The 1960–61 season was Fussball Club Basel 1893's 67th season in their existence. It was their 15th consecutive season in the top flight of Swiss football since their promotion from the Nationalliga B the season 1945–46. They played their home games in the Landhof, in the Wettstein Quarter in Kleinbasel. Ernst Weber was the club's chairman for his second consecutive season.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

FC Basel

1960–61 season
Chairman	Ernst Weber
Manager	Jenő Vincze
Ground	Landhof, Basel
Nationalliga A	5th
Swiss Cup	3rd principal round
Top goalscorer	League: Josef Hügi (17) All: Josef Hügi (17)
Highest home attendance	12,000 on 17 September 1960 vs Young Boys
Lowest home attendance	2,800 on 23 April 1961 vs Fribourg
Average home league attendance	6,223
← 1959–60 1961–62 →

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Jenő Vincze was Basel's team manager for the second season. The West German ex-international footballer Gerhard Siedl joined the team from Bayern Munich during the summer off-season, but he was to leave the club again during the winter break. Hanspeter Stocker joined the team, coming from third tier local club Concordia Basel. Two further new players were Antonio Danani coming from FC Moutier and Fernando Von Krannichfeldt who signed in from FC Mendrisiostar. In the other direction midfielder Jean-Jacques Maurer moved to Servette, allrounder Otto Ludwig moved to third tier local club Old Boys, and forward Roberto "Mucho" Frigerio moved on to score his goals for La Chaux-de-Fonds. Another player who left the squad was defender Werner Bopp who moved on to Nordstern Basel and retired. Bopp had played 16 seasons for Basel, playing in 321 league and 43 cup matches scoring 15 goals during these appearances.^[1]

Basel played a total of 43 games this season. Of these 43 matches 26 were in the domestic league, one was in the Swiss Cup and 16 were friendly matches. Of these test matches five were played as hosts and 11 were played away, 12 were won, two were drawn and two ended with a defeat. The team scored 55 goals and conceded 29. The two defeats were suffered at the Landhof against VfR Mannheim and in the St. Jakob Stadium against Santos. The match against Santos was one of the highlights of these test games despite the 2–8 defeat. Gottlieb Stäuble and Josef Hügi scored the goals for Basel. Coutinho scored five and Pelé scored three for Santos. 14,000 spectators paid for a ticket to see the game, much needed money in the bad financial situation that the club was suffering.^[2]

Fourteen teams contested the 1960–61 Nationalliga A, these were the top 12 teams from the previous season and the two newly promoted teams Young Fellows Zürich and Fribourg. The Championship was played in a double round-robin, the champions were to be qualified for 1961–62 European Cup and the last two teams in the table were to be relegated. Despite a home defeat against Young Fellows in the very first match, Basel started the season well, winning six of their first eight matches. But then came a run with six consecutive defeats in which the team failed to score a single goal. Basel slipped from the table top down to the relegation zone before they managed to return to winning games. Basel ended the season in 5th position with 28 points, but were 18 points behind the new Swiss Champions Servette.^[3] Basel were appointed as one of four Swiss representatives in the newly founded International Football Cup, which was to take place in the summer break after the end of this season. The other three teams who competed in the 1961–62 International Football Cup were La Chaux-de-Fonds, Grenchen and Zürich.^[4]

Basel entered the Swiss Cup in the third principal round. They were drawn away against third tier local club Concordia Basel and for Basel the game ended in a fiasco. Despite an early 1–0 lead and in total 18–0 corners, Werner Decker and Heinz Wirz each scored for the under dogs who had a very young Karl Odermatt in their team. Basel lost 2–1 and were eliminated form the competition.^[5] Odermatt's football skills were noted, later he and Decker would later transfer to Basel.^[6]

