Young Boys sporting chief Christoph Spycher to leave his role in late summer 2027

The decision

The Bern club announced on Thursday, 29 October 2026 that Christoph Spycher, 48, will give up his role as Chief Sports at BSC Young Boys. The handover is expected once the summer 2027 transfer period closes, although the exact moment depends on when a successor has been found, briefed and is fully able to take over. Spycher reached the decision in agreement with owner Hans-Ueli Rihs and president Marcel Brülhart, according to the club's communiqué. He will stay on the board of directors and remain a minority shareholder, so his link to the club continues after he leaves operational work. Spycher has led sporting matters for around eleven years, a period the club counts as its most successful, with six championships, two cup wins and four Champions League appearances.

Spycher said the decision had been very hard for him, and he stressed that he had always said he would not hold the post until retirement.

“After around eleven years at the head of sporting management, it will be a good time to let go.”

He added that the club is structurally healthy and financially sound, which made this the right moment to pass on responsibility.

Why the Frankfurt move did not happen

Spycher had been linked with Eintracht Frankfurt, which was looking for a successor to sporting director Markus Krösche after Krösche stepped down. Sky reported that Spycher was the leading candidate for that job, and Blick reported that he turned down an offer from the Hesse club. Frankfurt had pursued him intensively, and by Wednesday, 28 October, it had become clear that he would not switch to the Bundesliga. Spycher played 149 competitive matches for Frankfurt between 2005 and 2010, so the role at his former club had a clear appeal for him. In the end he opted against an immediate move and in favour of the planned break.

What follows at Young Boys

Spycher will finish the current season in his present role and then shape the winter transfer window together with technical director Mathieu Beda. He will also accompany the planning for the summer 2027 window before his operational work ends. Afterwards he intends to take stock of his professional future, beginning with a break before he decides on his next step. The club will now examine how its sporting leadership should be structured in future, and Beda is expected to keep a key role. The club also considers an external addition likely to strengthen that leadership. President Marcel Brülhart praised Spycher's standing at the club in the communiqué.

“The appreciation for Spycher could not be greater.”

Brülhart also pointed to Spycher's down-to-earth and demanding style, which he said set the club's values an example every day.