Chairman Félix Musfeld Nationalliga A Champions UEFA Cup R1 | Manager Helmut Benthaus Swiss Cup Runner-up | |
Ground St. Jakob Stadium, Basel | ||
The 1971–72 season was Fussball Club Basel 1893's 78th season in their existence. It was their 26th consecutive season in the top flight of Swiss football after their promotion the season 1945–46. They played their home games in the St. Jakob Stadium.
Contents
Overview
Helmut Benthaus was player-manager for the seventh consecutive season. 14 teams contested in the 1971–72 Nationalliga A and Basel won the championship four points ahead of Zürich and five ahead of the Grasshoppers. Of the 26 league games Basel won 18 , drawing seven, losing just once, scoring 66 goals conceding 28. Ottmar Hitzfeld was Basel's top league goal scorer with 16 league goals, Walter Balmer second with 14 league goals and Karl Odermatt third best with 9 goals. The average attendance at the league matches was 18'769 spectators.
For Basel the Swiss Cup started in the round of 32 on 24 October 1971 with a 3–1 home win against Monthey. On 21 November in the round of 16 Basel played away from home against La Chaux-de-Fonds. The match resulted with a 3–0 success. The quarter-final was played on 12 March 1972 in Zürich against Grasshopper-Club. The tie ended with a 1–1 draw and this meant a replay three days later. Basel won the replay 3–2 and continued onto the semi-finals against BSC Young Boys. In the Wankdorf Stadium on 3 April Karl Odermatt and Walter Balmer each scored a goal to give Basel a 2–0 victory. The final was played on 22 May 1970 also in the Wankdorf Stadium but Basel were defeated 0–1 by Zürich through a goal by Jeandupeux in extra time.
In the 1971–72 UEFA Cup Basel were drawn against Real Madrid. The first leg, which played on 15 September 1971 in the St. Jakob Stadium attracted 32'059 spectators but ended for Basel with a 1–2 defeat. Madrid won thanks to goals from Francisco Aguilar and Santillana, who turned the result around after the Swiss scored the opener through René Hasler. The return leg on 29 September in Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was watched by 61'861 spectators and also ended with the same result. The same two players were the heroes once again, each scoring a goal, to ensure Real Madrid their passage to the next round.
Players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Nationalliga
Swiss Cup
Win Draw Loss
UEFA Cup
Real Madrid won 4–2 on aggregate.
Coppa delle Alpi
NB: Decisive points total (DPT) computed as sum of points and goals scored
The Final was played in St. Jakob Stadium, Basel, between the winner of the Italien and the winner of the Swiss groups.