Thibault Corbaz

Thibault Corbaz (born 7 January 1994) is a Swiss footballer who plays as a midfielder for Super League club Neuchâtel Xamax. He previously played for FC Basel, though not for their first team, and spent two-and-a-half seasons with FC Biel-Bienne, until that club folded in 2016. He joined Xamax, who were then playing in the Challenge League, and helped them gain promotion to the Super League in 2018.

Thibault Corbaz
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-01-07) 7 January 1994[1]
Place of birth Morges, Switzerland
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Neuchâtel Xamax
Number 7
Youth career
2002–2004 FC Colombier-Pampigny
2004–2007 FC Pied du Jura
2007–2009 Lausanne-Sport
2009–2012 Basel
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Basel U21 52 (10)
2013–2014 Basel 0 (0)
2014 → Biel-Bienne (loan) 13 (0)
2014–2016 Biel-Bienne 38 (3)
2016– Neuchâtel Xamax 86 (7)
National team
2009 Switzerland U15 1 (0)
2009–2010 Switzerland U16 6 (3)
2010–2011 Switzerland U17 9 (0)
2011–2012 Switzerland U18 9 (1)
2012–2013 Switzerland U19 13 (2)
2013 Switzerland U20 6 (0)
2014 Switzerland U21 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:37, 16 September 2019 (UTC)

He represented Switzerland internationally at all age-group levels from under-15 to under-21.

Life and career

Corbaz was born in Morges[2] and raised in nearby Vullierens.[3] As an eight-year-old, he joined a local club, FC Colombier-Pampigny,[4] which later merged with another to form FC Pied du Jura;[5] his father, Charles, was involved with the junior levels of the club.[6] By twelve, he had attracted the attention of FC Lausanne-Sport, the club his parents supported – they first met on the terraces – and continued his development there. He was part of the Lausanne team that won the national title at under-14 level, and in June 2009, his parents agreed to let the shy, introverted 15-year-old leave home to join the youth academy of FC Basel, Switzerland's top club.[3]

FC Basel

Within a month of joining Basel, he was chosen best player at the Swiss U16 Cup international tournament at Bad Ragaz; his team finished as runners-up to VfB Stuttgart.[7] He played regularly for the under-16 Basel team that won their group in the national championship, and crossed for one of the goals as his team beat FC Sion, the winner of the other group, 4–2 in the final to secure the overall title.[8] He moved up to the under-18s in 2010–11,[9] and became a regular the following season, as well as representing Basel in the 2011–12 NextGen Series.[10] His hat-trick in a 4–0 win against Neuchâtel Xamax put Basel U18 eight points clear going into the winter break.[11]

In the second half of the 2011–12 season, Corbaz began playing for FC Basel II, an under-21 side that competed in the 1. Liga (the third tier of Swiss football). As well as making 12 league appearances,[1] he was a member of the team that reached the final of the Bellinzona youth tournament, losing in the final to Boca Juniors.[12] Because he was away on international duty, he missed the league win that confirmed Basel II would finish high enough to be placed in the 1. Liga Promotion, the new third tier, when the Swiss league system was reorganised at the end of the season.[13]

An early-season injury[14] did not prevent Corbaz playing in 26 of the 30 league matches and scoring 7 goals.[1] His team were top at the winter break,[15] but finished the season in the second place, level on points with the title-winners, FC Schaffhausen, but with a worse goal difference, despite a 5–1 win in the final fixture.[16]

Corbaz was one of a number of development players to train with the first team during 2013–14 pre-season – coach Murat Yakin said he was keen to get to know the youngsters better – but it was expected that those not already in possession of a professional contract would return to the development teams once the season started.[17] This was the case for Corbaz, who remained with the U21s and played 14 matches by the mid-season break.[1]

FC Biel-Bienne

On 17 January 2014, Corbaz joined Challenge League club FC Biel-Bienne on loan until the end of the season.[18] He made his debut on 1 February, in the starting eleven for the visit to FC Schaffhausen; he played 85 minutes, and his team lost 3–2.[19] He finished the season on 13 appearances without scoring.[1]

Corbaz completed a permanent move to Biel-Bienne on 1 July for an undisclosed fee. He made his second debut on 20 July in a league game against Servette, playing 78 minutes as his team lost 2–1,[20] and his first Swiss Cup appearance a month later in a 1–0 win against Union Sportive Terre Sainte.[21] He missed a significant portion of the season through injury. A damaged right foot kept him out for a few weeks in October,[22] and an operation on his right knee, which was damaged in training,[23] meant he appeared in only five matches in the second half of the campaign.[20] His team were saved from relegation only because Servette failed to secure a licence for the coming season so were administratively demoted.[24]

