1. Overview
Remo Marco Freuler, born on April 15, 1992, is a professional footballer from Switzerland who primarily plays as a midfielder. His distinguished career reflects a journey through Swiss youth systems to prominence in Serie A with Atalanta BC and subsequently Bologna FC 1909, alongside significant contributions to the Swiss national team. Known for his composure and intelligence on the field, Freuler has been a pivotal figure for both club and country, participating in major international tournaments and leaving a lasting impact through his consistent performances. His dedication and strategic play highlight a career built on hard work and valuable contributions to team success, embodying the spirit of collective effort in sports.
2. Early life and youth career
Remo Freuler was born on April 15, 1992, in Ennenda, Switzerland. He began his footballing journey at a young age, joining the youth ranks of FC Hinwil in 2001, where he developed his foundational skills until 2005. Following this period, Freuler transferred to another Zürich-based club, FC Winterthur, in 2005. He continued his progression through the youth academy at Winterthur, honing his abilities for four years until 2009, which laid the groundwork for his future professional career.
3. Club career
Remo Freuler's professional club career has seen him develop from a promising youth player in Switzerland to a key midfielder in Italian and English top leagues, marked by consistent performances and significant transfers.
3.1. Winterthur
Freuler made his professional debut with FC Winterthur at the age of 18 in 2010, appearing in two substitute roles towards the end of the 2009-10 Swiss Challenge League season. After a brief period with Grasshopper Club Zürich, he returned to Winterthur during the winter break of the 2011-12 Swiss Challenge League season. At the time of his return, Winterthur was in tenth place, just two points above the relegation zone. Freuler quickly established himself, making 14 appearances that season and scoring his first career goals for the club with a brace against SC Kriens on March 4, 2012. His contributions helped Winterthur climb to a fourth-place finish. In the 2012-13 Swiss Challenge League season, he started all but two games as the team secured a third-place finish. Freuler's contract with Winterthur was made permanent in the summer of 2013, and he continued to feature prominently, making 21 more appearances before his transfer to Super League side FC Luzern. He also played one match for Winterthur U21 in the 2013-14 Swiss 1. Liga season, scoring one goal.
3.2. Grasshopper Club Zürich
In the summer of 2010, following his initial debut with Winterthur, Freuler transferred to Grasshopper Club Zürich. During his time there, he predominantly played with the club's under-21 side. He did, however, have a stint with the professional club at the beginning of the Super League season, where he notably scored against rivals FC Zürich. Despite this, Freuler found himself frozen out of the first team the following season and was consequently loaned back to his former club, Winterthur, during the winter break.
3.3. FC Luzern
On February 18, 2014, Freuler made a significant move to FC Luzern. He debuted for the club on March 2 against FC St. Gallen under manager Carlos Bernegger. Freuler scored his first goal for Luzern on April 6 against BSC Young Boys, contributing to Luzern's fourth-place finish in the 2013-14 Swiss Super League season. The following season, he had a particularly impactful year, scoring seven goals and providing five assists. Luzern experienced a resurgence under new manager Markus Babbel, who took over after Bernegger's mid-season dismissal, despite the team finishing the first half of the season at the bottom of the table. Freuler was a consistent starter under Babbel, playing every game of the new season until his transfer to the Italian club Atalanta BC. He also made two appearances in the UEFA Europa League for Luzern in the 2014-15 season.
3.4. Atalanta
On January 19, 2016, Remo Freuler moved to Atalanta BC for a transfer fee of 2.00 M EUR. He made his Serie A debut on February 7 against Empoli. After being substituted in his next match against Sampdoria, Freuler was an unused substitute for the next seven matches under manager Edy Reja. He returned to the starting eleven two months later against Roma. Following this match, an Italian journalist notably gave him the nickname "Iceman," a moniker Freuler attributed to his composure on the ball. His first goal for the Bergamo-based side came on May 2 against eventual runners-up Napoli.