The following is the list of the Basel first team squad during the season 1960–61. The list includes players that were in the squad on the day that the Nationalliga A season started on 28 August 1960 but subsequently left the club after that date.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  SUI René Jeker 1 GK  SUI Kurt Stettler 2 DF  SUI Bruno Michaud — DF  SUI Hanspeter Stocker (from Concordia Basel) — DF  SUI Ulrich Vetsch — DF  SUI Edmund Vogt 3 DF  SUI Hans Weber — MF  SUI Peter Brendle — MF  SUI Jean-Louis Gygax — MF  SUI René Jaeck — MF  SUI Rudolf Rickenbacher — MF  GER Gerhard Siedl (from Bayern Munich)

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  SUI Silvan Thüler — MF  SUI Jean-Claude Bourgnon 8 FW  SUI Bernhard Chenaux — MF  SUI Antonio Danani (from FC Moutier) 9 FW  SUI Josef Hügi (II) — FW  SUI Hansueli Oberer — MF  SUI Carlo Porlezza 11 FW  SUI Paul Speidel — FW  HUN Ferenc Stockbauer — MF  SUI Claus-Dieter Tabel — MF  SUI Fernando Von Krannichfeldt (from FC Mendrisio) — MF  SUI Wolfgang Walther

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Players who left the squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

No. Pos. Nation Player 4 MF  SUI Jean-Jacques Maurer (to Servette) 6 MF  SUI René Thüler 7 FW  GER Otto Ludwig (to Old Boys)

No. Pos. Nation Player 10 FW  SUI Roberto Frigerio (to La Chaux-de-Fonds) — DF  SUI Werner Bopp (retired) — FW  SUI Ludwig Schraut

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Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Friendly matches

Preseason

SC Kleinhüningen v Basel

23 July 1960 Pre-season	SC Kleinhüningen	2 – 4	Basel	Schorenmatte, Basel
17:30	Ellen (1:3) Saluz (2:3)	Summary	52' (0:1) Gygax 60' (0:2) Siedl 65' (0:3) Tabel 82' (2:4) Speidel	Attendance: 700 Referee: Wyttenbach Birsfelden

Zürich v Basel

31 July 1960 Pre-season	Zürich	3 – 4	Basel	Moos, Affoltern am Albis
	Fäh (II) 20' (1:1) Feller (2:2) Waldner (3:3)	Summary	1' (0:1) Hügi (II) 21' (1:2) Siedl 62' (2:3) Stocker (3:4) Hügi (II)	Attendance: 500 Referee: Paul Wyssling Zürich

Black Stars v Basel

4 August 1960 Pre-season	Black Stars	0 – 8	Basel	Buschwilerhof, Basel
18:30		Summary		Attendance: 500 Referee: Gottfried Dienst Basel

FC Moutier v Basel

7 August 1960 Pre-season	FC Moutier	1 – 3	Basel	Stade de Chalière, Moutier
	Schnegg 60' (1:0)	Summary	(1:1) Michaud (1:2) Siedl (1:3) Chenaux	Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Guinnard Gletterens

Basel v VfR Mannheim

10 August 1960 Pre-season	Basel	0 – 1	VfR Mannheim	Landhof, Basel
18:15		Summary	31' (0:1) Bast	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: D. Mellet Lausanne

Brühl St. Gallen v Basel

14 August 1960 Pre-season	Brühl St. Gallen	1 – 5	Basel	Paul-Grüninger-Stadion, St. Gallen
16:30	Bruckl 19' (1:0)	Summary	20' (1:1) Hügi (II) 30' (1:2) Hügi (II) 72' (1:3) Hügi (II) 88' (1:4) Siedl 89' (1:5) Hügi (II)	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Josef Gulde St. Gallen

Nordstern Basel v Basel

13 November 1960 Mid-season	Nordstern Basel	2 – 4	Basel	Basel
		Summary

Winter break and mid-season

FC Kickers Luzern v Basel

22 January 1961 Winter break	FC Kickers Luzern	1 – 2	Basel	Luzern
		Summary

Basel v Grasshopper Club

12 February 1961 Winter break	Basel	2 – 2	Grasshopper Club	Landhof, Basel
15:00	Walther Brendle	Summary	Dimmeler Vonlanthen	Attendance: 1,500 Referee: E. Emmenegger Basel

