47-year-old European coach emerges on Burnley FC managerial radar | OneFootball

The 47-year-old was relieved of his duties as manager of Swiss champions BSC Young Boys in March following a poor run of form, and has been out of work since.

A former manager of Chicago Fire and Basel, Wicky has been building a strong reputation as a coach over recent years, with victories over José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in the UEFA Champions League during his time with the latter.

Now, the former Atlético Madrid player - who amassed 75 caps for the Switzerland national team - could be set for his first foray into English football, as Burnley look to find the candidate whom they believe will return the club back to the Premier League next season.

Burnley shortlist Raphael Wicky as potential Vincent Kompany replacement

In an exclusive report, HITC journalist Graeme Bailey reports that Burnley chairman Alan Pace is using a data-oriented approach to his manager search, rather than just looking for a big name candidate.

Therefore, their new manager search could take them far and wide, as they scour the corners of the footballing world for a potential gem.

And per HITC, one contender for the Clarets job is Wicky, who after enjoying a successful playing career at the top of the game, has enjoyed success in the dugout too.

Working his way through youth football management, Wicky was handed his first senior managers role with Basel in 2017, guiding them to a second placed finish that season behind his future employers, Young Boys.

Wicky would then spend the next couple of years of his coaching career in the United States, taking on first the role of Chicago Fire manager, before heading back into youth football as the USA under-17's manager - a role he'd be in from from March 2019 until April 2022.

His most recent managerial role was back in his native Switzerland as the manager of Young Boys, and he'd taste success there, as he completed a league and cup double in the 2022/23 season - although he was sacked earlier in 2024 as their lead at the top of their domestic league had shrunk massively.

Raphael Wicky could be a risk worth taking for Burnley

It would perhaps be seen as somewhat of a risk by Burnley should they appoint the former Switzerland international, as previously mentioned, it would be his first experience of English football.

But it isn't every day that you can potentially hire a former Champions League manager, who's taken scalps off some of the sports' greatest ever gaffers, to come and manage in the Championship.

An average of 1.97 and 1.88 points per game with Basel and Young Boys respectively, whilst averaging over two points per game as USA U17 coach, are highly impressive returns.

Burnley under Kompany were a team that was relentless in the press, and masters of ball retention, averaging 64.7% possession in their Championship title-winning season.

This is a philosophy that Wicky shares too, as Philadelphia Union manager Jim Curtin said on Wicky's style of management in 2020: "Their coach, Rapha Wicky, does a great job of getting them to play the right way. They’re very good in possession with the ball. They create a lot of chances."

It's perhaps no surprise then to see what Burnley like in Wicky, as he could well be the perfect fit to bring success back to Turf Moor.