View source for Fabian Frei

{{short description|Swiss footballer (born 1989)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Fabian Frei
| image = Fabian Frei 2019.jpg
| upright = 
| caption = Frei with [[FC Basel|Basel]] in 2019
| full_name = Fabian Frei<ref name="FIFA 2022">{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Switzerland (SUI) |publisher=[[FIFA]] |page=28 |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|1|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Frauenfeld]], Switzerland
| height = 1.83 m<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcb.ch/teams/1-mannschaft/spieler/fabian-frei/ |title=Fabian Frei |publisher=FC Basel |accessdate=2 September 2022}}</ref>
| position = [[Defensive midfielder]], [[centre-back]]
| currentclub = [[FC Winterthur|Winterthur]]
| clubnumber = 11
| youthyears1 = 1998–2000
| youthclubs1 = [[FC Frauenfeld|Frauenfeld]]
| youthyears2 = 2000–2004
| youthclubs2 = [[FC Winterthur|Winterthur]]
| youthyears3 = 2004–2007
| youthclubs3 = [[FC Basel|Basel]]
| years1 = 2005–2007 | clubs1 = [[FC Basel|Basel II]]                  | caps1 = 31  | goals1 = 11
| years2 = 2007–2015 | clubs2 = [[FC Basel|Basel]]                     | caps2 = 172 | goals2 = 15
| years3 = 2009–2011 | clubs3 = → [[FC St. Gallen|St. Gallen]] (loan)  | caps3 = 64  | goals3 = 13
| years4 = 2015–2018 | clubs4 = [[1. FSV Mainz 05|Mainz 05]]           | caps4 = 53  | goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2018–2024 | clubs5 = [[FC Basel|Basel]]                     | caps5 = 214 | goals5 = 25
| years6 = 2024–     | clubs6 = [[FC Winterthur|Winterthur]]           | caps6 = 30  | goals6 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2004–2005
| nationalteam1 = [[Switzerland national under-16 football team|Switzerland U16]]
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2005–2006
| nationalteam2 = [[Switzerland national under-17 football team|Switzerland U17]]
| nationalcaps2 = 14
| nationalgoals2 = 10
| nationalyears3 = 2006–2007
| nationalteam3 = Switzerland U18
| nationalcaps3 = 5
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| nationalyears4 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam4 = [[Switzerland national under-19 football team|Switzerland U19]]
| nationalcaps4 = 7
| nationalgoals4 = 5
| nationalyears5 = 2008
| nationalteam5 = Switzerland U20
| nationalcaps5 = 3
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| nationalyears6 = 2008–2011
| nationalteam6 = [[Switzerland national under-21 football team|Switzerland U21]]
| nationalcaps6 = 18
| nationalgoals6 = 4
| nationalyears7 = 2012
| nationalteam7 = [[Switzerland national under-23 football team|Switzerland Olympic]]
| nationalcaps7 = 4
| nationalgoals7 = 0
| nationalyears8 = 2011–2022
| nationalteam8 = [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
| nationalcaps8 = 24
| nationalgoals8 = 3
| club-update = 15 June 2025
| nationalteam-update = 24 November 2022
}}

'''Fabian Frei''' (born 8 January 1989) is a former Swiss professional [[association football|footballer]] who primarily played as a [[defensive midfielder]] and a [[centre-back]]. He is best known for holding the records for most appearances in competitive games for giants [[FC Basel]] and for most appearances in the [[Swiss Super League]], with 543 and 468 appearances, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fabian Frei beendet im Sommer seine Profi-Karriere |url=https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/alle-news/ruecktritt-fabian-frei |publisher=[[FC Basel]] |access-date=8 June 2025 |date=25 February 2025|language=de-ch}}</ref> During his time in Basel, he won five Swiss championships and three Swiss Cups.