Basel v Concordia Basel

18 February 1961 Winter break	Basel	2 – 1	Concordia Basel	Landhof, Basel
		Summary

Nordstern Basel v Basel

26 February 1961 Winter break	Nordstern Basel	2 – 5	Basel	Stadion Rankhof, Basel
15:00	Fischer (2x)	Summary	(2x) Weber (2x) Stockbauer (1x) Hügi (II)	Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Seiler Basel

FC Moutier v Basel

3 April 1961 Mid-season	FC Moutier	2 – 4	Basel	Stade de Chalière, Moutier
	(1:3) (2:3)	Summary	20' (0:1) Hügi (II) (0:2) Walther (0:3) Hügi (II) (2:4) Hügi (II)	Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Meister Neuchâtel

Basel v Canto do Rio

10 May 1961 Mid-season	Basel	0 – 0	Canto do Rio	Landhof, Basel
17:30		Summary		Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Othmar Huber Thun

Nordstern Basel v Basel

24 May 1961 Mid-season	Nordstern Basel	3 – 5	Basel	Stadion Rankhof, Basel
		Summary		Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Seiler Basel

Black Stars v Basel

27 May 1961 Mid-season	Black Stars	0 – 5	Basel	Buschwilerhof, Basel
		Summary

Basel v Santos

1 June 1961 Mid-season	Basel	2 – 8	Santos	St. Jakob Stadium, Basel
20:00	Stäuble 48' (1:3) Hügi (II) 55' (2:3)	Summary	4' (0:1) Coutinho 27' (0:2) Coutinho 36' (0:3) Coutinho 62' (2:4) Coutinho 70' (2:5) Pelé 72' (2:6) Coutinho 83' (2:7) Pelé 89' (2:8) Pelé	Attendance: 14,000 Referee: Helbling Uznach
Note: Guest players by Basel: Anton Allemann (YB), Frigerio (CdF), Stäuble (Biel)

Nationalliga A

Main article: 1960–61 Nationalliga A

League matches

Basel v Young Fellows Zürich

21 August 1960 Round 1	Basel	1 – 5	Young Fellows Zürich	Landhof, Basel
16:00	Hügi (II) 65' (1:5)	Summary	3' (0:1) Zimmermann 21' (0:2) Schüpach 37' (0:3) Worni 47' (0:4) Zimmermann 54' (0:5) Zimmermann	Attendance: 5,800 Referee: Othmar Huber Thun

Luzern v Basel

28 August 1960 Round 2	Luzern	0 – 1	Basel	Stadion Allmend, Luzern
		Summary	33' (0:1) Walther	Attendance: 6,500 Referee: Meister Neuchâtel

Basel v Chiasso

4 September 1960 Round 3	Basel	3 – 1	Chiasso	Landhof, Basel
15:00	Michaud 3' (pen. 1:0) Hügi (II) 11' (2:0) Hügi (II) 31' (3:0)	Summary	71' (pen. 3:1) Lettl	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: W. Müller Baden

Grenchen v Basel

11 September 1960 Round 4	Grenchen	1 – 2	Basel	Stadion Brühl, Grenchen
	Hamel 42' (1:0)	Summary	92' (1:1) Hügi (II) 73' (1:2) Hügi (II)	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Guinnard Gletterens

Basel v Young Boys

17 September 1960 Round 5	Basel	2 – 0	Young Boys	Landhof, Basel
16:15	Hügi (II) 48' (1:0) Michaud 55' (pen. 2:0)	Summary		Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Josef Gulde St. Gallen

Lausanne-Sport v Basel

25 September 1960 Round 6	Lausanne-Sport	3 – 1	Basel	Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne
15:30	Fauqeux 26' (1:0) Stutz 73' (2:0) Cuche 81' (3:0)	Summary	90' (3:1) Hügi (II)	Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Helbling Uznach

