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Christian Fuchs

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For the Austrian sociologist, see Christian Fuchs (sociologist).

Christian Fuchs
Fuchs with Austria in 2016
Personal information
Full name Christian Fuchs[1]
Date of birth (1986-04-07) 7 April 1986 (age 38)[2]
Place of birth Neunkirchen, Austria
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s) Left back
Team information
Current team
 Charlotte FC (assistant)
Youth career
1992–2001 SVg Pitten
2001–2002 Wiener Neustadt
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Wiener Neustadt 12 (0)
2003–2008 SV Mattersburg 141 (11)
2008–2011 VfL Bochum 53 (6)
2010–2011 → Mainz 05 (loan) 31 (0)
2011–2015 Schalke 04 99 (4)
2015–2021 Leicester City 116 (2)
2021–2022 Charlotte FC 26 (3)
2021 → Charlotte Independence (loan) 15 (1)
2023 FSA Pro 0 (0)
Total 493 (27)
International career
2002–2003 Austria U17 24 (6)
2003–2005 Austria U19 7 (1)
2005–2006 Austria U21 10 (3)
2006–2016 Austria 78 (1)
Managerial career
2023– Charlotte FC (assistant)
Medal record
Representing  Austria
Men's football
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Third place 2003
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Christian Fuchs (Austrian German pronunciation: [ˈkrɪsti̯a(ː)n ˈfʊks]; born 7 April 1986) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a left back.

He began his senior career as a teenager at Wiener Neustadt before signing his first professional contract at 17 with SV Mattersburg, challenging for the Austrian Football Bundesliga title and taking part in European competitions. In 2008, he left for Germany, signing for VfL Bochum. After a season on loan at Mainz 05, he signed for Schalke 04 in 2011, where he contested the UEFA Champions League but suffered a serious knee injury. In 2015, he signed for Leicester, winning the Premier League in his first season at the club. After leaving Leicester in 2021 he spent one season with Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC.

A full international for a decade starting from his debut in 2006, Fuchs earned 78 caps for the Austria national team. He played for the nation at UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Euro 2016, captaining them for the first time in 2010 and on a permanent basis from 2012, before retiring from international duty in 2016.

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Neunkirchen, Lower Austria, his father was an amateur goalkeeper. He began as a forward at local team SVg Pitten before moving to 1. Wiener Neustädter SC at the age of 14. At the age of 15, while still an amateur and at mainstream school, Fuchs played for their senior team. When he was 17, he signed his first professional deal at SV Mattersburg, a team who despite coming from a town of 6,000 drew league record average crowds of 17,000, came third in the Austrian Football Bundesliga and played in European competition.[4]

Prior to UEFA Euro 2008, he joined the German side VfL Bochum.[5] He later described it as a useful move to play regularly while attracting attention from bigger teams.[4] In 2010, he was signed on loan by 1. FSV Mainz 05,[5] a newly promoted team who ended the season in the top five.[4]

Schalke

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On 6 June 2011, Fuchs signed a contract until 30 June 2015 with Schalke 04.[6] The transfer fee is reportedly undisclosed by Schalke's sport and communications manager Horst Heldt.[6] Fuchs was assigned the number 23 shirt, previously worn by Danilo Fernando Avelar.[6]

In his time at the team from Gelsenkirchen, he competed in the UEFA Champions League, but suffered a long-term knee injury.[4]

Leicester City

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Fuchs in a league match against Chelsea on 14 January 2017

On 3 June 2015, Leicester City announced the signing of Fuchs on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal with the Foxes effective from 1 July.[7] Signed under previous manager Nigel Pearson, Fuchs didn't have a regular spot in new manager Claudio Ranieri's squad until October. Fuchs made an appearance in Leicester's third round League Cup tie against West Ham United, providing an assist for Andy King's extra time winner. Following a 5–2 loss to Arsenal on 26 September,[8] Ranieri elected to shake up his defensive back four, inserting Fuchs and teammate Danny Simpson in place of Jeffrey Schlupp and Ritchie De Laet, respectively.[9] Fuchs made his first Premier League start the next week against Norwich.[10]

In his first season, Leicester finished as champions on odds of 5,000–1, making Fuchs the first Austrian to receive a Premier League winners' medal since Arsenal's Alex Manninger in 1998.[11] Following the insertion of Fuchs into the lineup on Matchday 8, Leicester City led the Premier League in clean sheets along with Arsenal, with 15. Fuchs himself led the league during this period in successful tackles with 77, while finishing second in interceptions with 98.[12]

Prior to signing for Leicester, Fuchs had an offer to play in the United States, where his family live, but he turned it down. He said in March 2016, "My intention is to play in the US. I have come [to Leicester] for three years. I decided that I would sign one last contract in Europe, when I left Schalke, then go to the US."[4]

