to promotion to the Swiss Super League before being signed by his former club, FC Basel, as their new head coach in May 2022.

Frei's second stint at FC Basel as head coach concluded on 7 February 2023, when he and the club mutually agreed to part ways. At the time of his departure, the team was in seventh place in the league table. According to FC Basel sporting director Heiko Vogel, a 0-1 loss away to Grasshopper Club Zürich on 4 February 2023, which followed five league games without a win, was "one defeat too many." Notably, just three days prior, Basel had defeated Grasshoppers 5-3 in Zurich in their Swiss Cup round of 16 match.

On 12 June 2023, Frei was announced as the new head coach of FC Aarau, marking his return to the Swiss Challenge League. He departed from this position on 25 March 2024 by mutual consent with the club, stating his intention to take a step back from coaching. At the time of his departure, Aarau was in third place in the league, though with a significant gap to a promotion spot. His final game in charge was a 2-0 victory against cantonal rivals FC Baden.

5.1. Player statistics

:Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Frei goal.

5.2. Managerial statistics

6.1. Club honours

Servette

• Swiss Cup: 2000-01

Basel

• Swiss Super League: 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13
• Swiss Cup: 2009-10, 2011-12
• Uhrencup: 2011
• Swiss Cup Runner-up: 2012-13

6.2. Individual honours

• Credit Suisse Player of the Year: 2003
• Ligue 1 Golden Boot: 2004-05 (20 goals)
• Ligue 1 Best XI: 2004-05
• Credit Suisse Player of the Year: 2004, 2005, 2007
• Swiss Super League Golden Boot: 2010-11 (27 goals), 2011-12 (24 goals)
• Axpo Super League Player of the Year: 2011, 2012
• Swiss Golden Player Award: "Best Forward": 2011, 2012
• 2006 FIFA World Cup Man of the match: vs. Togo, vs. South Korea (group stage)
• Swiss Super League Team of the Year: 2014-15