Name: Fabian Schär
Club: FC Basel
Nationality: Swiss
Position: Defender
Who is he?
A product of FC Wil 1900, Schär made his senior debut in the Swiss second tier back in 2009 aged 17.
The following two seasons saw him become a regular at centre-half – albeit in the Swiss Challenge League. It was at this time that he showed a propensity to get on the scoresheet relatively regularly for a defender. In 2010/11 he scored four times and added a further five in the following season.
His impressive performances saw him make the move to Swiss top flight side and Champions League regulars FC Basel in the summer of 2012.
Achievements
After missing the first 10 games of the 2012/13 season due to commitments with Switzerland’s Olympic team and a six game spell as a benchwarmer, he finally made his league debut for Basel in September 2012 and did not look back, establishing himself as one of the club’s starting centre-backs.
He was part of the team that reached the Europa League semi-finals last season and has remained one of the first names on the team sheet as Basel take part in Chelsea’s Champions League group.
He has also received plenty of recognition at international level. After playing for Switzerland at the 2012 Olympics, he has made his senior debut, earning five caps thus far.
He has already netted three international goals in that time, including a brace against Norway in the World Cup qualifiers.
Attributes
Schär has a decent goal record for a centre-back with the best goal being an outrageous 60-yard lob against FC Aarau in 2011 (watch below).
The 21-year-old’s greatest strengths are composure at the back and on the ball, awareness and dominance in the air which are reasons why Borussia Dortmund have earmarked him as the main candidate to replace Mats Hummels if he leaves for Barcelona or elsewhere.
Potential
With Switzerland having qualified for the World Cup, Schär will get his chance to put himself in the shop window for clubs in Europe’s top five leagues.
He has been consistently linked with Borussia Dortmund as a potential replacement for Mats Hummels who could depart. Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked with a potential cut-price move for the talented young centre-half.
However his contract runs out in 2016.
