Joël Magnin, who was in charge of the under-21 team of the Bern-based club, will take over as head coach.
Young Boys, sitting at the top of the Swiss football championship, have made the significant decision to part ways with coach Raphaël Wicky following a string of three consecutive defeats, a move announced by the club on Monday.
Despite leading the team to both league and cup triumphs last season and securing a spot in the current season's Champions League group stage, Wicky's team was subsequently relegated to the Europa League Round of 16 playoff, where their journey ended at the hands of Sporting.
Sporting director Christoph Spycher cited the departure of Wicky, who also has experience as the coach of Chicago Fire and the United States Under-17 national team, as a step towards injecting "rejuvenating energy" into the team. In a move to stabilize and redirect the team's trajectory, Joël Magnin, previously at the helm of the under-21 team for the Bern-based club, has been appointed as the new head coach.
The decision comes at a crucial time for Young Boys, a club accustomed to success, having clinched five out of the last six championship titles. Wicky's tenure was set to conclude at the end of the current season, but a recent dip in form, highlighted by only one win in their last seven matches, accelerated the change. This period of struggle included a home defeat to Sporting (1-3), an unexpected Cup exit against lower-league Sion (2-1), and a crucial loss in a direct confrontation with their closest rivals, Servette (0-1), which has left them with a slender one-point lead at the championship's summit.
The abrupt end to Wicky's role underscores the high expectations and pressures at Young Boys, where success is not just desired but expected. With the appointment of Magnin, the club signals its intent to revitalize the team and secure its dominance in Swiss football, aiming to return to winning ways and maintain their position at the top of the league amidst fierce competition.