Corbaz missed several weeks of the season because of military service commitments – he thought shooting was interesting but was less keen on cleaning his weapon afterwards, and found it difficult to adjust to rising at 5:30 and spending long hours on his feet.[25] He returned to the team after the winter break to find the club's financial and organisational difficulties increasing. He played his last match for Biel-Bienne on 21 April 2016; like his first, it was a defeat away to FC Schaffhausen, but this time by six goals to one, and marred by the head coach hitting a member of his staff in the face.[26] Having already suffered several points deductions for breaches of licensing rules, the club announced its withdrawal from the league the next day.[27] A few days later, its licence was revoked.[28]

Neuchâtel Xamax

Out of contract at the end of the season, so with no need to take legal measures to extract himself from the failed club,[29] Corbaz signed for two years plus the option of a third with Neuchâtel Xamax, newly promoted to the Challenge League.[2] Interviewed after signing, he said his priority had been to choose a stable, well-run club.[29] He started the first 23 matches of the Challenge League season, but in March 2017 underwent an operation on an inguinal hernia that was expected to keep him out for at least six weeks.[30] He returned to the team for the last two matches of the season, in which Xamax finished a distant second to FC Zürich.[20][31]

Corbaz scored the first goal of the 2017–18 Swiss Challenge League season after 22 minutes of Xamax's 2–1 win against Aarau on 21 July,[32] and in early December, having entered the match as a substitute, he scored a 95th-minute winner away to second-placed Servette that extended Xamax's lead at the top of the table to eight points.[33] At the end of the month, he signed a two-year contract extension.[34] He finished the season with five goals from 31 (of a possible 36) Challenge League appearances,[20] and, according to a profile in 24 heures, was a major player as Xamax were promoted to the Super League for 2018–19 with 85 points, equalling the record set the previous season by FC Zürich.[35][36]

Corbaz made his Super League debut on 21 July 2018, the opening day of the 2018–19 season, replacing Gaëtan Karlen after 68 minutes of the 2–0 win away to Luzern.[20]

International career

Corbaz represented Switzerland at all age-group levels, from under-15 to under-21.

Career statistics
As of match played 21 July 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Swiss Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Basel II 2011–12[1] 1. Liga120——120
2012–13[1] Promotion League267——267
2013–14[1] Promotion League143——143
Total 5210——5210
Biel-Bienne (loan) 2013–14[20] Challenge League130——130
Biel-Bienne 2014–15[20][21] Challenge League18210—192
2015–16[20][37] Challenge League20110—211
Total 51320—533
Neuchâtel Xamax 2016–17[20][38] Challenge League25520—275
2017–18[20][39] Challenge League31210—322
2018–19[20] Super League1000—10
Total 57730—607
Career total 1602050—16520