Until June 2011, he played for the [[Switzerland national under-21 football team|Swiss U-21]] team, with whom he was the runner up at the [[2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship|2011 U21 Euro]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Fabian Frei wird neuer Fussball-Experte bei SRF |url=https://www.srgd.ch/de/aktuelles/news/2025/03/18/fabian-frei-wird-neuer-fussball-experte-bei-srf/ |publisher=[[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|SRG Deutschschweiz]] |access-date=8 June 2025 |language=de-ch |date=18 March 2025}}</ref> He made his international debut for [[Switzerland national football team|senior national]] team on 7 October 2011 and was also selected to represent Switzerland at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He made 24 appearances for the national team and participated at two senior international tournaments, the [[UEFA Euro 2016]] and the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]].

He is of no relation to former club and country teammate [[Alexander Frei]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://socqer.com/questions/1124/fabian-frei-alexander-frei-both-scored-for-basle-tonight-but-are-unrelated-are-any-players-in-this-seasons-champions-league-that-are-related/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110930001525/http://socqer.com/questions/1124/fabian-frei-alexander-frei-both-scored-for-basle-tonight-but-are-unrelated-are-any-players-in-this-seasons-champions-league-that-are-related | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 30 September 2011 | title = Fabian and Alexander Frei Unrelated | publisher = Socqer.com | date = 14 September 2011 | access-date = 30 December 2013 }}</ref>

==Club career==

===Basel===
Born in [[Frauenfeld]], Frei started his youth football with local amateur club [[FC Frauenfeld]] and then he moved to the youth of [[FC Winterthur]] in summer 2000. However, he came through the ranks with [[FC Basel]], joining their youth department and playing in their U-16 team, winning the Swiss championship title for that age group in the 2004–05 season. He played in their U-18 team during the 2005–06 season, under coach [[Patrick Rahmen]] and his assistant [[Marco Walker]] and with them won both the Swiss U-18 championship and the U-19/18 national cup that season.<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2005/06-U-18-Meister">{{cite web | first = | last = FC Basel 1893 | authorlink = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/-/10044/16573 | title = Zwei weitere Titel für FCB-Nachwuchs | format = | publisher = FC Basel 1893 | accessdate = 18 June 2006 | language = de-ch | trans-title = Two more titles for FCB youngsters | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233631/http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/-/10044/16573 | archive-date = 30 December 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref> For the 2006–07 season, he advanced to their U-21 team, who played in the third tier, and was given a professional contract.<ref name=" FCB Homepage 1">{{cite web | url = http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/-/10044/17594 | title = Fabian Frei: Profivertrag bis 2009 | publisher = FC Basel 1893 | date = 24 November 2006 | access-date = 30 December 2013 | language = de | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232629/http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/-/10044/17594 | archive-date = 30 December 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The team won their division and became Swiss champions at U-21 level, Frei, playing as attacking midfielder, made 30 appearances, scoring 11 goals.<ref name="rsssf-Switzerland Third Level 2006/07">{{cite web | first1 = Giacomo | last1 = Giusti | author-link = | year = 2007 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit3-07.html | title = Switzerland Third Level 2006/07 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | access-date = 2023-11-16}}</ref>

