View source for Franco Foda

{{Short description|German footballer (born 1966)}}
{{Lead too short|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name           = Franco Foda
|image          = 20180602 FIFA Friendly Match Austria vs. Germany Franco Foda 850 1423.jpg
|caption        = Foda in 2018
|birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1966|4|23|df=y}}
|birth_place    = [[Mainz]], West Germany
|height         = 
|position       = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
|currentclub    = [[Kosovo national football team|Kosovo]] (manager)
|youthyears1    = 1973–1979
|youthclubs1    = SV Weisenau
|youthyears2    = 1979–1981
|youthclubs2    = [[1. FSV Mainz 05|Mainz 05]]
|youthyears3    = 1981–1984
|youthclubs3    = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
|years1         = 1983–1984
|clubs1         = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
|caps1          = 3
|goals1         = 0
|years2         = 1984–1985
|clubs2         = [[Arminia Bielefeld]]
|caps2          = 43
|goals2         = 8
|years3         = 1985–1987
|clubs3         = [[1. FC Saarbrücken]]
|caps3          = 52
|goals3         = 3
|years4         = 1987–1990
|clubs4         = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
|caps4          = 87
|goals4         = 5
|years5         = 1990–1994
|clubs5         = [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
|caps5          = 113
|goals5         = 10
|years6         = 1994–1996
|clubs6         = [[VfB Stuttgart]]
|caps6          = 69
|goals6         = 0
|years7         = 1997
|clubs7         = [[FC Basel|Basel]]
|caps7          = 13
|goals7         = 0
|years8         = 1997–2001
|clubs8         = [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]]
|caps8          = 99
|goals8         = 1
|totalcaps      = 479
|totalgoals     = 27
|nationalyears1 = 1985–1987
|nationalteam1  = [[Germany national under-21 football team|West Germany U21]]
|nationalcaps1  = 7
|nationalgoals1 = 1
|nationalyears2 = 1987
|nationalteam2  = [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]]
|nationalcaps2  = 2
|nationalgoals2 = 0
|manageryears1  = 2001–2002
|managerclubs1  = [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]] (amateurs)
|manageryears2  = 2002
|managerclubs2  = [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]] (assistant)
|manageryears3  = 2002–2003
|managerclubs3  = [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]]
|manageryears4  = 2003–2006
|managerclubs4  = [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]] II
|manageryears5  = 2006–2012
|managerclubs5  = [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]]
|manageryears6  = 2012–2013
|managerclubs6  = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
|manageryears7  = 2014–2018
|managerclubs7  = [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]]
|manageryears8  = 2018–2022
|managerclubs8  = [[Austria national football team|Austria]]
|manageryears9  = 2022
|managerclubs9  = [[FC Zürich|Zürich]]
|manageryears10 = 2024–
|managerclubs10 = [[Kosovo national football team|Kosovo]]
}}
'''Franco Foda''' (born 23 April 1966) is a German [[Association football|football]] manager and former [[Association footballer|player]] who is the manager of [[Kosovo national football team|Kosovo national team]].<ref name=KOS>{{cite web|url=https://www.ffk-kosova.com/franco-foda-perzgjedhes-i-ri-i-kosoves-bashkerisht-do-te-jemi-te-suksesshem/|title=Franco Foda përzgjedhës i ri i Kosovës: Bashkërisht do të jemi të suksesshëm|trans-title=Franco Foda, new selector of Kosovo: Together we will be successful|language=sq|publisher=[[Football Federation of Kosovo]]|date=17 February 2024}}</ref>

==Playing career==
Foda appeared in over 400 top-flight matches in (West) Germany, Switzerland and Austria.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/ffodadata.html | title = Franco Foda - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 22 November 2018 | access-date = 10 December 2018 | publisher = [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]}}</ref> During his second spell with [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] in the 1980s he won two caps with the [[West Germany national football team|West Germany national team]] under coach [[Franz Beckenbauer]]; Foda played against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in late 1987.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ffoda-intl.html | title = Franco Foda - International Appearances | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 22 November 2018 | access-date = 10 December 2018 | publisher = [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]}}</ref> During his first ever international appearance, on 12 December 1987 in Brasilia against Brazil, Foda was at the centre of controversy. Both at the reading of the team names and later when he was substituted in, he was met with great applause by the Brazilian fans. Foda only found out the next day that this was due to his name translating to "free intercourse" in Portuguese.<ref>{{cite web |title=Warum Franco Foda Brasilianer erheitert |url=https://www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/fussball/oesterreich/nationalteam/5444198/Sie-lieben-ihn_Warum-Franco-Foda-Brasilianer-erheitert |publisher=Kleine Zeitung |access-date=10 June 2019 |language=de |date=10 June 2018}}</ref>

