Top facts about Tranquillo Barnetta, Swiss midfielder

Tranquillo Barnetta (born May 22, 1985) is a former Swiss professional football midfielder. He was primarily used as a left winger, although he could also play as an offensive midfielder or even as a center midfielder in a more withdrawn position.

Tranquillo Barnetta’s age

is 36. Here, you can find the most important facts about Tranquillo Barnetta, Swiss international.

The first fact about Tranquillo Barnetta is that he was recognized for his "rapidity, mobility, and ingenuity." Barnetta has played for a number of Swiss and German teams before joining the MLS.

On the international stage, he has 75 caps for the Swiss national team, having played in three FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Football Championships.

Barnetta began her football career at the small St. Gallen neighborhood club FC Rotmonten. His talent was recognized early on, so he quickly transferred to FC St. Gallen. He began his professional career there in 2002, and at the age of 17, he fought for a regular spot.

An important fact about Tranquillo Barnetta is that he joined

for the 2004/05 season. In his first season, he was loaned to league rivals Hannover 96 to gain match practice. However, due to injury, he only made seven appearances, scoring two goals.

He rejoined Bayer 04 Leverkusen prior to the 2005/06 season. With six goals and seven assists this season, he was one of his team's standout performers, helping them to fifth place in the second half of the season and into the UEFA Cup.

Even though he only had one goal and two assists the following season, he was still a regular, appearing in 30 games. Barnetta remained a fixture at the Werkself in the years that followed, and he was always a goal threat.

Top facts about Tranquillo Barnetta:

Tranquillo Barnetta tore a muscle ligament before the start of the 2011/12 season. That's why he wasn't found until March of 2012.

He made his comeback on March 24, 2012, when he replaced André Schürrle in the 71st minute of matchday 27 against

. He had one assist against 1. FC Kaiserslautern and one assist against

.

By the end of the season, he had made seven league appearances and had only played more than 90 minutes once. Barnetta refused to extend his contract, which was set to expire on June 30, 2012, and thus left Leverkusen after eight years.

During the summer of 2012, FC Schalke 04 signed Barnetta to a contract that would last until June 30, 2015.

Tranquillo Barnetta early life

Barnetta was born in the Swiss city of St. Gallen. His parents are both of Italian heritage. As a teenager, he was a member of his local team.

Regarding

Tranquillo Barnetta’s childhood

, it should be mentioned that he used to walk 30 minutes from his house in St. Gallen, Switzerland to the old Espenmoos Stadium to see FC St. Gallen play when he was a boy.

And before he knew it, he was playing for the same squad, having signed his first professional contract at the age of 17 and spent the first three years of his professional career with his local team. Unfortunately, there is no information regarding

Tranquillo Barnetta’s parents

.

Barnetta described the experience as "wonderful." "I used to be a fan of the aim a year ago." Then you're on the field, ready to play. And you're well aware that all of your buddies are there, watching you play.

"Everything after that was always something [additional] since it was always my desire to play for St. Gallen," he says.

Tranquillo Barnetta personal life

Tranquillo Barnetta enjoys dual citizenship in Switzerland and Italy. He has been a househusband and cares for their two children since retiring from professional football, while his wife now works as a doctor.

Tranquillo Barnetta professional career

An important

fact about Tranquillo Barnetta

is that he appeared in the Bundesliga 21 times in his first season, but only twice as a starter and only once for more than 90 minutes.

He did not score a goal in any of the three competitions, and he only had one assist in the Bundesliga. He was unable to assert himself against the experienced Jefferson Farfán, Michel Bastos, and Raffael, as well as the young Lewis Holtby,

, and Max Meyer, and thus fell short of expectations.

Tranquillo Barnetta club career

A notable fact about Tranquillo Barnetta is that he began his professional career with his local club, St. Gallen, in 2002–2003. He made 30 appearances and scored 5 goals in his debut professional season.

Bayer Leverkusen

Barnetta's first season in Switzerland drew international attention, and he was signed by Bayer Leverkusen in January 2004. He spent his first season at Bayer on loan at Hannover 96 before returning to the club in March 2005.