Ahead of their [[2007–08 FC Basel season|2007–08 season]] Frei was called into the first team squad by head coach [[Christian Gross]].<ref name="fcb-aktuel-2007/08-Frei-FCB">{{cite web | url = http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/-/10044/18595 | title = FCB-Transfers im Sommer 2007 | publisher = FC Basel 1893 | date = 25 June 2007 | access-date = 30 December 2013 | language = de | first = Dominik | last = Weber | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234301/http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/-/10044/18595 | archive-date = 30 December 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref> After having played in 13 test games, Frei played his [[Swiss Super League|domestic league]] debut for the club in the home game in the [[St. Jakob-Park]] on 22 July 2007 as Basel won 1–0 against [[FC Zürich|Zürich]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-2007/08-FCB-FCZ">{{cite web | first = | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 22 July 2007 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=9798 | title = FC Basel - FC Zürich 1:0 (0:0) | format = | work = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" | access-date = 2023-11-16}}</ref> He played his [[UEFA Cup]] debut with the team in the home game on 16 August, coming on as substitute, as Basel won 2–1 against [[SV Mattersburg]].<ref name="Uefa-UC-2007/08-FCB-Mattersburg">{{cite web | first = | last = uefa.com | author-link = | date = 16 August 2007 | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/301318--basel-vs-mattersburg/ | title = FC Basel 2-1 SV Mattersburg | format = | work = | publisher = [[UEFA]] | access-date = 2023-11-16}}</ref> Basel played in the [[2007–08 UEFA Cup]]. Winning both matches in the qualification round and both matches in the play-off round, they team advanced to the group stage, which they ended undefeated in second position, after playing 1–0 at home against [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Stade Rennes]], 0–0 away against [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]], 1–0 at home against [[SK Brann|Brann]] and 1–1 away against [[Hamburger SV]], to continue the knockout stage. But then they were eliminated here by [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting CP]]. Frei had seven appearances during the teams 10 European games.<ref name="Uefa-UC-2007/08">{{cite web | first = | last = uefa.com | author-link = | date = 21 February 2008| url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/301937--basel-vs-sporting-cp/ | title = FC Basel - Sporting CP 0:3 (0:2) | format = | work = | publisher = [[UEFA]] | access-date = 2023-11-16}}</ref> At the end of their [[2007–08 FC Basel season|2007–08 season]] Frei won the [[Double (association football)|Double]] with the club. They won the [[2007–08 Swiss Super League|League]] Championship title with four points advantage over second placed [[BSC Young Boys|Young Boys]]. Frei had 24 appearances.<ref name="rsssf-Switzerland 2007/08">{{cite web | first1 = Erik | last1 = Garin | first2 = Karel | last2 = Stokkermans | author-link = | year = 2018 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit08.html | title = Switzerland 2007/08 | work = | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | language = | access-date = 2023-11-16}}</ref> In the [[2007–08 Swiss Cup|Swiss Cup]] Basel advanced to the final, and winning this 4–1 against [[AC Bellinzona]] they won the competition.<ref name="sfv-cup-2007/08-ACB-FCB">{{cite web | first = | last = Swiss Football Verband (SFV) | author-link = | date = 6 April 2008 | url = https://www.football.ch/sfv/schweizer-cups/schweizer-cup/statistik-und-resultate.aspx/oid-1/s-2008/ | title = AC Bellinzona - FC Basel 1:4 (0:1) | format = | work = | publisher = Swiss Football Verband (SFV) internet site | access-date = 2023-11-16}}</ref>

To the beginning of the 2008–09 season he was member of the Basel team that won the [[Uhrencup]]. They beat [[Legia Warsaw]] 6–1 and played a 2–2 draw with [[Borussia Dortmund]] to end the table on top slot above Dortmund and [[FC Luzern|Luzern]].<ref name="rsssf-Uhrencup 2008">{{cite web | first = Erik | last = Garin | author-link = | year =2011 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uhren.html#08 | title = Coupe Horlogère - Uhren Cup (Switzerland) | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | access-date = 2023-11-16}}</ref> Frei played his [[UEFA Champions League]] debut for Basel on 26 November 2008 in the 5–0 away defeat against [[FC Shakhtar Donetsk|Shakhtar Donetsk]].<ref name="weltfussball.ch">{{cite web | url = http://www.weltfussball.de/spieler_profil/fabian-frei/champions-league-2008-2009_2/fc-basel/3/ | title = Vereinsspiele | publisher = weltfussball.ch | access-date = 30 December 2013 | language = de}}</ref> He scored his first goal with the team in the home game on 4 December 2008. It was the last goal of the match as Basel won 3–1 against [[FC Aarau]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-2008/09-FCB-FCA">{{cite web | first = | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 4 December 2008 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=13085 | title = FC Basel - FC Aarau 3:1 (1:1) | format = | work = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" | access-date = 2023-11-16}}</ref>

In July 2009, due to the fact that Basel strengthened their squad for the beginning of the [[2009–10 Swiss Super League]] season, Basel's new trainer [[Thorsten Fink]] loaned Fabian Frei to [[FC St. Gallen]]. During his two-year loan in St. Gallen, he played 64 league games in which he scored 13 goals.