Basel v Grasshopper Club

2 October 1960 Round 7	Basel	2 – 0	Grasshopper Club	St. Jakob Stadium, Basel
15:30	Oberer 60' (1:0) Hügi (II) 72' (2:0)	Summary		Attendance: 9,500 Referee: D. Mellet Lausanne

La Chaux-de-Fonds v Basel

9 October 1960 Round 8	La Chaux-de-Fonds	2 – 3	Basel	Stade Charrière, La Chaux-de-Fonds
15:00	Bertschi 7' (1:0) Sommerlatt 87' (2:3)	Summary	18' (1:1) Hügi (II) 64' (1:2) Walther 75' (1:3) Hügi (II)	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Victor Werner Schicker Bern

Basel v Winterthur

23 October 1960 Round 9	Basel	1 – 4	Winterthur	Landhof, Basel
15:00	Danani 73' (1:3)	Summary	14' (0:1) Schmid 52' (0:2) Etterlin 67' (0:3) Etterlin 86' (1:4) Schmid	Attendance: 4,800 Referee: Othmar Huber Thun

Basel v Biel-Bienne

30 October 1960 Round 10	Basel	4 – 0	Biel-Bienne	Landhof, Basel
15:00	Hügi (II) 26' (1:0) Hügi (II) 71' (2:0) Hügi (II) 80' (3:0) Siedl 83' (4:0)	Summary		Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Zürrer Feldmeilen

Fribourg v Basel

6 November 1960 Round 11	Fribourg	1 – 0	Basel	Stade Universitaire Saint-Léonard, Freiburg
	Vonlanden 37' (1:0)	Summary		Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Burkhardt St. Gallen

Basel v Servette

27 November 1960 Round 12	Basel	0 – 1	Servette	Landhof, Basel
14:30		Summary	26' (0:1) Bosson	Attendance: 11,000 Referee: D. Mellet Lausanne

Zürich v Basel

4 December 1960 Round 13	Zürich	2 – 0	Basel	Letzigrund, Zürich
	Brizzi 55' (1:0) Brizzi 58' (2:0)	Summary	61' Speidel	Attendance: 12,500 Referee: Meister Neuchâtel

Young Fellows Zürich v Basel

11 December 1960 Round 14	Young Fellows Zürich	1 – 0	Basel	Letzigrund, Zürich
12:45	Schennach 8' (1:0)	Summary		Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Burkhardt St. Gallen

Basel v Luzern

5 March 1961 Round 15	Basel	0 – 1	Luzern	Landhof, Basel
15:00		Summary	Wüst 22' (0:1)	Attendance: 5,200 Referee: D. Mellet Lausanne

Chiasso v Basel

12 March 1961 Round 16	Chiasso	1 – 0	Basel	Wankdorf Stadium, Bern
	Chiesa 27' (1:0)	Summary		Attendance: 6,000 Referee: F. Schorer Interlaken

Basel v Grenchen

19 March 1961 Round 17	Basel	1 – 1	Grenchen	Landhof, Basel
15:00	Mumenthaler 60' (o.g. 1:0)	Summary	88' (o.g. 1:1) Michaud	Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Victor Werner Schicker Bern

Young Boys v Basel

26 March 1961 Round 18	Young Boys	0 – 0	Basel	Wankdorf Stadium, Bern
		Summary		Attendance: 13,000 Referee: D. Mellet Lausanne

Basel v Lausanne-Sport

9 April 1961 Round 19	Basel	2 – 0	Lausanne-Sport	Landhof, Basel
15:00	Hügi (II) 40' (1:0) Hügi (II) 85' (pen. 2:0)	Summary		Attendance: 5,800 Referee: Othmar Huber Thun

Grasshopper Club v Basel

16 April 1961 Round 20	Grasshopper Club	2 – 4	Basel	Hardturm, Zürich
	Robbiani 49' (1:2) Robbiani 60' (2:2)	Summary	11' (0:1) Von Krannichfeldt 43' (0:2) Walther 60' (2:3) Von Krannichfeldt 75' (2:4) Speidel	Attendance: 4,200 Referee: Anton Bucheli Luzern