Foda joined [[FC Basel]]'s first team during the winter break of their [[1996–97 FC Basel season|1996–97 season]] under head coach [[Karl Engel (Swiss footballer)|Karl Engel]]. Foda played his domestic league debut for his new club in the home game in the [[St. Jakob Stadium]] on 2 March 1997 as Basel won 1–0 against [[FC Zürich|Zürich]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-196/97-FCB-FCZ">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" | authorlink = | date = 2 March 1997 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=10831 | title = FC Basel - FC Zürich 1:0 (0:0) | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" | accessdate = 2021-11-16}}</ref> During his few months with the club, Foda played a total of 15 games for Basel, without scoring a goal. 13 of these games were in the [[Swiss Super League|Nationalliga A]], one was in the [[Swiss Cup]] and the other one was a friendly game.<ref name="fcb-achiv-Franco Foda">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" | authorlink = | year = 1997 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=4263 | title = Franco Foda -FCB statistic | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" | accessdate = 2021-11-16}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Early career===
[[File:Franco Foda 1.jpg|thumb|Foda in 2009]]
Foda moved into coaching with [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]] as an assistant coach. He had been interim head coach between 20 September 2002<ref name="Franco Foda sammelt fleißig Pluspunkte">{{cite news|last=Winklbauer|first=Hubert|title=Franco Foda sammelt fleißig Pluspunkte|url=https://www.kicker.de/franco-foda-sammelt-fleissig-pluspunkte-272246/artikel|access-date=13 May 2014|newspaper=kicker|date=22 September 2002|language=de}}</ref> until November 2002.<ref name="Gress trainiert Sturm Graz">{{cite news|title=Gress trainiert Sturm Graz|url=https://www.kicker.de/gress-trainiert-sturm-graz-284014/artikel|access-date=13 May 2014|newspaper=kicker|date=4 June 2003|language=de}}</ref> At this point, Foda became the permanent head coach until they hired [[Gilbert Gress]] to become the head coach on 4 June 2003.<ref name="Gress trainiert Sturm Graz"/> He then went on to coach the reserve team immediately after to when he was promoted to head coach of the first team on 1 June 2006.<ref name="Rückkehr auf die Grazer Trainerbank: Franco Foda neuer Coach des SK Sturm">{{cite news|title=Rückkehr auf die Grazer Trainerbank: Franco Foda neuer Coach des SK Sturm|url=http://www.news.at/a/rueckkehr-grazer-trainerbank-franco-foda-coach-sk-sturm-142038|access-date=13 May 2014|newspaper=news.at|date=1 June 2006|language=de}}</ref> Sturm Graz won the [[2010–11 Austrian Football Bundesliga|2010–11 Bundesliga]]<ref>{{cite web|title=tipp3 - Bundesliga - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/oesterreich/tipp3-bundesliga/2010-11/0/0/spieltag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708202036/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/oesterreich/tipp3-bundesliga/2010-11/0/0/spieltag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 July 2010|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref> and the [[2009–10 Austrian Cup]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Sturm Graz - SC Wiener Neustadt|url=https://www.kicker.de/sturm-graz-gegen-wiener-neustadt-2010-oefb-cup-1003160/schema|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref> under Foda. He was originally scheduled to leave after the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Foda muss gehen - Nachfolge offen|url=https://www.kicker.de/foda-muss-gehen---nachfolge-offen-566284/artikel|access-date=13 May 2014|newspaper=kicker|date=19 March 2012|language=de}}</ref> However, he ended up being sacked on 12 April 2012 after the club was knocked–out of the [[Austrian Cup]].<ref name="Sturm Graz beurlaubt Foda">{{cite news|title=Sturm Graz beurlaubt Foda|url=https://www.kicker.de/sturm-graz-beurlaubt-foda-567413/artikel|access-date=13 May 2014|newspaper=kicker|date=12 April 2012|language=de}}</ref>{{clear left}}

===1. FC Kaiserslautern===
On 22 May 2012, Foda was announced as new head coach of [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]], who had just been relegated to the second division after two seasons in the top flight.<ref name="Foda wird neuer Trainer beim 1. FC Kaiserslautern">{{cite news|title=Foda wird neuer Trainer beim 1. FC Kaiserslautern|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/1-fc-kaiserslautern/article106361479/Foda-wird-neuer-Trainer-beim-1-FC-Kaiserslautern.html|access-date=22 May 2012|newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=22 May 2012|language=de}}</ref> On 29 August 2013, he was sacked as head coach with immediate effect.<ref name="Paukenschlag beim FCK: Franco Foda sofort weg!">{{cite news|title=Paukenschlag beim FCK: Franco Foda sofort weg!|url=https://www.kicker.de/paukenschlag-beim-fck_franco-foda-sofort-weg-591358/artikel|access-date=13 May 2014|newspaper=kicker|date=29 August 2013|language=de}}</ref>