For the start of the [[2011–12 Swiss Super League]] season he was recalled to Basel, the reigning Swiss Champions, and he immediately won his place in the starting eleven. Frei scored his first Champions League goal for Basel on 14 September 2011 in the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League group stage#Group C|Group C]] 2–1 home win against [[FC Oțelul Galați|Oțelul Galați]],<ref name="UEFA 1">{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01f5-0e79a6caf9db-e41ff1cdbaee-1000--freis-double-up-as-basel-beat-otelul/ | title = Freis double up as Basel beat Oţelul  | publisher = [[UEFA]] | date = 14 September 2011 | access-date = 30 December 2013 | first = Steven | last = Rogers}}</ref> his second on 27 September in the 3–3 draw at [[Old Trafford]] against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]<ref name="UEFA 2">{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01f5-0e79f2aa81aa-44daf9392904-1000--united-strike-late-to-deny-basel-famous-win/ | title = United strike late to deny Basel famous win | publisher = [[UEFA]] | date = 27 September 2010 | access-date = 30 December 2013 | first = Simon | last = Hart}}</ref> and his third on 22 November in the [[Arena Națională]], in [[Bucharest]], as Basel won the away game against Oțelul Galați 3–2.<ref name="UEFA 3">{{cite web | last = Haylett | first = Trevor | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01f7-0e7b158a3783-58762b0c52ad-1000--basel-hang-on-to-set-up-united-showdown/ | title = Basel hang on to set up United showdown  | publisher = [[UEFA]] | date = 22 November 2011 | access-date = 30 December 2013}}</ref> At the end of the 2011–12 season, Frei won the [[Double (association football)|Double]], the [[2011–12 Swiss Super League|League]] Championship title<ref name="sfv 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/de-de/10044/27863/26/7/7 |title=Jetzt hat Basel den Titel auf sicher |publisher=FC Basel 1893 |date=29 April 2012 |access-date=30 December 2013 |language=de |first=Remo |last=Meister |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016142727/http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/de-de/10044/27863/26/7/7 |archive-date=16 October 2013}}</ref> and the [[2011–12 Swiss Cup|Swiss Cup]]<ref name="sfv 2">{{cite web | url = http://www.football.ch/sfv/chcup/de/telegramm.aspx?tg=1973921 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204154542/http://www.football.ch/sfv/chcup/de/telegramm.aspx?tg=1973921 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 4 December 2012 | title = Matchtelegram FC Basel 1893 5:3 FC Luzern | publisher = football.ch | date = 16 May 2012 | language = de}}</ref> with Basel.

At the end of the [[2012–13 Swiss Super League|Swiss Super League season 2012–13]] Frei won the Championship title<ref name="uefa 2013-06-10">{{cite web | last = Schifferle | first = Michael | url = http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=sui/news/newsid=1959420.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130613165758/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=sui/news/newsid=1959420.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 June 2013 | title = Season review: Switzerland | publisher = [[UEFA]]  | date = 10 June 2013 | access-date = 30 December 2013}}</ref> and was [[2012–13 Swiss Cup|Swiss Cup runner up]] with Basel.<ref name="sfv2013-05-20">{{cite web | url = http://www.football.ch/de/SFV/Schweizer-Cup/Schweizer-Cup-Maenner/Statistik-und-Resultate-Schweizer-Cup/Telegramm-Schweizer-Cup.aspx/tg-2132469/ | title = Telegramm Schweizer Cup Final | publisher = Schweizerischer Fussballverband | date = 20 May 2013 | access-date = 30 December 2013 | language = de}}</ref> In the [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League]] Basel advanced as far as the [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League knockout phase#Semi-finals|semi-finals]], there being matched against the reigning [[UEFA Champions League]] holders [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], but they were knocked out, losing both home and away tie, beaten 2–5 on aggregate.<ref name="uefa 2013-05-03">{{cite web | last = Haylett | first = Trevor | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/025a-0ea90a67d417-9708b706b81d-1000--basel-take-heart-after-chelsea-defeat/ | title = Basel take heart after Chelsea defeat | publisher = [[UEFA]] | date = 3 May 2013 | access-date = 30 December 2013}}</ref>

