Simon Grether

Youth football, Basel

Born in Fribourg, Grether grew up in Reinach, Basel-Landschaft. He started his youth football with local team FC Reinach. In 2006, he moved to the youth department of Basel and progressed through the ranks. He played in their U-16 and U-18 teams and with both he won the Swiss championship, in 2008 and 2010. His teammates in the U-18 squad included Arlind Ajeti, Kofi Nimeley, Sandro Wieser, Stjepan Vuleta and Roman Buess. Grether advanced to Basel's U-21 team who played in the 1. Liga at that time the third highest tier in the Swiss football league system, for the 2010–11 season, becoming regular starter. He signed his first professional contract on 24 May 2012 and He joined Basel's first team for their 2012–13 season under head coach Heiko Vogel. After having played in eight test games, Grether played his domestic league debut for the team 13 July 2012, in the away game in the Stade de Genève, coming on as a substitute as Basel won 1–0 against Servette. He played his first European match in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round in the home game in the St. Jakob-Park on 24 July as Basel won 3–0 against Flora Tallinn. Apart from these two games and one substitute appearance in the 2012–13 Swiss Cup, Grether gained playing practice in the U-21. One of his rare goals was scored in the away game as they won 5–2 against Yverdon-Sports on 22 October 2012. The FCB U-21 team were pushing to win the championship, but at the end of the…

Grether played his first ever international game for the Switzerland U-18 team on the day before his 18th birthday. On 19 May 2010 the Swiss team beat Ukraine U-18 2–0. Grether made his debut for the Switzerland U-19 team in the 1–1 draw with Czech Republic U-19 on 4 September 2010. He played his debut for the Switzerland U-20 team in the 3–2 win against the Italian U-20 on 31 August 2011. On 6 February 2013, Grether made his debut for the Swiss U-21 team in the El Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, being substituted in in the 79th minute. The game ended with a 0–1 defeat against the Slovak U-21 team.

Before signing his first professional football contract, Grether completed business school in Basel. Grether is married. His first daughter was born in May 2017.

Basel

Swiss champion at U-16 level: 2007–08 Swiss Cup winner at U-16 level: 2007–08 Swiss Champion at U-18 level: 2009–10 Swiss Super League: 2012–13 Luzern

Swiss Cup: 2020–21