In the 2016-17 Serie A season, Freuler made 29 starts, as Atalanta achieved a remarkable fourth-place finish, a nine-place improvement under first-year manager Gian Piero Gasperini. This performance also secured Atalanta's qualification for the Europa League group stages for the first time since 1990. During this season, Freuler scored five goals and provided four assists. On April 28, he scored a crucial late equalizer at home against eventual champions Juventus, preventing them from clinching the Scudetto that weekend.
Freuler made his Europa League group stage debut against English side Everton, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 victory. He had previously played in a second-round qualification two-legged tie for Luzern against Scottish club St Johnstone. He opened his scoring account in the 2017-18 Serie A season for Atalanta with an equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppage time against Fiorentina on September 24, 2017. Over six-and-a-half seasons with Atalanta, he became a central figure, consistently contributing to their domestic and European campaigns. Notably, in the 2021-22 season, he made a combined 12 appearances in European competitions, with six appearances and one goal in the UEFA Champions League and six appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
3.5. Nottingham Forest
On August 14, 2022, after six and a half successful seasons with Atalanta, Freuler joined newly-promoted Premier League club Nottingham Forest. He played a crucial role in the team, adapting to the demands of English football during the 2022-23 Nottingham Forest F.C. season.
3.6. Bologna
On September 1, 2023, Freuler returned to Italy, joining Serie A club Bologna on a loan deal that included a conditional obligation to buy. This transfer was part of a swap deal, which saw Nicolás Domínguez move to Nottingham Forest. Since joining Bologna, Freuler has been a key player for the club, contributing to their performances in Serie A and helping them qualify for European competitions, marking a significant chapter in his career.
4. International career
Remo Freuler has had a comprehensive international career, representing Switzerland at various youth levels before becoming a staple for the senior national team, participating in multiple major tournaments.
4.1. Youth national teams
Freuler progressed through the Swiss youth football setup, gaining valuable international experience. He played for the Switzerland U18 squad in 2009, making two appearances and scoring one goal. From 2010 to 2011, he was part of the Switzerland U19 team, where he played nine matches and scored one goal. He also represented the Switzerland U20 team from 2011 to 2012, with seven appearances and one goal. His youth national team career continued with the Switzerland U21 squad from 2013 to 2014, making eight appearances and scoring one goal, showcasing his steady development through the national youth system.
4.2. Senior national team
Freuler's senior national team journey began with his first call-up to the senior squad during Switzerland's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. He made his debut for the Nati on March 25, 2017, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Haris Seferovic in a 1-0 victory over Latvia.
He was included in Switzerland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, although he remained an unused substitute in all four matches as the Swiss team reached the round of 16. On March 26, 2019, Freuler scored his first goal for Switzerland in a 3-3 draw with Denmark during UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying. In May 2019, he participated in the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, where his team finished in fourth place.
Freuler was named in the 26-man Swiss squad for the postponed UEFA Euro 2020, starting all five matches for the Nati. On July 2, 2021, in the quarter-final against Spain, he provided the assist for Xherdan Shaqiri's equalizing goal. However, he was controversially sent off in the 77th minute after a decision that many pundits considered too harsh. The match ended 1-1 and proceeded to a penalty shoot-out, in which Spain advanced to the semi-finals.
Freuler was also named in Switzerland's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He earned his 50th cap for the national team and made his first appearance at a World Cup finals in the team's opening match against Cameroon on November 24, 2022. In the team's final Group G match, he scored the winning goal in a thrilling 3-2 victory against Serbia, securing Switzerland's qualification for the knockout stage.
On June 7, 2024, Freuler was once again named in the Swiss squad for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany. He started the team's opening match against Hungary, assisting Michel Aebischer's goal in a 3-1 win. In the round of 16 match against Italy on June 29, 2024, he scored his first goal in a European Championship, contributing to a 2-0 victory and his country's first win over Italy since 1993.
