Amongst these, there were many experienced players, such as Oliver Kreuzer from Bayern Munich, Marco Sas from Bradford City, Maurizio Gaudino from Eintracht Frankfurt, Jürgen Hartmann from Hamburger SV and Nestor Subiat from Grasshopper Club.

The loan contracts with Franco Foda and Markus Schupp came to an end and because Basel did not opt to buy them, they both moved on to Sturm Graz.

Curiosity, in both Basel games, semi-final and third place match, the decision fell in a penalty shoot-out.

After six consecutive defeats, a period during which Giallanza and La Placa both left, Berger was sacked.

He was replaced ad interim by trainer Salvatore Andracchio, who had helped out the previous season.

A dramatic finish with three straight victories over the three better placed teams Young Boys, SC Kriens and finally Solothurn saved Basel from the relegation drop.

[5] Basel entered the Swiss Cup with a bye in the third and fourth principal round and started in the fifth.

Then Nestor Subiat poked the ball into the goal out of the crowd of players who had gathered in the six yard box, the equalizer.

It also includes all players that were in the squad on the day the season started on 5 July 1997 but subsequently left the club after that date.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.