His debut a year ago ended with an injury that kept him out of action for months. Now Alvyn Sanches is back in the Swiss national team - and hoping for a reconciliation.
25.03.2026, 05:00
25.03.2026, 07:09
SDA
Alvyn Sanches takes his seat and smiles somewhat sheepishly at the media. Here in the community hall in Horben, it becomes clear once again that interviews are not his thing. He does them because they are part of the life of a professional footballer. The 23-year-old answers the questions in a low voice and keeps it short. In between, his eyes wander from the ball lying on the table in front of him to the window. And it seems clear: he would much rather be kicking outside than sitting inside.
Just like when he used to play football with other children on the street in Lausanne. A year ago, his childhood friend Isaac Schmidt told us how he was already working his magic back then and astonishing even the older kids with his tricks.
And even today, fellow players go into raptures when they talk about Sanches: "He manages to free himself from seemingly hopeless situations," said Loris Benito, the YB captain, in a recent club video. "With his strong ball handling, he always finds a gap or makes another feint." Meanwhile, coach Gerardo Seoane described Sanches as a "jewel". And this should - with a little delay - now also shine in the national team.
Video message from teammates
The reason for this delay is the unfortunate debut Sanches had in the national team. It was almost exactly a year ago when he suffered a serious injury in Windsor Park, named after the corresponding district of Belfast. He was substituted in the 68th minute and managed to liven up what had been a dull test match up to that point. He fought for the ball on the touchline in stoppage time, but unfortunately twisted his ankle in the process.
From the outside, the almost inconspicuous action has serious consequences: Sanches suffers a cruciate ligament rupture - during the best phase of his career, of all times. Before that, he had shone at Lausanne-Sport and attracted the attention of various top European clubs. It seemed clear that he would make the leap abroad in the summer. However, an injury thwarted his plans.
When this became known, his colleagues in the national team turned to Sanches via video. They stand there united, while the jersey with Sanches' name is held up in the middle. They say: "We're behind you", "You'll come back stronger" and "We're waiting for you". A reaction that also shows how quickly the young player has made an impression.
Quick and strong return
However, the comeback is taking time. "It was difficult for me at first. Then it was mainly a mental thing, I think," says Sanches when asked about his rehab. Above all, it was the desire to return to the pitch even more that drove him on. After his summer transfer to YB, the medical team determined that he still had strength deficits in his right leg. Many long sessions in the fitness room were necessary. To make sure it didn't "wear off", the ball-loving Sanches was also allowed out on the pitch again and again to do exercises.
A total of seven months passed before Sanches returned to the pitch for a short spell. Apart from his shirt color, little has changed for him. When he returned to the starting line-up for the first time, Sanches scored his first goal for Bern. That was at the end of November. Since then, he has scored eight more goals, four of them in the last three games. In a team that has fallen short of expectations this season, Sanches is the bright spot.
This puts him in a similar situation to last year. Rumors are once again swirling about his future and there is speculation as to where Sanches could end up in the event of a transfer. However, the player is not taking part in this speculation: "I have a contract in Bern and I'm a YB player," he says - again briefly and succinctly. And right now, he is only concerned with his duties in the national team anyway.
Yakin sees Sanches on the side
Words that should please Murat Yakin. "We are all very happy and also a little surprised at how quickly Alvyn has found his form again," said the national team coach at the squad announcement last Thursday. The 51-year-old emphasized "the joy of playing and the offensive drive" of the Vaud native.
Unlike at YB, where he often plays in the corresponding position behind the striker with the number 10, Yakin currently sees Sanches more on the flank. There he would be a competitor to Ruben Vargas and Dan Ndoye, who have not had an easy time at the club recently due to injuries (Vargas) and the loss of their regular place (Ndoye).
With his qualities, however, Sanches can be far more than just a supplementary player in the national team. At the same time, he has also had to learn that things can quickly go in the other direction in football. That's why Sanches is reserved when asked about his goals for the upcoming test matches against Germany and Norway: "I always want to give 100 percent in training. And if I play in one of the games, I want to show my best. If I can do that, I'll be happy." An almost detailed answer for him.
