What happens next at FC Zurich? In the football talk home game, the presidential couple Ancillo and Heliane Canepa talk about the search for a new sports director and an investor.
No time? blue News summarizes for you
- After the dismissal of Milos Malenovic, FC Zurich needs a new sports director.
- Until Malenovic’s successor is found, Ancillo Canepa steps into the breach and confirms in the home game: “I’m in the lead role for the winter transfers.”
- The first support has already been brought on board. FCZ will work with player agent Dino Lamberti in the winter transfer window
- The presidential couple also spoke in the blue Sport Studio about the search for an investor for the club and the financial challenges in recent years.
After a good two years, Milos Malenovic’s time as FC Zurich’s sports director has come to an end. “We have clearly seen that FC Zurich’s image has been damaged. It is important for us that we are perceived by the public as a serious club,” said President Ancillo Canepa, explaining the move in the football talk home game.
But what happens next? Are there already candidates to succeed Malenovic? “We are now thinking about how the structure is defined. No matter what we want to call it or describe it – especially in such exposed positions, it’s all about experience. We are not a training club for certain positions. In certain positions you need experienced people. I can’t say exactly how we’ll do it,” says Canepa.
Swiss takeover as a desired scenario
Until that happens, the 72-year-old will step into the breach – and is also responsible for the winter transfers. «I’m in the lead role. But we certainly have support. We won’t be naive and just wait. We’re being proactive,” Canepa announces and reveals: “It’s possible that one or two players will leave. There have already been discussions there. But we are not under pressure and will not let ourselves be put under pressure. New players are not an issue at the moment. The squad is very well put together.”
The search for a new sports director will keep the Canepas busy over the next few months. First aid has already been brought on board: FCZ will work with player agent Dino Lamberti in the winter transfer window, who is joining the club on a mandated basis.
In addition, it should soon become clear how and by whom the club will be taken over as soon as the presidential couple steps down. «It’s not about us withdrawing in the next few months. It’s just a matter of having clarity over the next few months about how we’re going to build this. It could take another three, four or five years,” explains Ancillo Canepa.
The desired scenario is clear. «A local, regional, Swiss solution. That’s what we strive for. If this is not possible, we have a lot of inquiries from abroad. FC Zurich is still a very attractive address, even if it is having sporting problems at the moment,” said Ancillo Canepa.
“We’ve had to burn quite a bit in the last few years”
An attractive address, but one that has made Canepas bleed recently. «If you don’t have some rich company in the background in Switzerland, you need the European Cup. If you don’t have a European Cup and don’t make any transfers, then you fall into a structural deficit. “We’ve had to burn quite a bit in the last two or three years,” admits Ancillo.
At the same time, the incumbent president gives his potential successors hope: “You can make a profit with the Conference League, you can make a profit of two or three million with the Europa League – then the structural deficit will be compensated for.”
