View source for Adrian Knup

{{short description|Swiss footballer (born 1968)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name= Adrian Knup
| fullname = 
| image =
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1968|7|2}}
| birth_place = [[Liestal]], Switzerland
| height = 1.85 m
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub = 
| years1 = 1986–1988
| clubs1 = [[FC Basel]]
| caps1  = 40
| goals1 = 11
| years2 = 1988–1989
| clubs2 = [[FC Aarau]]
| caps2  = 33
| goals2 = 13
| years3 = 1989–1992
| clubs3 = [[FC Luzern]]
| caps3  = 74
| goals3 = 20
| years4 = 1992–1994
| clubs4 = [[VfB Stuttgart]]
| caps4  = 53
| goals4 = 20
| years5 = 1994–1996
| clubs5 = [[Karlsruher SC]]
| caps5  = 39
| goals5 = 11
| years6 = 1996
| clubs6 = [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]]
| caps6  = 5
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 1996–1998
| clubs7 = [[FC Basel]]
| caps7  = 29
| goals7 = 8
| totalcaps = 273
| totalgoals = 85
| nationalyears1 = 1989–1996
| nationalteam1  = [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
| nationalcaps1  = 49
| nationalgoals1 = 26
| manageryears1 = 2007–2008<ref>[https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/adrian-knup--manager--de-l-%C3%A9quipe-de-suisse-de-football/5914456 Adrian Knup 'manager' de l'équipe de Suisse de football]‚ swissinfo.ch, 25 May 2007</ref>
| managerclubs1 = [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] (team leader)
| manageryears2 = 2009–2017
| managerclubs2 = [[FC Basel]] (head of youth)
| manageryears3 = 2012–2017
| managerclubs3 = [[FC Basel]] (vice president)
}}

'''Adrian Knup''' (born 2 July 1968) is a Swiss former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]] in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.worldfootball.net/spieler_profil/adrian-knup/ | title =  Adrian Knup| publisher = worldfootball.net | access-date = 11 March 2012}}</ref>

He was capped 49 times and scored 26 goals for the [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland national team]] between 1989 and 1996, including three games at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]]. From 2009 to 2017 he worked as the head coach of the youth sector at [[FC Basel]]. He was also the vice president of the club between 2012 and 2017.<ref>[https://www.nzz.ch/urnnewsmlwwwsda-atsch20090622brz028-1.2797317 Adrian Knup im Führungsgremium des FCB]‚ nzz.ch, 22 June 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/sport/fussball/Umsatzrekord-und-ein-neuer-Vizepraesident-fuer-den-FC-Basel/story/31046225 Umsatzrekord und ein neuer Vizepräsident für den FC Basel]‚ tagesanzeiger.ch, 30 April 2012</ref>

==Club career==
Knup played his youth football with local team [[FC Basel|Basel]]. He advanced to their first team for their [[1985–86 FC Basel season|1985–86 season]] and signed his first professional contract under manager [[Helmut Benthaus]]. After playing in one test match, Knup played his domestic league debut for the club in the home game at the [[St. Jakob Stadium]] on 19 April 1986 as Basel won 5–0 against [[FC Baden|Baden]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-fcb-baden-1985/86">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=20930 | title = FC Basel - FC Baden 5:0 (1:0) | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2020-11-16}}</ref> In his first season Knup had just seven league appearances.

During their [[1986–87 FC Basel season|1986–87 season]] Knup advanced and became a regular in the starting team. Knup was a typical No. 9 and was famed for the power he could get behind his headers. He scored his first league goal for his club in the first game of the season on 9 August 1986. It was the last goal of the away match against, but it could not help the team, as Basel were defeated 1–3 against [[FC Sion|Sion]].<ref name="fcb-achivsion-fcb-1986/87-">{{cite web | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=20955 | title = FC Sion - FC Basel 3:1 (3:0) | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2020-11-16}}</ref> In the following match one week later

Knup played three seasons with the club and received a call up to the [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland national team]]. But with Basel, apart from one title in the [[Uhrencup]] in 1986, he had no big successes. In their [[1987–88 FC Basel season|1987–88 season]] his teammates included goalie [[Urs Suter]], the defenders [[Peter Bernauer]] and [[Massimo Ceccaroni]], the Scott [[Gordon Smith (footballer, born December 1954)|Gordon Duffield Smith]] and two other Switzerland national team players [[Peter Nadig]] and [[Dominique Herr]]. Despite this personally strongly occupied team Basel were relegated to the [[Swiss Challenge League|Nationalliga B]] after the [[1987–88 Nationalliga A]] season.<ref name="FCB 10">{{cite journal | last = Müller | first = Lukas | year = 2010 | title = Rotblau: Peter Bernauer - Zuverlässig und kopfballstark im Abwehrzentrum | journal = Rotblau | publisher = FC Basel Marketing AG | issn = 1660-0878 |language=de}}</ref> One match in this season receives a particular mention, the away game on 29 November 1987 and Knup netted a hat-trick between the 37th and 71st minute as Basel won 4–0 against [[FC Zürich|Zürich]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-fcz-fcb-1987/88">{{cite web | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=21050 | title = FC Zürich - FC Basel 0:4 (0:2) | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2020-11-16}}</ref>

