The 1996–97 season was FC Zürich's 10th season in their existence, since their foundation in 1896. It was their seventh consecutive season in the top flight of Swiss football, following their promotion at the end of 1989–90 season.
Overview The local businessman Sven Hotz was the club's chairman and patron at this time. He had taken over as club president at the AGM in 1986. Raimondo Ponte had been the FCZ first team head-coach during the previous season and during April had had prolonged his contract with the club for this season. The FCZ first team competed in this years domestic first-tier 1996–97 Nationalliga A with the clear intention of retaining their top level status and reaching the championship group for the second half of the season. The team also competed in 1996–97 Swiss Cup. They had not qualified for any of the UEFA European tournaments and they did not enter the 1996 Intertoto Cup.
FCZ played their home games in the Letzigrund. The stadium is located in the west of Zurich in the district of Altstetten, which is about three kilometers from the city center.
Players The following is the list of the FCZ first team squad this season. It also includes players that were in the squad the day the domestic league season started, on 10 July 1996, but subsequently left the club after that date.
Players who left the squad The following is the list of the FCZ first team players that left the squad during the previous season or in the off-season, before the new domestic season began.
Results Legend
Nationalliga A
This was the second season that three points were awarded to the winning team.
Qualification phase The first stage of the NLA began on 10 July 1996 and was completed on 1 December. The top eight teams in the qualification phase would advance to the championship group and the last four teams would play against relegation.
Qualification table
Championship group The first eight teams of the qualification phase competed in the Championship round. The teams took half of the points (rounded up to complete units) gained in the qualification as bonus with them.
Final league table
Swiss Cup The first-tier clubs from the 1994–95 Nationalliga A were granted byes for the first two rounds, eight of them joined the competition in this round. The four clubs that were competing in the UEFA European competitions were granted byes for this round as well. The eight participating first-tier teams were seeded and cound not be drawn against each other. The draw respected regionalities, when possible, and the lower classed team was granted home advantage.
Friendly matches Pre-season
Winter break
References
Sources dbFCZ Homepage Switzerland 1996–97 at RSSSF