At the end of the [[2013–14 Swiss Super League|2013–14 Super League season]] Frei won his fourth league championship with Basel.<ref name="fcb 2014-05-18">{{cite web | last = Grossenbacher | first = Sacha | year = 2014 | url = http://www.fcb.ch/de-CH/Saison/Saisonspiel?m=2816 | title = Fotos vom Spiel gegen Lausanne sowie den anschliessenden Feierlichkeiten | publisher = FC Basel 1893 | access-date = 18 May 2014 | language = de | archive-date = 12 June 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180612184447/https://www.fcb.ch/de-CH/Saison/Saisonspiel?m=2816 | url-status = dead }}</ref> They also reached the final of the [[2013–14 Swiss Cup]], but were beaten 2–0 by [[FC Zürich|Zürich]] after extra time. During the [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|2013–14 Champions League season]] Basel reached the [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League group stage|group stage]] and finished the group in third position. Thus they qualified for [[2013–14 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|Europa League knockout phase]] and here they advanced as far as the quarter-finals. In their [[2013–14 FC Basel season|season 2013–14]] Basel played a total of 68 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures, 6 Swiss Cup, 6 Champions League and 10 Europa League and 10 test matches). Frei totaled 66 appearances, 34 League, 6 Cup, 6 Champions League and 10 Europa League as well all 10 in the test games.<ref name="Rotblau Jahrbuch">{{Cite book  | last1 = Zindel | first1 = Josef | title = Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2014/2015 | publisher = FC Basel Marketing AG | year = 2014 | ISBN = 978-3-7245-2027-6}}</ref>

The season 2014–15 was a very successful one for Basel and for Frei. The championship was won for the sixth time in a row  [[2014–15 Swiss Super League|that season]]<ref name="fcb 2015-05-29">{{cite web | last = Marti | first = Caspar | year = 2015 | url = http://www.fcb.ch/de-CH/News/2015/05/29/Der-Meisterfreitag-im-bunten-Zeitraffer | title = Der Meisterfreitag im bunten Zeitraffer | publisher = FC Basel 1893 | access-date = 29 May 2015 | language = de | archive-date = 22 December 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222103948/http://www.fcb.ch/de-CH/News/2015/05/29/Der-Meisterfreitag-im-bunten-Zeitraffer | url-status = dead }}</ref> and in the [[2014–15 Swiss Cup]] they reached the final. But for the third season in a row, they finished as runners-up, losing 0–3 to [[FC Sion]] in the final. Basel entered the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] in the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage|group stage]] and reached the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|knockout phase]] as on 9 December 2014 they managed a 1–1 draw at [[Anfield]] against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/29363537|title=Liverpool 1 Basel 1|date=10 December 2014|work=BBC Sport|access-date=10 December 2014}}</ref> Frei scored the goal for FC Basel against Liverpool to help Basel to the next round of the UEFA Champions League. But then Basel then lost to [[FC Porto]] in the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League#Round of 16|Round of 16]]. Basel played a total of 65 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures, 6 Swiss Cup, 8 Champions League and 15 test matches). Under trainer [[Paulo Sousa]] Frei totaled 56 appearances, 31 in the Super League, 5 Cup, 8 Champions League, as well 12 in test games. He scored a total of 4 goals in these matches.<ref name="Rotblau Jahrbuch Nr.02">{{Cite book  | last1 = Zindel | first1 = Josef | title = Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2015/2016 | publisher = FC Basel Marketing AG | year = 2015 | ISBN = 978-3-7245-2050-4}}</ref>

