François Affolter Explained

François Affolter
Fullname:François Jacques Affolter
Birth Date:1991 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Biel/Bienne, Bern, Switzerland
Height:1.86 m
Position:Centre back
Currentclub:Biel-Bienne
Clubnumber:2
Youthyears1:2000–2001
Youthyears2:2001–2007
Youthyears3:2007–2008
Youthclubs3:Young Boys
Years1:2008
Clubs1:Young Boys II
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2008–2014
Clubs2:Young Boys
Caps2:100
Goals2:2
Years3:2012
Clubs3:Werder Bremen (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:0
Years4:2012
Clubs4:Werder Bremen II (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:1
Years5:2014–2017
Clubs5:FC Luzern
Caps5:101
Goals5:4
Years6:2017–2019
Clubs6:San Jose Earthquakes
Caps6:16
Goals6:0
Years7:2020
Clubs7:FC Aarau
Caps7:12
Goals7:0
Years8:2020–2021
Clubs8:Chiasso
Caps8:45
Goals8:1
Years9:2022–
Clubs9:Biel-Bienne
Caps9:39
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2008
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2009
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2009–2012
Nationalcaps3:17
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2012
Nationalteam4:Switzerland U23
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2010–2012
Nationalteam5:Switzerland
Nationalcaps5:5
Nationalgoals5:0
Pcupdate:26 October 2023

François Affolter (born 13 March 1991) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a defender for Biel-Bienne in the Swiss Promotion League. He was part of the Swiss team at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[1]

Career

Young Boys

Born in Biel/Bienne, Bern, He made his senior debut for BSC Young Boys at the age of 17 years on 14 September 2008 in a 2–1 victory over AC Bellinzona, replacing Marc Schneider in the starting eleven due to suspension.[2] Since that match, he was a regular starter for the club in their three-man defence, alongside Saif Ghezal and Miguel Alfredo Portillo.[3]

Before he played with the first team, he played with the under 18 team.[4] They won the under 18 championship the same year. Then, he joined the first team for friendly matches in the summer of 2008 and the new Young Boys coach Vladimir Petkovic gave him his chance.

He signed his first professional contract with Young Boys in November 2008. After three seasons with Young Boys, he was loaned to German club Werder Bremen.[5]

After an unsuccessful half year at Young Boys, he decided to transfer to Swiss side FC Luzern for an undisclosed fee. His contract was set to expire in June 2018.[6]

San Jose Earthquakes

On 21 July 2017, Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes announced it had signed Affolter to a multi-year contract on a free transfer from Luzern.[7] He made his first appearance for San Jose on 9 August, starting in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Sporting Kansas City and substituting out during extra time in the 103rd minute.[8] He made his first MLS start and appearance on 12 August in a 3–0 loss to the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium.[9]

FC Aarau

In February 2020, Affolter joined Swiss Challenge League side FC Aarau until the end of the 2019–20 season.[10]

Chiasso

In September 2020, free agent Affolter signed with FC Chiasso, also of the Swiss Challenge League.[11]

Return to Biel-Bienne

On 29 December 2021, Affolter returned to his youth club Biel-Bienne on a 2.5-year contract.[12]

Personal life

Affolter received his U.S. green card in July 2018, which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[13]

Career statistics

Club

[14] [15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Young Boys II2008–092020
Young Boys2008–09Swiss Super League2203010260
2009–103412010371
2010–1133040120490
2011–1250212091
2012–134040
2013–14211132
Total1002122001601284
Werder Bremen (loan)2011–12Bundesliga130130
Werder Bremen II (loan)2012–13Regionalliga Nord5151
FC Luzern2013–14Swiss Super League10010110
2014–153113020361
2015–1632140361
2016–1711030140
Total8421100020972
FC Luzern2014–151010
San Jose Earthquakes2017MLS601[16] 020
201890100000100
20191020000030
Total160400000200
FC Aarau2019–20Swiss Challenge League12000120
Career total2335272001802787

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020-01-14. François Affolter Bio, Stats, and Results Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. 2020-10-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20200114101500/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/af/francois-affolter-1.html. 14 January 2020.
  2. Web site: BELLINZONA VS. YOUNG BOYS 1 - 2. Soccerway.com. 14 September 2008. 1 December 2017.
  3. Web site: Guardian.co.uk. Stats Centre: François Affolter Facts. 6 April 2010. 2 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121002112551/http://guardian.touch-line.com/StatsCentre.asp?CTID=25&CPID=99&TEID=1016&PLID=211762&pStr=Player. dead.
  4. Web site: BSC Young Boys >> Squad 2008/2009. worldfootball.net. 1 December 2017.
  5. Web site: Werder verstärkt sich mit Affolter. Werder strengthens itself with Affolter. de. 25 January 2012. 25 January 2012. DFL. 26 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120126023837/http://www.bundesliga.de/de/liga/news/2011/index.php?f=0000203439.php. dead.
  6. News: François Affolter verlässt YB für Luzern. François Affolter leaves YB for Luzern. de. 15 December 2013. 5 February 2014. Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
  7. Web site: NEWS: Earthquakes Sign Swiss Defender Francois Affolter. San Jose Earthquakes. 22 July 2017.
  8. Web site: Sporting Kansas City vs San Jose Earthquakes 9 August 2017. Major League Soccer. 9 August 2017.
  9. Web site: Houston Dynamo vs San Jose Earthquakes Aug 12 2017. Major League Soccer. 13 August 2017.
  10. News: Wendel . Sebastian . Eine Wundertüte für den FC Aarau: François Affolter soll die löchrige Abwehr stabilisieren . 15 September 2020 . Aargauer Zeitung . 19 February 2020 . de.
  11. Web site: Mantegazzi . Elia . Rinforzo in difesa: il Chiasso ingaggia Affolter . tio.ch . 15 September 2020 . it . 14 September 2020.
  12. Web site: Biel-Bienne. François Affolter verstärkt den FC Biel-Bienne 1896. 29 December 2021. 4 October 2022. de.
  13. Web site: NEWS: Francois Affolter Obtains Green Card, No Longer Occupies International Spot. San Jose Earthquakes.
  14. Web site: François Affolter » Club matches. worldfootball.net. 18 February 2018.
  15. Web site: Francois Affolter. MLSsoccer.com. 18 February 2018.
  16. Appearances in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup