The SHV is giving Andy Schmid a dual mandate and the next step in his coaching career. The national coach will also take over the top club Kriens-Lucerne from summer 2026.
30.03.2026, 09:53
30.03.2026, 11:07
SDA
This will allow the former Swiss international Schmid to expand his activities at club level in a targeted manner and gain more experience in daily training and competition operations, as announced by the SHV.
Double mandate with explosive potential
However, the dual mandate is also an explosive one. The parallel responsibility for the national team and a leading national club harbours potential conflicts of interest and places demands on organization and transparency. The association takes this into account by defining rules and communicating them to all clubs. The aim is to prevent distortions of competition and ensure a level playing field, as the SHV states in a press release.
For the national association, the focus is on added sporting value. The additional practice in everyday club life should further develop Schmid as a coach and have a direct positive impact on the national team, especially with a view to the 2028 European Championships at home. As Switzerland has already qualified as hosts and fewer competitive matches are scheduled in the medium term, continuous work at club level is becoming even more important.
Two-year contract with Kriens-Lucerne
The 42-year-old Schmid, who has signed a contract with the Central Swiss club until 2028 with an option, clearly prioritizes his two roles: "The national team and the Euros in my own country are clear priorities for me," he is quoted as saying. At the same time, he sees his commitment to Kriens-Lucerne as an opportunity to develop professionally and personally and bring new impetus to his work as a national team coach.
Schmid returned to Switzerland as a player for Kriens-Lucerne in the summer of 2022. After ending his career, the five-time Bundesliga MVP took over as head coach of the men's national team at the end of February 2024. With the team, he managed to qualify for the 2025 World Cup and 2026 European Championship. In January, Switzerland reached the main round of the European Championship for the first time since 2004.
