Arsenal flop, 42, sacked by top flight club with immediate effect just seven games into season

STEPHAN LICHSTEINER has been sacked as Basel manager after just SEVEN games into the season. The Arsenal flop took charge of the Swiss club in January but has mixed results before the end of the 2025/26 season. Stephan Lichtsteiner has been sacked by Basel Credit: Alamy He spent a season at Arsenal Credit: Getty Lichtsteiner, 42, won four of the club’s five games of the season, including one in the Swiss Cup. Basel have since lost two home games on the bounce to FC Sion and FC Lugano. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! As a result, Lichtsteiner has been sacked from his role as manager with immediate effect. The club confirmed that assistant coach Luigi Nocentini will take charge until a replacement is found. Board chairman David Degen suggested that results had not improved enough from last season to keep Lichtsteiner in the dugout. He said: “Despite the disappointing second half of last season, I expressed my full confidence in Stephan Lichtsteiner and his coaching team at the end of the season. “The sporting management, and I in particular, believed in the long-term project and were convinced of Lichtsteiner’s abilities. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS “At the same time, this confidence was linked to the expectation that clear sporting progress and a visible upward trend would become apparent in the medium term. Most read in Sport “Unfortunately, we did not see this upward trend in recent weeks, and we lacked the belief that this would change within a reasonable timeframe. “I am also personally very sorry that our joint endeavour did not take the desired positive turn.” Basel has also confirmed that a press conference will be missed until a successor is appointed. A preview of the match against FC Luzern on Friday has also been cancelled. Lichtsteiner spent the 2018/19 season at Arsenal after joining on a free transfer during his playing career. However, the defender only made 14 appearances in the Premier League and 23 in all competitions. He is considered a legend in Switzerland after making 108 appearances for the national team. Lichtsteiner also played for the likes of Grasshopper, Lille, Lazio, Juventus and Augsburg during his club career. Since hanging up his boots, he has undertaken an internship as a watchmaker and has also managed FC Wettswil-Bonstetten. Comment now