On 21 October 2016, Fuchs signed a new contract with Leicester, keeping him with the club until June 2019.[13] The next day, Fuchs scored his first goal for Leicester against Crystal Palace, volleying home a corner-kick clearance by Christian Benteke for the team's final goal in a 3–1 victory.[14]

In May 2019 he signed a new one-year contract with Leicester.[15] On 18 June 2020, Leicester announced that Fuchs had signed one-year extension.[16]

On 21 May 2021, it was announced that Fuchs would be leaving Leicester at the end of the 2020–21 season.[17]

Charlotte FC

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On 7 June 2021, it was announced that Fuchs would join Major League Soccer expansion side Charlotte FC.[18] On 27 July 2021, With Charlotte due to play MLS from the 2022 season, Fuchs joined USL Championship side Charlotte Independence for the remainder of 2021.[19] After playing as a regular with Charlotte in their expansion season, Fuchs announced on 5 January 2023 he would be retiring from professional football. [20]

FSA Pro

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In November 2023, Fuchs appeared in the playoffs for FSA Pro, the United Premier Soccer League side of Fox Soccer Academy, which Fuchs owns and runs.[21]

International career

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Fuchs taking a throw-in during a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Moldova in September 2015

Fuchs made his debut for Austria on 23 May 2006 in a friendly match against Croatia, replacing Stefan Lexa for the final six minutes of the 4–1 loss at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna.

He was part of the Austrian international squad as they co-hosted UEFA Euro 2008 alongside Switzerland. He made only one appearance in the group stage elimination, playing the entirety of the 1–0 loss to Germany in their last match of the tournament.[22]

On 11 August 2010, in the absence of regular skipper Marc Janko, Fuchs captained his nation for the first time in a 1–0 friendly loss to the Swiss in Klagenfurt.[23] That 17 November, he scored his first international goal, equalising in a 2–1 home friendly loss to Greece.[24]

Fuchs received the armband on a permanent basis at the behest of manager Marcel Koller on 13 August 2012.[25] He played all ten games as they qualified for UEFA Euro 2016, the first time they did so, and featured in every minute of the group stage elimination in France. Afterwards, he retired from international play with a total of 78 caps, declaring "I am very proud of the 10 years that I have spent with the national team. I did everything with passion and, as I said, I am very, very proud."[26]

Coaching career

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On 6 January 2023, it was announced that Fuchs would be an assistant coach for Charlotte FC for their 2023 season.[27]

Personal life

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Fuchs, his wife, and their children, October 2015

Fuchs' wife Raluca Gold-Fuchs, with whom he has a stepson, son, and daughter, is a businesswoman formerly of Goldman Sachs. [4] He runs a public relations company and a football academy in the same city, and plans to move there permanently after his football career.[4][28]

The Leicester Mercury described Fuchs as "not your stereotypical footballer...[he] has more strings to his bow than an orchestra".[4] He is noted for his online video series "No Fuchs Given", a play on his surname and the English-language obscenity "fuck"; the series consists of himself and teammates doing unusual football-related challenges, such as him and Robert Huth shooting the ball as hard as possible at each other's backsides.[4] He also has a stated dream to become an NFL placekicker and has demonstrated his skills on the BBC's NFL coverage.[29] His surname "Fuchs" is the German word for "Fox".

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[30]
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wiener Neustadt 2002–03 Austrian Landesliga 12 0 0 0 — — — 12 0
SV Mattersburg 2003–04 Austrian Bundesliga 13 0 1 0 — — — 14 0
2004–05 Austrian Bundesliga 25 2 2 0 — — — 27 2
2005–06 Austrian Bundesliga 35 1 5 2 — — — 40 3
2006–07 Austrian Bundesliga 35 6 4 1 — 2 0 — 41 7
2007–08 Austrian Bundesliga 33 2 0 0 — — — 33 2
Total 141 11 12 3 — 2 0 — 155 14
VfL Bochum 2008–09 Bundesliga 22 2 0 0 — — — 22 2
2009–10 Bundesliga 31 4 2 0 — — — 33 4
Total 53 6 2 0 — — — 55 6
Mainz 05 (loan) 2010–11 Bundesliga 31 0 4 0 — — — 35 0
Schalke 04 2011–12 Bundesliga 29 2 3 0 — 11 2 1 0 44 4
2012–13 Bundesliga 29 0 2 0 — 6 1 — 37 1
2013–14 Bundesliga 16 0 2 0 — 7 0 — 25 0
2014–15 Bundesliga 25 2 0 0 — 5 1 — 30 3
Total 99 4 7 0 — 29 4 1 0 136 8
Leicester City 2015–16 Premier League 32 0 0 0 2 0 — — 34 0
2016–17 Premier League 36 2 2 0 0 0 9 0 1 0 48 2
2017–18 Premier League 25 0 2 0 2 0 — — 29 0
2018–19 Premier League 3 0 1 0 4 1 — — 8 1
2019–20 Premier League 11 0 2 0 4 0 — — 17 0
2020–21 Premier League 9 0 1 0 1 0 5 0 — 16 0
Total 116 2 8 0 13 1 14 0 1 0 152 3
Charlotte Independence (loan) 2021 USL Championship 15 1 — — — 2 1 17 2
Charlotte FC 2022 Major League Soccer 26 3 1 0 — — — 27 3
Career total 493 27 34 3 13 1 45 4 4 1 589 36