===Return to Sturm Graz===
Foda returned to Sturm Graz on 30 September 2014<ref name="Franco Foda kehrt zu Sturm Graz zurück">{{cite news|title=Franco Foda kehrt zu Sturm Graz zurück|url=http://sport.oe24.at/fussball/Franco-Foda-kehrt-zu-Sturm-Graz-zurueck/159590901|access-date=4 October 2014|publisher=Österreich|date=30 September 2014|language=de}}</ref> and won his first match in–charge on 4 October 2014 against [[SV Grödig|Grödig]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sturm triumphiert bei Foda-Rückkehr|url=http://sport.oe24.at/fussball/Sturm-triumphiert-bei-Foda-Rueckkehr/160004739|access-date=4 October 2014|publisher=Österreich|language=de}}</ref>

===Austria national team===
In October 2017 it was announced that Foda would become manager of the [[Austria national football team|Austria national team]], with effect from January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/franco-foda-wird-oefb-teamchef-oesterreichs-neuer-ist-ein-piefke-a-1175686.html|title=Franco Foda wird ÖFB-Teamchef: Österreichs Neuer ist ein Piefke|work=Der Spiegel |date=30 October 2017|via=Spiegel Online}}</ref> Foda resigned from the position in March 2022, following their failure to qualify for the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]] after the defeat to Wales in Cardiff.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.stv.tv/sport/austria-coach-resigns-at-media-conference-ahead-of-scotland-friendly |title=Austria coach resigns at press conference ahead of Scotland friendly |first=Andy |last=Coyle |website=STV Sport |date=28 March 2022 |accessdate=28 March 2022}}</ref>

===FC Zürich===
On 8 June 2022, he was announced as the new head coach of Swiss champions [[FC Zürich]], replacing [[André Breitenreiter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bluewin.ch/de/sport/super-league/franco-foda-wird-neuer-fcz-trainer-1251344.html|title=Der FC Zürich stellt Franco Foda als neuen Trainer vor|website=bluewin.ch|language=de|date=8 June 2022|access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref> Foda was sacked by Zürich on 21 September.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lematin.ch/story/franco-foda-nest-plus-lentraineur-fc-zurich-243251924124|title=Football: Franco Foda n'est plus l'entraîneur du FC Zurich|website=lematin.ch|language=fr|date=21 September 2022|access-date=21 September 2022}}</ref>

===Kosovo national team===
On 17 February 2024, [[Kosovo national football team|Kosovo]] appointed Foda after agreeing to a contract until February 2026, this happened after the former coach [[Primož Gliha]] decided to resign after weak results in November 2023.<ref name=KOS/>

==Personal life==
Foda is of Italian descent through his father.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abseits.at/fusball-in-osterreich/bundesliga/im-namen-des-vaters-4-die-drechsels-die-fodas-die-drazans-und-viele-mehr/|title=Im Namen des Vaters (4) – Die Drechsels, die Fodas, die Drazans und viele mehr! » abseits.at|date=21 October 2013}}</ref> His son [[Sandro Foda|Sandro]] (born 1989) first appeared professionally with Sturm Graz in 2007, when his father was head coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fluesterer.com/was_macht_eigentlich.php |title=Was macht eigentlich? Franco Foda |language=de |publisher=fluesterer.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427014544/http://www.fluesterer.com/was_macht_eigentlich.php |archive-date=27 April 2009 }}</ref>