===Mainz 05===
On 23 June 2015, Frei joined German Bundesliga club [[1. FSV Mainz 05]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Frei kommt für vier Jahre|url=http://www.mainz05.de/mainz05/aktuell/news/news-detail/article/frei-kommt-fuer-vier-jahre.html|publisher=1. FSV Mainz 05|access-date=23 June 2015|date=23 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623170417/http://www.mainz05.de/mainz05/aktuell/news/news-detail/article/frei-kommt-fuer-vier-jahre.html|archive-date=23 June 2015}}</ref>

===Return to Basel===
On 23 December 2017, FC Basel announced that Frei would return to the club, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract dated up until June 2022.<ref name="fcb 2017-12-23">{{cite web | last = FC Basel 1893 | year = 2017 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/de-CH/News/2017/12/23/Fabian-Frei-kehrt-zum-FCB-zurueck | title = Fabian Frei kehrt zum FCB zurück | publisher = FC Basel 1893 | access-date = 23 December 2017}}</ref>

Under trainer [[Marcel Koller]] Basel won the [[2018–19 Swiss Cup|Swiss Cup in the 2018–19 season]]. In the first round Basel beat Montlingen 3–0, in the second round [[FC Echallens|Echallens Région]] 7–2 and in the round of 16 [[FC Winterthur|Winterthur]] 1–0. In the quarter-finals [[FC Sion|Sion]] were defeated 4–2 after extra time and in the semi-finals [[FC Zürich|Zürich]] were defeated 3–1. All these games were played away from home. The final was held on 19 May 2019 in the [[Stade de Suisse|Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern]] against [[FC Thun|Thun]]. Striker [[Albian Ajeti]] scored the first goal, Fabian Frei the second for Basel, then [[Dejan Sorgić]] netted a goal for Thun, but the result was 2–1 for Basel.<ref name="fcb-achiv-fcb-thun-cupfinal-2018–19">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=31396 | title = FC Basel - FC Thun 2:1 (1:0) | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" | access-date = 16 November 2019}}</ref> Frei played in five cup games and scored not only in the final but also a goal in the match against Echallens.

On the final day of the summer 2024 transfer window, FCB announced that their [[Captain (association football)|captain]] Fabian Frei had decided to rejoin his youth club [[FC Winterthur|Winterthur]]. On 9 September, his contract with Basel was terminated by mutual consent, so that he can take on a new challenge.<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2024-FCB-Frei-FCW">{{cite web | first = | last = FC Basel 1893 | author-link = | date = 9 September 2024 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/1-mannschaft/transfer-fabian-frei/ | title = Fabian Frei wechselt per sofort zum FC Winterthur | format = | work = | publisher = FC Basel 1893 AG | language = de-ch | trans-title = Fabian Frei is moving with immediate effect to FC Winterthur | access-date = 2024-09-09}}</ref> Between the years 2007 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2024 Frei played a total of 679 games for Basel scoring a total of 94 goals. 386 of these games were in the [[Swiss Super League]], 46 in the [[Swiss Cup]], 111 in the UEFA competitions (Champions League, Europa League and Conference League) and 136 were friendly games. He scored 41 goals in the domestic league, 10 in the cup, 13 in the European games and the other 30 were scored during the test games. Fabian Frei is the clubs record holder for the number of competition matches played with the club. He played 543 games in league, cup and UEFA.<ref name="fcb-achiv-FCB-Fabian Frei">{{cite web | first = | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | authorlink = | year = 2024 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=2391 | title = Fabian Frei - FCB statistic | format = | work = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | accessdate = 2024-09-09}}</ref>

===FC Winterthur===
On the day of his departure from Basel, he joined fellow Super League side [[FC Winterthur]].<ref>{{cite web | date = 9 September 2024 | url = https://fcwinterthur.ch/news/2024-09/fabian-frei-zum-fcw | title = Fabian Frei zum FCW! | publisher = FC Winterthur | access-date = 9 September 2024}}</ref> On 25 February 2025, he announced his plan to retire by the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Winterthur|url=https://fcwinterthur.ch/news/2025-02/fabian-frei-verkuendet-karriereende|trans-title=Fabian Frei announces career end|title=Fabian Frei verkündet Karriereende|date=25 February 2025|access-date=25 February 2025|language=de-ch}}</ref>

==International career==
Frei represented [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] at various age levels. He played his [[Switzerland national under-16 football team|Swiss Under-16s]] debut on 12 October 2004 in the 3–1 away win against the Belgium Under-16s. In 14 games for the [[Switzerland national under-17 football team|Switzerland U-17 team]] he scored ten goals.

