12 professional clubs in the Swiss Super League, all with fully functioning Academies. Presumably the 10 clubs in their 2nd tier (Challenge League), also all fully professional. So around at least 22 professional clubs.
Football the dominant team sport in the country, with yeah plenty of money floating around. Easy for their best talent to get scouted into top 5 tier leagues, elsewhere in Europe. Situation there of little relevance to NZ.
We are more a small version of Canada. Rugby and ice hockey the dominant historical codes, getting the main sponsorship and media attention. A long way from football's European epicentre, and not always easy for young players to get a gig on the Continent without a friendly passport. Our top clubs play in another country's comp (MLS & ALM), but football is growing in popularity and has a high participation rate with kids. Pathways and national team expectations yes improving.
Or if you keep the Swiss angle, we are a bigger version of Liechtenstein, ie Vaduz FC playing in the Swiss leagues.
Football the dominant team sport in the country, with yeah plenty of money floating around. Easy for their best talent to get scouted into top 5 tier leagues, elsewhere in Europe. Situation there of little relevance to NZ.
We are more a small version of Canada. Rugby and ice hockey the dominant historical codes, getting the main sponsorship and media attention. A long way from football's European epicentre, and not always easy for young players to get a gig on the Continent without a friendly passport. Our top clubs play in another country's comp (MLS & ALM), but football is growing in popularity and has a high participation rate with kids. Pathways and national team expectations yes improving.
Or if you keep the Swiss angle, we are a bigger version of Liechtenstein, ie Vaduz FC playing in the Swiss leagues.
Canada are currently a very good team. Increasing national team expectations. A bit lucky with the draw at the Copa America. Had Peru & Chile in their pool - teams going through rebuilds and currently comfortably 2nd last & last in CONMEBOL WC qualifying. Then the Canadians had Venezuela in their QF (won on pens).
But yes the Canucks do have a bit of a golden generation going on. They have 3 clubs in the MLS. Yeah we could do worse than having a look at what they are doing, apart from perfecting drone technology.