Following the relegation he left the team and joined [[FC Aarau]] in 1988. He spent only one season at Aarau and signed for [[FC Luzern]] in 1989 where he was an immediate success. In 1990, he was voted Luzern's ''Player of the Year''. He was then signed by [[Bundesliga]] side [[VfB Stuttgart]] in 1992 where he played until 1994 when he signed for [[Karlsruher SC]]. He reached the [[1995–96 DFB-Pokal]] final with Karlsruhe but they were beaten 1–0 by [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]. He then had a short spell with [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray S.K.]] in Turkey before returning to Switzerland.

During the winter break of their [[1996–97 FC Basel season|1996–97 season]] knup returned to his club of origin under manager [[Karl Engel (Swiss footballer)|Karl Engel]]. But Knup needed some six matches before he found the binding to his new teammates and then it came to being. He scored two goals at home against [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshopper Club]],<ref name="fcb-achiv-fcb-gc-1996/97">{{cite web | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=10839 | title = FC Basel - Grasshopper Club 3:3 (2:2) | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2020-11-16}}</ref> another goal in the home match against [[Neuchâtel Xamax FCS|Xamax]]<ref name="fcb-achiv-fcb-xamax-1996/97">{{cite web | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=10841 | title = FC Basel - Neuchâtel Xamax 1:3 (1:0 | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2020-11-16}}</ref> and another two goals in the home match against [[FC Aarau|Aarau]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-fcb-fca-1996/97">{{cite web | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=10843 | title = FC Basel - FC Aarau 3:2 (0:0) | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2020-11-16}}</ref>

Knup stayed with the club for another season before he retired from his active football career. Between the years 1982 to 1988 and again from 1996 to 1998 Knup played a total of 138 games for Basel scoring a total of 54 goals. exactly 100 of these games were in the [[Swiss Super League|Nationalliga A]], eight in the [[Swiss Cup]] and 30 were friendly games. He scored 29 goals in the domestic league, four in the cup and the other 21 were scored during the test games.<ref name="fcb-achiv-Adrian Knup">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=1022 | title = Adrian Knup - FCB-Statistik | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2020-11-16}}</ref>

==International career==
Knup played for the [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland national team]] between 1989 and 1996. He scored 26 goals in 49 games. Two of his goals came against [[Romania national football team|Romania]] in a 4–1 win at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] in the [[United States|USA]].

==Personal life==
After retirement from his playing career, Knup became a commentator for Swiss League matches. On 25 May 2007, he was given the job as a coach for the [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland national team]] but demissioned after [[UEFA Euro 2008]].

At the [[FC Basel]] [[Annual general meeting|AGM]] in June 2009 Knup was elected into the club's board of directors under club president [[Gigi Oeri]]. From 2009 to 2012 he worked as the head coach for the club's the youth sector. At the AGM in 2012, Ms Oeri stood down and Bernard Heusler became the club chairman, Knup was elected as vice president of the club.<ref name="fussball.ch-fcb-gv-2012">{{cite web | last = (fest/Si) | date = 30 April 2012 | url = http://www.fussball.ch/Der+FC+Basel+mit+einem+neuen+Umsatzrekord/539942/detail.htm | title = Der FC Basel mit einem neuen Umsatzrekord | publisher = fussball.ch | access-date = 2020-11-16}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nzz.ch/urnnewsmlwwwsda-atsch20090622brz028-1.2797317 Adrian Knup im Führungsgremium des FCB]‚ nzz.ch, 22 June 2009</ref> He held this position until 2017. Knup, president Heusler, finance director Stephan Werthmüller, director of football Georg Heitz and marketing director René Kamm all stood downsold together and Heusler sold the clubs Holding AG to Benrhard Burgener.