Between 2008 and 2011 Fabian Frei played 18 games for the [[Switzerland national under-21 football team|Switzerland U-21]] team. His Under-21s debut was on 19 November 2008 in the 1–1 away draw against the [[Greece national under-21 football team|Greece Under-21 team]]. His last game was the [[2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship#Final|2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Final]] on 25 June 2011.

Following this he was called into the [[Switzerland national football team|Swiss national football team]] by trainer [[Ottmar Hitzfeld]]. Frei gave his international debut for Switzerland on 7 October 2011 in the [[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying]] game in the [[Liberty Stadium]] against [[Wales national football team|Wales]].

Frei was selected to represent Switzerland in the [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|men's football tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics]] as part of the [[Switzerland national under-23 football team|Swiss under-23 team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football.ch/de/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-64/2102_read-6697/ |title=Schweiz mit Behrami, Benaglio und Klose an die Olympischen Spiele |work=Schweizerischer Fussballverband |date=3 July 2012 |access-date=4 July 2012 |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129234336/http://www.football.ch/de/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-64/2102_read-6697/ |archive-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> He played over 90 minutes in all three games in the tournament, but the team were knocked out, finishing in fourth position of their [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament – Group B|Group]].

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{{updated|1 June 2017|<ref>{{cite web|title=Fabian Frei Profile|url=https://www.ogol.com.br/player.php?id=51734|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[FC Basel|Basel]]
|[[2007–08 FC Basel season|2007–08]]
|rowspan="6"|[[Swiss Super League]]
|24||0||2||0||7<ref group=lower-alpha name="UEL">Appearances in the [[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]]</ref>||0||33||0
|-
|[[2008–09 FC Basel season|2008–09]]
|25||2||4||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="UCL">Appearances in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]]</ref>||0||31||2
|-
|[[2011–12 FC Basel season|2011–12]]
|31||4||4||2||8<ref group=lower-alpha name="UCL"/>||3||43||9
|-
|[[2011–12 FC Basel season|2012–13]]
|27||4||5||2||16<ref group=lower-alpha>Three appearances in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], thirteen appearances and a goal in the [[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]]</ref>||1||48||7
|-
|[[2013–14 FC Basel season|2013–14]]
|34||5||6||1||16<ref group=lower-alpha>Ten appearances and a goal in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], six appearances  in the [[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]]</ref>||1||56||7
|-
|[[2014–15 FC Basel season|2014–15]]
|31||1||5||1||8<ref group=lower-alpha name="UCL"/>||1||44||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total 
!172!!16!!26!!6!!57!!6!!255!!28
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC St. Gallen|St. Gallen]] (loan)
|[[2009–10 Swiss Super League|2009–10]]
|rowspan="2"|Swiss Super League
|30||6||5||1||colspan="2"|—||35||7
|-
|[[2010–11 Swiss Super League|2010–11]]
|34||7||3||4||colspan="2"|—||37||11
|-
!colspan="2"|Total 
!64!!13!!8!!5!!0!!0!!72!!18
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[1. FSV Mainz 05|Mainz 05]]
|[[2015–16 1. FSV Mainz 05 season|2015–16]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Bundesliga]]
|18||0||1||1||colspan="2"|—||19||1
|-
|[[2016–17 1. FSV Mainz 05 season|2016–17]]
|24||0||1||1||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="UEL"/>||0||29||1
|-
|[[2017–18 1. FSV Mainz 05 season|2017–18]]
|11||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||14||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total 
!53!!1!!5!!2!!4!!0!!62!!3
|-
|[[FC Basel|Basel]]
|[[2017–18 FC Basel season|2017–18]]
|Swiss Super League
|0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!289!!30!!39!!13!!61!!6!!389!!49
|}

