Steve von Bergen

Steve von Bergen

Personal information
Full name	Steve von Bergen
Date of birth	10 June 1983 (1983-06-10)
Place of birth	Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Cesena
Number	25
Youth career
1991–1996	Hauterive
1996–2000	Neuchâtel Xamax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2005	Neuchâtel Xamax	126	(1)
2005–2007	Zürich	68	(0)
2007–2010	Hertha BSC	68	(0)
2010–	Cesena	34	(0)
National team‡
2003–2004	Switzerland U-21	11	(0)
2006–	Switzerland	23	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 November 2011

Steve von Bergen (born 10 June 1983) is a Swiss footballer who plays as defender for Italian Serie A club Cesena. He played for FC Zürich for two full seasons, winning the Swiss Super League in both campaigns and then moved to Hertha BSC, playing there for three years. He managed to establish himself as a regular on the Switzerland national football team.

Club career

Neuchâtel Xamax

Von Bergen began in the youth division of FC Hauterive, before joining Neuchâtel Xamax in 2000.

FC Zürich

In summer 2005, Lucien Favre, then coach at FC Zürich, scouted the defender and brought him to the club. In his first season in Zürich, von Bergen earned 36 caps and contributed to the clubs first championship since 1981. The following season, FC Zürich defended their title.

Hertha BSC

When Lucien Favre transferred to Hertha BSC in summer 2007, he brought von Bergen with him to the Bundesliga. Von Bergen made his debut in the German top division on the second match day against Arminia Bielefeld. During his first season in the German capital, Hertha finished tenth, but qualified for the UEFA Cup via fair-play rating. In the 2009–10, after the departure of Josip Simunic, von Bergen managed to establish himself as a regular in Hertha's starting formation.

A.C. Cesena

After his contract in Berlin expired on June 2010, von Bergen agreed to join newly-promoted Italian Serie A club A.C. Cesena on a free transfer.

International career

Von Bergen made his debut for the Swiss national team on 6 September 2006 against Costa Rica. He has been a constant member of the Swiss team, and was called to a preliminary squad for Euro 2008. Due to a broken hand, von Bergen was not able to take part in the tournament. Von Bergen is part of the Swiss national team at the 2010 World Cup. In the first match, where Switzerland shocked Spain 1–0, Philippe Senderos was substituted in the 36th minute after injuring his ankle seriously in an accidental collision with a teammate, and von Bergen replaced him. It was his first appearance in a major tournament (Euro/World Cup).

External links

• Steve von Bergen at fussballdaten.de (German)
• Steve von Bergen at Transfermarkt.de (German)
• Steve von Bergen at ESPNsoccernet
• Steve von Bergen at Sky Sports