==Career statistics==
:''Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Knup goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Adrian Knup
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 11 October 1989 || [[St. Jakob Stadium]], [[Basel]], Switzerland || {{fb|BEL}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–2 || [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 7|1990 World Cup qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 13 December 1989 || [[Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López]], [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], Spain || {{fb|ESP}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–2 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || 2 June 1990 || [[Espenmoos]], [[St. Gallen]], Switzerland || {{fb|USA}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|4 || 21 August 1990 || [[Ernst-Happel-Stadion|Praterstadion]], [[Vienna]], Austria || {{fb|AUT}} || align="center"|3–1 || align="center"|3–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|5 || 17 October 1990 || [[Hampden Park]], [[Glasgow]], Scotland || {{fb|SCO}} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|1–2 || [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying Group 2|Euro 1992 qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|6 || 14 November 1990 || [[Stadio Olimpico (San Marino)|Stadio Olimpico]], [[Serravalle (San Marino)|Serravalle]], San Marino || {{fb|SMR}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|4–0 || Euro 1992 qualifier
|-
| align="center"|7 || 2 February 1991 || [[Miami Orange Bowl]], [[Miami]], United States || {{fb|USA}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|8
| rowspan="3"|12 March 1991 || rowspan="3"|[[Sportplatz Rheinau]], [[Balzers]], Switzerland || rowspan="3"|{{fb|LIE}} || align="center"|2–0 || rowspan="3" align="center"|6–0 || rowspan="3"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|9
| align="center"|3–0
|-
| align="center"|10
| align="center"|5–0
|-
| align="center"|11
| rowspan="2"|1 May 1991 || rowspan="2"|[[Vasil Levski National Stadium]], [[Sofia]], Bulgaria || rowspan="2"|{{fb|BUL}} || align="center"|1–2 || rowspan="2" align="center"|3–2 || rowspan="2"|Euro 1992 qualifier
|-
| align="center"|12
| align="center"|2–2
|-
| align="center"|13
| rowspan="2"|5 June 1991 || rowspan="2"|Espenmoos, St. Gallen, Switzerland || rowspan="2"|{{fb|SMR}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|7–0 || rowspan="2"|Euro 1992 qualifier
|-
| align="center"|14
| align="center"|6–0
|-
| align="center"|15
| rowspan="2"|16 August 1992 || rowspan="2"|[[Kadrioru Stadium]], [[Tallinn]], Estonia || rowspan="2"|{{fb|EST}} || align="center"|3–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|6–0 || rowspan="2"|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 1)|1994 World Cup qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|16
| align="center"|4–0
|-
| align="center"|17
| rowspan="2"|9 September 1992 || rowspan="2"|[[Wankdorf Stadium|Wankdorfstadion]], [[Bern]], Switzerland || rowspan="2"|{{fb|SCO}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|3–1 || rowspan="2"|1994 World Cup qualifier
|-
| align="center"|18
| align="center"|2–1
|-
| align="center"|19 || 17 March 1993 || [[Stade El Menzah]], [[Tunis]], Tunisia || {{fb|TUN}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|20 || 11 August 1993 || [[Ryavallen]], [[Borås]], Sweden || {{fb|SWE}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|21 || 17 November 1993 || [[Hardturm]], [[Zürich]], Switzerland || {{fb|EST}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|4–0 || 1994 World Cup qualifier
|-
| align="center"|22
| rowspan="2"|22 June 1994 || rowspan="2"|[[Silverdome|Pontiac Silverdome]], [[Pontiac, Michigan|Pontiac]], United States || rowspan="2"|{{fb|ROU}} || align="center"|3–1 || rowspan="2" align="center"|4–1 || rowspan="2"|[[1994 FIFA World Cup Group A#Romania v Switzerland|1994 World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|23
| align="center"|4–1
|-
| align="center"|24 || 23 June 1995 || Wankdorfstadion, Bern, Switzerland || {{fb|GER}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|25 || 16 August 1995 || [[Laugardalsvollur]], [[Reykjavík]], Iceland || {{fb|ISL}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying Group 3|Euro 1996 qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|26 || 15 November 1995 || [[Wembley Stadium]], [[London]], England || {{fb|ENG}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–3 || Friendly
|}

==Honours==
'''VfB Stuttgart'''
* [[DFL-Supercup]]: [[1992 DFB-Supercup|1992]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dfb.de/supercup/das-spiel/?spieledb_path=%2Fmatches%2F1972323 |title=Deutscher Supercup, 1992, Finale |publisher=dfb.de |access-date=5 November 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

* Die ersten 125 Jahre. Publisher: Josef Zindel im Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag, Basel. {{ISBN|978-3-7245-2305-5}}
* [https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/home Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" Homepage]

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{NFT|17010}}

{{Swiss Footballer of the Year}}
{{Switzerland squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knup, Adrian}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Liestal]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Swiss men's footballers]]
[[Category:FC Basel players]]
[[Category:VfB Stuttgart players]]
[[Category:Karlsruher SC players]]
[[Category:Galatasaray S.K. footballers]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Switzerland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:FC Luzern players]]
[[Category:FC Aarau players]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Süper Lig players]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:FC Basel non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Footballers from Basel-Landschaft]]
[[Category:20th-century Swiss sportsmen]]