5. Style of play
Remo Freuler primarily operates as a central midfielder for both his club and the national team. He is widely regarded as an effective and versatile player, possessing strong attributes in ball recovery, tackling, and a wide range of passing. His footballing intelligence is particularly high, leading Fabrizio Carcano, a correspondent for Il Giorno, to describe him as "the conductor of the orchestra." This nickname highlights his ability to dictate the tempo of the game and orchestrate plays from the midfield, consistently demonstrating calmness and strategic awareness on the ball.
6. Career statistics
This section provides comprehensive statistical data on Remo Freuler's club and international career performances.
6.1. Club
Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition as of January 25, 2025.
The "National cup" column includes appearances in the Swiss Cup and Coppa Italia.
The "League cup" column includes appearances in the EFL Cup.
The "Europe" column includes appearances in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League.
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Winterthur U21 | 2008-09 | Swiss 1. Liga | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2009-10 | 9 | 2 | - | - | - | 9 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 10 | 2 | - | - | - | 10 | 2 | |||||
| Winterthur | 2009-10 | Swiss Challenge League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||
| Grasshoppers U21 | 2010-11 | Swiss 1. Liga | 19 | 7 | - | - | - | 19 | 7 | |||
| 2011-12 | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 24 | 8 | - | - | - | 24 | 8 | |||||
| Grasshoppers | 2010-11 | Swiss Super League | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2011-12 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 9 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 12 | 1 | 4 | 2 | - | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | |||
| Winterthur | 2011-12 | Swiss Challenge League | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 15 | 2 | ||
| 2012-13 | 35 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 37 | 4 | ||||
| 2013-14 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 22 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 72 | 8 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 76 | 9 | ||||
| Winterthur U21 | 2013-14 | Swiss 1. Liga | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | |||
| Luzern | 2013-14 | Swiss Super League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 1 | ||
| 2014-15 | 33 | 7 | 3 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 38 | 7 | |||
| 2015-16 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 22 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 63 | 9 | 8 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 73 | 9 | |||
| Atalanta | 2015-16 | Serie A | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 1 | ||
| 2016-17 | 33 | 5 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 5 | ||||
| 2017-18 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | 46 | 6 | |||
| 2018-19 | 35 | 2 | 4 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | 44 | 2 | |||
| 2019-20 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | 40 | 3 | |||
| 2020-21 | 34 | 2 | 5 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | 46 | 2 | |||
| 2021-22 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 12 | 1 | 43 | 2 | |||
| Total | 203 | 18 | 17 | 0 | - | 40 | 3 | 260 | 21 | |||
| Nottingham Forest | 2022-23 | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 33 | 0 | |
| Bologna (loan) | 2023-24 | Serie A | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 34 | 1 | ||
| Bologna | 2024-25 | Serie A | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| Total | 53 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | 63 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 466 | 48 | 36 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 49 | 3 | 556 | 54 | ||
6.2. International
Appearances and goals by national team and year as of November 18, 2024.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 2017 | 7 | 0 |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 15 | 2 | |
| Total | 78 | 10 | |
6.2.1. International goals
Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, with the score column indicating the score after each Freuler goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 March 2019 | St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland | Denmark | 1-0 | 3-3 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 2 | 13 October 2020 | RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany | Germany | 2-0 | 3-3 | 2020-21 UEFA Nations League A |
| 3 | 14 November 2020 | St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland | Spain | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2020-21 UEFA Nations League A |
| 4 | 15 November 2021 | Swissporarena, Lucerne, Switzerland | Bulgaria | 4-0 | 4-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 27 September 2022 | Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland | Czech Republic | 1-0 | 2-1 | 2022-23 UEFA Nations League A |
| 6 | 2 December 2022 | Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar | Serbia | 3-2 | 3-2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup |
| 7 | 16 June 2023 | Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | Andorra | 1-0 | 2-1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 8 | 9 September 2023 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo | Kosovo | 1-0 | 2-2 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 9 | 29 June 2024 | Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany | Italy | 1-0 | 2-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
| 10 | 15 October 2024 | Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland | Denmark | 1-0 | 2-2 | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League A |