Michael Lang takes on the role of sporting director at FC Wil – how he accomplishes the task

Michael Lang will become Weill's athletic director in the summer of 2025. He explains why he “didn't want to stop his football career” after playing for Basel and why he now sees himself as a learner again.

Ralf Struhl/ch media

At Weir Football Club, they can keep their secrets. Four years ago, Alex Frei suddenly sat down at a media conference at the Bergholz Arena and was introduced as the new coach of the Challenger League club. No one had heard any rumors before. This time, another former national team and FC Basel player took part in the impromptu Weil FC media conference: Michael Long.

The 33-year-old from eastern Switzerland, who has left a lasting mark on national and international football, will become sporting director. But this time, no one expected the news. “I didn’t even tell my best colleagues about it,” said current athletic director Jan Breitenmoser, who will step down from his role next summer and hand it over to Long as the season begins. Time for a new challenge.

Michael Lang (left) succeeds Jan Breitenmoser.Picture: FC General

Speculation that had circulated following the media conference invitation, and the idea that Weir FC could put its fortune back into the hands of investors, was quickly put to rest. President Maurice Webb said bringing Long on as athletic director is in line with Weir FC's long-term regional strategy.

Fabian Schär knocks on the door and Lang quickly agrees

This regional strategy also includes Fabian Schär, formerly of Wiler, who plays as a defender at Newcastle and is a board member of Wiler FC. It was he who dialed defender Long's phone number in August as Egnacher was chosen as the first choice to challenge for the League One club.

At the time, during a phone conversation in August, Lang had no idea whether his active football career would go any further. After a difficult final few months at FC Basel where he was seen as a veteran rather than an important veteran, he did not join any club in the summer but was in discussions with other Super League clubs. As Long told it, he turned down the offer. “If something really attractive comes along, I'll keep playing,” he said, adding that he's also considering venturing abroad, for example. But as he puts it, he doesn't want to “kill” his career. Because in the best of circumstances, football players choose when to stop.

Before the 2018 World Cup, Schaal drove Lang to a national team rally in Lugano.Picture: KEYSTONE/TI-PRESS

So the conversation with Schaal started “a brief decision-making process.” “I was intrigued by the idea because it was also true on a human level, as the ensuing meeting showed,” Long said. Same with “values ​​compass,” which is a popular term in this context. After spending a few years in Basel, the quiet surroundings really seemed to attract him.

Lang Lang definitely brings experience in the football world. He had a disappointing start to professional football in 2011 when FC St. Gallen were relegated. Through GC, he moved to FC Basel and experienced great moments in the 2017/18 Champions League, scoring two winning goals against Manchester City and Manchester United. The next three years were in the Bundesliga, including with Monchengladbach. He has made 31 appearances for the Swiss team, including four in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.

“I wouldn't just take over,” Lang said

Despite those memories, he lacked experience as an athletic director. “If it had been a question of joining immediately, I wouldn't have said yes,” Long said. But by the end of June 2025, he will become sporting director together with Breitenmoser. “That's one of the reasons I agreed,” Long said. He considers himself a learner here, but he already brings a lot to the table: he understands the rules of football in this country. He knows what a good team is. He brought a name and a good reputation that helped his work. As Weber added, he was “very analytical in his work.” President Wheeler spoke of a “best-case scenario.”

His first team: At the age of 16, Michael Lang made his Superliga debut for St. Gallen.Image: KEYSTONE

Personally, a lot goes for Lang: In any case, the man from Egnach has moved the center of his life with his family and children to St. Gallen. Regardless, he will soon feel at home in the Weir area. Lang was on the St. Gallen FC pitch with coach Marco Hameli and assistant Philippe Montwyler.

Weber: “Maybe we can help St. Gallen win the championship.”

However, it’s unclear where Brayten Moser will be headed next summer. But he may still be committed to football. He took his first steps at Vail FC in 2017 after they were abandoned by Turkish investor Mehmet Nazif Günal. In 2019, he became athletic coordinator and in 2021, athletic director.

With a modest Challenge League budget, he helped put Weir Football Club on track and even came close to leading the team into the Super League in 2023. Kwadwo Duah and Filip Stojilkovic came through the ranks of FC Wil under Breitenmoser. Loan players also often help, such as promoted goalkeeper Philipp Cohen or the likes of Fabian Rona, Brydian Krasniqi or Sylvain Werner from FC Zurich. Chairman Weber listed these players to illustrate Brayten Moser's accomplishments.

Recently, the cooperation with St. Gallen Football Club has also become good, close and professional. (Weber emphasized: This matter did not happen earlier and has nothing to do with Breiten Moser, but with St. Gallen Football Club, which has had less cooperation in previous years.) It is this kind of cooperation that will continue with the former St. Gallen Football Club. Galen Boy Lang strengthened. «Zürich won the championship in 2022 and has many players who have matured under Will. Maybe one day we can help St. Gallen become champions. ” Weber said.

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