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===International===
:''Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Frei goal''.<ref name="NFT">{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/45145/Fabian_Frei.html|title=Frei, Fabian|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=10 October 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Fabian Frei
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 18 November 2014 || [[Municipal Stadium (Wrocław)|Municipal Stadium]], [[Wrocław]], Poland || {{fb|POL}} || align="center"|2–2 || align="center"|2–2 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 7 October 2017 || [[St. Jakob-Park]], [[Basel]], Switzerland || {{fb|HUN}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|5–2 || [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group B|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || 27 March 2018 || [[Swissporarena]], [[Lucerne]], Switzerland || {{fb|PAN}} || align="center"|6–0 || align="center"|6–0 || Friendly
|}

==Honours==
'''Basel youth'''
* Swiss champion at U-16 level: 2004–05
* Swiss champion at U-18 level: 2005–06<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2005/06-U-18-Meister" />
* Swiss Cup at U-19/U-18 level: 2005–06<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2005/06-U-18-Meister" />
* Swiss champion at U-21 level: 2006–07

'''Basel'''
* [[Swiss Super League]]: [[2007–08 Swiss Super League|2007–08]], [[2011–12 Swiss Super League|2011–12]], [[2012–13 Swiss Super League|2012–13]], [[2013–14 Swiss Super League|2013–14]], [[2014–15 Swiss Super League|2014–15]]
* [[Swiss Cup]]: [[2007–08 Swiss Cup|2007–08]], [[2011–12 Swiss Cup|2011–12]], [[2018–19 Swiss Cup|2018–19]]; runner up: [[2012–13 Swiss Cup|2012–13]], [[2013–14 Swiss Cup|2013–14]], [[2014–15 Swiss Cup|2014–15]]

'''Switzerland U21'''
* [[UEFA European Under-21 Championship|UEFA Euro U21]] runner-up: [[2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship|2011]]

'''Individual'''
* Goal of the Year: 2008–09 (5 December 2008 vs. [[FC Aarau]])
* [[UEFA Europa League]] Squad of the Season: [[2019–20 UEFA Europa League#Squad of the season|2019–20]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0260-10391fbb6c62-2c8b46747bf5-1000--uefa-europa-league-squad-of-the-season/|title=UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season|website=[[UEFA]] |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=26 August 2020 |access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |title=FC Basel 1893. Die ersten 125 Jahre |author=Josef Zindel |publisher=Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag |location=Basel |date=2018 |isbn=978-3-7245-2305-5 |language=de}}

==External links==
* [https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=2391 Profile] at FC Basel Archive
* [https://www.fcb.ch/teams/1-mannschaft/spieler/fabian-frei/ Profile] at FC Basel {{in lang|de}}
* [https://sfl.ch/de/players/fabian_frei_bwj5ohh2rhdeq4um5fwtgpzo5 Profile] at Swiss Football League website {{in lang|de}}

{{FC Winterthur squad}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Switzerland squads
|bg=red
|fg=white
|bordercolor=#CC0000
|list1=
{{Switzerland men's football squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{Switzerland squad UEFA Euro 2016}}
{{Switzerland squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frei, Fabian}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1989 births]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Frauenfeld]]
[[Category:Footballers from Thurgau]]
[[Category:Swiss-German people]]
[[Category:Swiss men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2016 players]]
[[Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League players]]
[[Category:FC Frauenfeld players]]
[[Category:FC Winterthur players]]
[[Category:FC Basel players]]
[[Category:FC St. Gallen players]]
[[Category:1. FSV Mainz 05 players]]
[[Category:Switzerland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Switzerland men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Switzerland men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Switzerland]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:21st-century Swiss sportsmen]]