==Coaching record==
{{updated|match played 9 June 2025}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Team
!rowspan="2"| From
!rowspan="2"| To
!colspan="6"| Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]]
| 20 September 2002<ref name="Franco Foda sammelt fleißig Pluspunkte"/>
| 4 June 2003<ref name="Gress trainiert Sturm Graz"/>
{{WDL|33|13|4|16}}
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Sturm Graz » Fixtures & Results 2002/2003|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/sturm-graz/2003/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
| Sturm Graz II
| 4 June 2003<ref name="Rückkehr auf die Grazer Trainerbank: Franco Foda neuer Coach des SK Sturm"/>
| 1 June 2006<ref name="Rückkehr auf die Grazer Trainerbank: Franco Foda neuer Coach des SK Sturm"/>
{{WDL|93|34|24|35}}
| 
|-
| Sturm Graz
| 1 June 2006<ref name="Rückkehr auf die Grazer Trainerbank: Franco Foda neuer Coach des SK Sturm"/>
| 12 April 2012<ref name="Sturm Graz beurlaubt Foda"/>
{{WDL|258|117|65|76}}
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Sturm Graz|url=https://www.kicker.de/sturm-graz/spielplan/bundesliga-oesterreich/2006-07|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sturm Graz|url=https://www.kicker.de/sturm-graz/spielplan/bundesliga-oesterreich/2007-08|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sturm Graz|url=https://www.kicker.de/sturm-graz/spielplan/bundesliga-oesterreich/2008-09|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sturm Graz|url=https://www.kicker.de/sturm-graz/spielplan/bundesliga-oesterreich/2009-10|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sturm Graz|url=https://www.kicker.de/sturm-graz/spielplan/bundesliga-oesterreich/2010-11|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sturm Graz|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga-oesterreich/spieltag/2011-12/29/0|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
| [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
| 22 May 2012<ref name="Foda wird neuer Trainer beim 1. FC Kaiserslautern"/>
| 29 August 2013<ref name="Paukenschlag beim FCK: Franco Foda sofort weg!"/>
{{WDL|44|20|13|11}}
| <ref>{{cite web|title=1. FC Kaiserslautern|url=https://www.kicker.de/1-fc-kaiserslautern/spielplan/2-bundesliga/2012-13|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1. FC Kaiserslautern|url=https://www.kicker.de/1-fc-kaiserslautern/spielplan/2-bundesliga/2013-14|publisher=kicker|access-date=13 May 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
| Sturm Graz
| 30 September 2014<ref name="Franco Foda kehrt zu Sturm Graz zurück"/>
| 1 January 2018
{{WDL|141|71|28|42}}
|
|-
| [[Austria national football team|Austria]]
| 1 January 2018
| 29 March 2022
{{WDL|47|26|6|15}}
|
|-
|[[FC Zürich]]
| 8 June 2022
| 21 September 2022
{{WDL|19|5|4|10}}
|
|-
|[[Kosovo national football team|Kosovo]]
| 17 February 2024
| present
{{WDL|13|9|0|4}}
|<ref name=KOS/>
|-
! colspan="3"| Total
{{WDLtot|648|295|144|209}}
!
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''1. FC Kaiserslautern'''
*[[DFB-Pokal]] [[1989–90 DFB-Pokal|1989–90]]<ref name=es>{{cite web | url=https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/franco-foda.html | title=Franco Foda | publisher=Eurosport | access-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>

'''Bayer Leverkusen'''
*[[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1992–93 DFB-Pokal|1992–93]]<ref name=es/>

'''Sturm Graz'''
*[[Austrian Football Bundesliga]]: [[1997–98 Austrian Football Bundesliga|1997–98]],<ref name=es/> [[1998–99 Austrian Football Bundesliga|1998–99]]<ref name=es/>
*[[Austrian Cup]]: 1998–99<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.worldfootball.net/report/oefb-cup-1998-1999-finale-sturm-graz-lask-linz/ | title=Austria » ÖFB-Cup 1998/1999 » Final » Sturm Graz - LASK Linz 4:2 | publisher=World Football | access-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>
*[[Austrian Supercup]]: 1999<ref>{{cite web|title=Supercup 1999 - Finale|url=http://www.austriasoccer.at/data/spiele/1999/19990625sturlask0.htm|publisher=Austria Soccer|access-date=29 October 2014}}</ref>

===Manager===
'''Sturm Graz'''
*[[Austrian Football Bundesliga]]: [[2010–11 Austrian Cup|2010–11]]<ref name=sw2/>
*[[Austrian Cup]]: [[2009–10 Austrian Cup|2009–10]]<ref name="sw2">{{cite web | url=https://int.soccerway.com/coaches/franco-foda/135939/ | title=F Froda | publisher=Soccerway | access-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Worldfootball.net|franco-foda}}
* {{Fussballdaten|franco-foda}}
* {{NFT player|15799}}

{{Current managers of UEFA national teams}}
{{Austria squad UEFA Euro 2020}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Franco Foda managerial positions
|list1 =
{{SK Sturm Graz managers}}
{{1. FC Kaiserslautern managers}}
{{Austria national football team managers}}
{{FC Zürich managers}}
{{Kosovo national football team managers}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Austria|Association football}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foda, Franco}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:German football managers]]
[[Category:Germany men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:German sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern II players]]
[[Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern players]]
[[Category:Arminia Bielefeld players]]
[[Category:1. FC Saarbrücken players]]
[[Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen players]]
[[Category:VfB Stuttgart players]]
[[Category:FC Basel players]]
[[Category:Austrian Football Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:SK Sturm Graz players]]
[[Category:German expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Austria]]
[[Category:SK Sturm Graz managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga managers]]
[[Category:Austria national football team managers]]
[[Category:Kosovo national football team managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2020 managers]]
[[Category:German expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Austria]]
[[Category:Footballers from Mainz]]
[[Category:FC Zürich managers]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Kosovo]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Kosovo]]
[[Category:West German men's footballers]]