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year[31]
National team Year Apps Goals
Austria 2006 4 0
2007 10 0
2008 10 0
2009 5 0
2010 7 1
2011 11 0
2012 4 0
2013 9 0
2014 5 0
2015 7 0
2016 6 0
Total 78 1
Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fuchs goal.
List of international goals scored by Christian Fuchs[31]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 November 2010 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria  Greece 1–1 1–2 Friendly

Honours

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Schalke 04

Leicester City

Austria U17

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Premier League Player Profile Christian Fuchs". Barclays Premier League. 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Christian Fuchs". Leicester City F.C. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Tanner, Rob (12 March 2016). "Leicester City EXCLUSIVE: Why Christian Fuchs is no ordinary footballer". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 3 May 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ a b "Fuchs kommt" (in German). VfL Bochum. 25 June 2008. Archived from the original on 22 February 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  6. ^ a b c "Schalke sign Austria skipper Fuchs". Eurosport. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Leicester City sign Christian Fuchs on free transfer from Schalke". BBC Sport. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  8. ^ Abraham, Timothy (26 September 2015). "Ranieri must plug leaky defence". BBC Sport.
  9. ^ Sharpe, James (3 October 2015). "Jamie Vardy and Jeff Schlupp score as City bounce back with win". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Fuchs Hails Foxes' Defensive Resilience". Leicester City Football Club. 7 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Leicester City: The ridiculous statistics". Football 365. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  12. ^ Harding, James (19 May 2016). "Team of the Season – Christian Fuchs". Fantasy Football Scout.
  13. ^ "Christian Fuchs: Leicester City defender agrees new three-year deal". BBC Sport. 21 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Christian Fuchs scores stunner as Foxes ease to win". Mirror. 22 October 2016.
  15. ^ "Leicester's Christian Fuchs signs new deal as Danny Simpson & Shinji Okazaki leave". BBC Sport. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Morgan, Fuchs & Jakupović Extend Contracts". lcfc.com. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Christian Fuchs Bids Farewell After Six Unforgettable Years". www.lcfc.com. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Leicester transfer news: Christian Fuchs signs for MLS expansion side Charlotte FC". Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Charlotte Independence Sign Charlotte FC Defender Christian Fuchs for Remainder of 2021 Season". 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Christian Fuchs Announces Retirement From Professional Soccer After 19 Seasons". 5 January 2023.
  21. ^ Davis, Jason. "Christian Fuchs talks UPSL Playoffs & Playing For His Own Team, Fox Soccer Academy". UPSL.com. United Premier Soccer League. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  22. ^ "ÖFB (Austrian Football Association) Media Centre – Stegersbach" (PDF). oefb.at. Österreichischer Fußball-Bund (ÖFB). 7 June 2008. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  23. ^ "Zu harmlos für die Schweiz" [Too harmless for Switzerland] (in German). ORF. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  24. ^ "Debüttreffer reicht nicht" [First goal not enough] (in German). UEFA. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Fußball: Christian Fuchs neuer Nationalteam-Kapitän" [Football: Christian Fuchs is new national team captain]. Die Presse (in German). 13 August 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  26. ^ Turner, Stephen (29 June 2016). "Leicester's Christian Fuchs quits internationals after Austria exit". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  27. ^ Club, Charlotte Football. "Charlotte FC Announces First Team Coaching Staff Ahead of 2023 Season | Charlotte FC". Charlotte Football Club.
  28. ^ "Christian Fuchs is living the dream with Leicester City. Next, why not the NFL?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  29. ^ Young, Henry; Thomas, Alex (24 October 2016). "Christian Fuchs: Austrian is 'serious' about trying out as NFL kicker". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Christian Fuchs » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. 17 April 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Christian Fuchs". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  32. ^ Christian Fuchs at Soccerway
  33. ^ "Christian Fuchs: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Christian Fuchs 'will come back' to Leicester City as he reveals belated Nigel Pearson meeting". Leicestershire Live. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Uefa.com – UEFA European U-17 C'Ship – Teams". www.uefa.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2003. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  36. ^ "Bundesliga Historie 2010/11" (in German). kicker.
  37. ^ "Bundesliga Historie 2011/12" (in German). kicker.
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