    References
    1. "Thibault Corbaz" (in French). Swiss Football League. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
    2. "Thibault Corbaz pour deux ans à Xamax FCS" [Thibault Corbaz to Xamax for two years]. Arcinfo.ch (in French). 5 May 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    3. Lambert, Julien (21 December 2009). "Thibault Corbaz: une grande aventure pour un petit bonhomme!" [Thibault Corbaz: a big adventure for a little chap!]. Journal de Morges (in French). Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    4. "Nationalteams: U16: Thibault Corbaz". Schweizerischer Fussballverband. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    5. "Présentation du club" [Introduction to the club] (in French). FC Pied du Jura. 24 December 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    6. "Convcation a l'Assemblée Générale" [Invitation to the General Meeting] (PDF) (in French). FC Pied du Jura. June 2010. p. 3. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
      "FC Pied du Jura" (in French). Association valaisanne de football. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    7. Kiesewetter, Dominik (3 August 2009). "2. Rang in Bad Ragaz!" [2nd place in Bad Ragaz!] (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    8. Marti, Caspar (12 June 2010). "U16: Der FCB gewinnt den letzten Final der Saison!" [U16: FCB win the last final of the season!] (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    9. Marti, Caspar (22 August 2010). "Drei Punkte zum Auftakt" [Three points on the restart] (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    10. Marti, Caspar (28 September 2010). "Erste Niederlage für den FCB in der 'U19 Champions League'" [First defeat for FCB in the 'U19 Champions League'] (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    11. Studer, Heinz (29 November 2011). "Sieg der U18 zum Abschluss der Vorrunde" [Victory for the U18s to finish the first half] (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
    12. "Die U21 am Turnier in Bellinzona" [The U21s at the Bellinzona Tournament] (in German). FC Basel 1893. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
      Meister, Remo (10 April 2012). "FCB-U21 im Pech: 0:1-Niederlage im Final gegen die Boca Juniors" [FCB U21 unlucky: 1–0 defeat in the final against Boca Juniors] (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
    13. Marti, Caspar (29 November 2011). "U21: Aufstieg in die '1. Liga Promotion' perfekt" [U21: Going up to the '1. Liga Promotion' perfect] (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
    14. "0:2-Niederlage für die U21 in Sion" [2–0 defeat for the U21 in Sion] (in German). FC Basel 1893. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    15. Marti, Caspar (1 December 2012). "Die FCB-U21 ist Wintermeister" [FCB U21 are Winter Champions] (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    16. "Ein 5:1-Sieg zum Saisonabschluss" [A 5–1 win to end the season] (in German). FC Basel 1893. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    17. Rohr, Marcel; Hediger, Stephanie (21 June 2013). "Die FCB-Mission «Wahnsinn» beginnt" [FCB's "Mission Madness" begins]. Basler Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    18. "Ritter zu Winterthur, Corbaz zu Biel" [Ritter to Winterthur, Corbaz to Biel] (in German). FC Basel 1893. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    19. "Liveticker: FC Schaffhausen – Biel". Blick.ch (in German). 1 February 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
    20. "T. Corbaz". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
    21. "1:0-Sieg im Cup gegen Terre Sainte" [1–0 win in the Cup against Terre Sainte]. Bieler Tagblatt (in German). 23 August 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
    22. "Corbaz forfait pour plusieurs semaines" [Corbaz out for a few weeks] (in French). Swiss Football League. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
    23. "Thibault Corbaz verletzt" [Thibault Corbaz injured] (in German). FC Biel-Bienne. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    24. "Biel bleibt in der Challenge League" [Biel stay in the Challenge League]. Berner Zeitung (in German). 1 June 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    25. Rodríguez, Francisco (11 November 2015). "Seeländer schiessen scharf" [Seeland people shoot sharp] (PDF). Bieler Tagblatt (in German). Retrieved 12 September 2016 – via Bieler Fechtclub website.
    26. "FC Biel kassiert Kanterniederlage – Petricevic tickt aus" [FC Biel go down to a heavy defeat – Petricevic freaks out]. Bieler Tagblatt (in German). 21 April 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
    27. "Encore trois points retirés au FC Bienne" [FC Bienne docked another three points]. Arcinfo.ch (in French). 19 April 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
      "Challenge League: le FC Bienne ne jouera plus!" [Challenge League: FC Bienne aren't going to play any more!]. Arcinfo.ch (in French). 22 April 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    28. "Disziplinarkommission entzieht FC Biel die Lizenz" [Disciplinary Commission revokes FC Biel's licence] (in German). Swiss Football League. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    29. "Thibault Corbaz: 'Xamax a une histoire qui donne envie d'en faire partie'" [Thibault Corbaz: 'Xamax has a history that you want to be part of']. footvaud.ch (in French). 5 May 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    30. "Le milieu xamaxien Thibault Corbaz opéré avec succès" [Successful operation on Xamax midfielder Thibault Corbaz]. Arcinfo.ch (in French). 24 March 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
    31. "Challenge League: Matches: 2016/2017". Soccerway. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    32. "Neuchâtel Xamax FCS lance bien sa saison" [Neuchâtel Xamax launch their season well] (in French). RTN. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    33. "Challenge League: Xamax s'impose au finish à la Praille" [Challenge League: Xamax prevail in the end at La Praille] (in French). RTS. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    34. "Thibault Corbaz prolonge son contrat avec Neuchâtel Xamax FCS" [Thibault Corbaz extends his contract with Neuchâtel Xamax]. Arcinfo.ch (in French). 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    35. Jotterand, Cédric (26 June 2018). "Le gamin de Vullierens a croisé "son" LS dans l'ascenseur du foot" [The kid from Vullierens crossed "his" LS on the football ladder]. 24 heures (in French). Lausanne. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
    36. "Challenge League: le public neuchâtelois a fait la fête à son équipe" [Challenge League: the Neuchâtel public celebrated their team] (in French). RTS. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    37. "FC Grand-Saconnex – FC Biel-Bienne 1:10 (1:3)". FC Biel/Bienne. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
    38. "US Arbedo – Neuchâtel Xamax FCS: Composition" [US Arbedo – Neuchâtel Xamax FCS: Line-up] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax FCS. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
    39. "FC Union-Sportive Montfaucon – Neuchâtel Xamax FCS: Composition" [US Arbedo – Neuchâtel Xamax FCS: Line-up] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax FCS. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
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