He was in the Swiss squad at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, playing all four games, as well as the 1996 UEFA European Championship.

After starting his club career in his native Switzerland, he headed for England on 1 August 1994 to sign for Premier League side Newcastle United in a £525,000 deal.

[1] He was their first choice right-back in the 1994–95 season, during which he memorably scored a 25-yard goal in a victory over Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup third round.

However, manager Kevin Keegan signed right-back Warren Barton from Wimbledon the following summer and Hottiger lost his place in the first team for the 1995–96 season.

[5] However, he only made limited appearances for Everton,[6] scoring once against Bolton Wanderers,[7] and left in June 1997 to sign for his hometown club Lausanne in a £25,000 deal.