Grasshoppers Zürich
 |
|
| Full name | Grasshopper Club Zürich |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | GC, GCZ, Grasshoppers |
| Founded | September 1, 1886 |
| Ground | Letzigrund, Zürich |
| Capacity | 26,104 |
| Chairman | Stephan Anliker |
| Manager | Carlos Bernegger |
| League | Swiss Super League |
| 2015–16 | Raiffeisen Super League, 4th |
| Website | Club home page |
Grasshopper Club Zürich commonly referred to as simply GC, GCZ, or Grasshoppers is a Swiss multisports club based in Zürich, Switzerland. The oldest and best known section of club is its football team. With 27 titles, Grasshopper holds the records for winning the most national championship titles and for the most successes in the Swiss Cup tournament, 19 victories in the competition. The club is the oldest football team in Zürich and share a great city rivalry with FC Zürich.
The origin of Grasshopper's name is unknown, although the most common explanation refers to its early players' energetic post-goal celebrations and that their style of play was nimble and energetic.
After a number of appearances in European Cups and the UEFA Champions League, Grasshopper has become one of Switzerland's most recognizable football clubs. Today, in addition to its main football squad, the club has competitive professional and youth teams in rowing, ice hockey, handball, lawn tennis, court tennis, field hockey, curling, rugby, squash, unihockey and beach soccer.
Grasshopper was founded on 1 September 1886 by Tom E. Griffith, an English student. Using a 20 Swiss franc donation, the club acquired an English football shirt in blue and white colours (as worn by Blackburn Rovers). The English students were from Manchester Grammar School in Manchester. Arthur J. Finck was one of the students who was part of the group that founded the club. Its first match came in October that year against ETH and ended in a goalless draw. In 1893, Grasshopper became the first Swiss team to play in (what was then) Germany, defeating Strasbourg 1–0.
...
Wikipedia