Basel v Fribourg

23 April 1961 Round 21	Basel	3 – 0	Fribourg	Landhof, Basel
15:30	Thüler 36' (1:0) Michaud 42' (2:0) Oberer 76' (3:0)	Summary		Attendance: 2,800 Referee: Helbling Uznach

Basel v La Chaux-de-Fonds

30 April 1961 Round 22	Basel	3 – 2	La Chaux-de-Fonds	Landhof, Basel
16:00	Michaud 47' (pen. 1:2) Walther 67' (2:2) Hügi (II) 76' (3:2)	Summary	7' (0:1) Frigerio 40' (0:2) Frigerio	Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Guinnard Gletterens
Note: Josef Hügi 300th game for Basel (234th goal)

Winterthur v Basel

7 May 1961 Round 23	Winterthur	0 – 4	Basel	Schützenwiese, Winterthur
		Summary	6' (0:1) Walther 23' (0:2) Oberer 38' (0:3) Weber 84' (0:4) Speidel	Attendance: 4,600 Referee: Josef Gulde St. Gallen

Biel-Bienne v Basel

14 May 1961 Round 24	Biel-Bienne	0 – 1	Basel	Gurzelen Stadion, Biel/Bienne
		Summary	32' (0:1) Hügi (II)	Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Roland David Lausanne

Servette v Basel

4 June 1961 Round 25	Servette	4 – 2	Basel	Charmilles Stadium, Geneva
	Bosson 55' (1:1) Makay 61' (2:1) Heuri 63' (3:1) Makay 67' (4:1)	Summary	15' (pen. 0:1) Michaud 77' (4:2) Von Krannichfeldt	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Othmar Huber ThunL

Basel v Zürich

10 June 1961 Round 26	Basel	2 – 4	Zürich	Landhof, Basel
18:00	Von Krannichfeldt 76' (1:1) Von Krannichfeldt 79' (2:4)	Summary	27' (0:1) Kellas 51' (0:2) Waldner 68' (0:2) Fäh (II) 70' (0:4) Feller	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Anton Bucheli Luzern

League table

More information Pos, Team ...

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Servette	26	23	0	3	77	29	+48	46	Swiss Champions, qualified for 1961–62 European Cup
2	Young Boys	26	15	6	5	70	37	+33	36
3	Zürich	26	15	5	6	74	43	+31	35	Entered 1961–62 International Football Cup
4	Grenchen	26	12	6	8	68	49	+19	30	Entered 1961–62 International Football Cup
5	Basel	26	13	2	11	42	36	+6	28	Entered 1961–62 International Football Cup
6	Grasshopper Club	26	10	6	10	60	53	+7	26
7	La Chaux-de-Fonds	26	11	4	11	65	64	+1	26	Swiss Cup winners, qualified for 1961–62 Cup Winners' Cup and entered 1961–62 International Football Cup
8	Luzern	26	9	6	11	37	45	−8	24
9	Lausanne-Sport	26	9	5	12	57	58	−1	23
10	Biel-Bienne	26	8	7	11	43	47	−4	23
11	Young Fellows Zürich	26	8	6	12	48	63	−15	22
12	Fribourg	26	7	6	13	30	55	−25	20
13	Winterthur	26	8	1	17	33	66	−33	17	Relegated
14	Chiasso	26	2	4	20	22	81	−59	8	Relegated

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Source: rsssf.com

Swiss Cup

Concordia Basel v Basel

16 October 1960 3rd principal round	Concordia Basel	2 – 1	Basel	St. Jakob Stadium, Basel
15:00	Decker 37' (1:1) Wirz 69' (2:1)	Summary	11' (o.g. 0:1) Foglia	Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Roland David Lausanne
Note: corners 0:18

• History of FC Basel
• List of FC Basel players
• List of FC Basel seasons