An important fact about Tranquillo Barnetta is that he became a fixture in the Bayer team after a strong performance at the World Cup in Germany. He had a forgettable 2008–09 season, as Bayer ended two places lower than the previous season and his goal total dipped marginally.

During the summer transfer window, he was linked with a move away from Bayer, with loanee

threatening his spot in the team.

Barnetta recovered his form in the 2009–10 season, scoring a brace in just his second league game and helping Bayer maintain their undefeated record for the first half of the season.

Eintracht Frankfurt/Schalke 04

After his contract with Bayer Leverkusen expired on July 2, 2012, Schalke 04 announced that Barnetta had signed a three-year professional deal with the Gelsenkirchen club until June 30, 2015, in preparation for the Gelsenkirchen club's participation in the Champions League.

Horst Heldt, Schalke's sport and communications manager, described the deal as a free transfer. Barnetta was given the number 27 jersey, which had previously belonged to Ciprian Deac.

A notable

fact about Tranquillo Barnetta

is that he spent the 2013–14 season on loan at

before returning to Schalke 04 in June 2014, where he had joined at the conclusion of the 2011–12 season.

Barnetta scored his first goal for Schalke in his second league encounter of the 2014–15 season on September 23, 2014.

Philadelphia Union

An important fact about Tranquillo Barnetta is that he joined the Philadelphia Union on July 29, 2015. Barnetta scored his first goal for the Union, who were in the middle of their season, on September 20th, in a home victory against the Houston Dynamo.

A notable fact about Tranquillo Barnetta is that he led the Union as the offensive playmaker throughout the 2016 season after a complete preseason with the club. He contributed to Philadelphia's return to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011.

He scored 5 goals and added 4 assists. Prior to the end of the 2016 season, the Union confirmed Barnetta will return to FC St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Barnetta said that he wanted to give back to his local club in front of friends and family while he was still physically capable of doing so. He made 45 appearances and scored six goals in his Philadelphia career.

St. Gallen

On November 14, 2016, Barnetta signed a deal with St. Gallen, which began on January 1, 2017. Barnetta announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2018–19 season.

Tranquillo Barnetta international career

Barnetta, along with future senior colleagues Philippe Senderos and Reto Ziegler, was a member of the Swiss U-17 team that won the 2002 U-17 European Championships.

He was a member of the senior national team and was initially called up for the Euro 2004 tournament, but did not play. After Johann Lonfat got injured and Davide Chiumiento declined a call up as the first option replacement, Barnetta was called up to the squad.

He scored the second goal in Switzerland's group stage victory against Togo at the 2006 World Cup, but he missed a penalty attempt in the shootout against Ukraine, which Switzerland lost 3–0.

A notable

fact about Tranquillo Barnetta

is that he was included to the tournament's Best Young Player shortlist on July 4th. He had a constant presence in 2010 World Cup qualification, as the Swiss qualified by placing first in their group.

Barnetta scored two free kicks in a row against

in the Euro 2012 qualifiers on June 4, 2011. Barnetta was selected to play for Switzerland in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, although he did not appear in any of the games.

Tranquillo Barnetta style of play

Barnetta is a "primarily a creative footballer" who "covers ground and closes down opponents on the football pitch with the sort of tireless energy and dogged determination one might expect from a tigerish central midfielder," according to FIFA's official website. He is known for his "extreme pace, mobility, and creativity" on the left flank.

Barnetta is credited for providing the Swiss national squad with "drive, talent, and maturity."

Tranquillo Barnetta quotes

Because St. Gallen is so close to Germany, he grew up watching a lot of Bundesliga on television. "In St. Gallen, the Bundesliga is more well-known than the Premier League," he said.

And the brilliant midfielder got his opportunity to play there in 2004 when he was signed by Bayer Leverkusen, before going on to have a 10-year Bundesliga career with Hannover 96, FC Schalke 04, and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Some of his best memories from his time in Germany include his first goal with Hannover (while on loan from Leverkusen) and the famous Schalke-Borussia Dortmund derbies.

When recalling the 2006 World Cup, the 36-year-old chuckled, "That's ridiculous. It only goes to show that I'm getting on in years."

However, the memories of that event remain vivid, since Switzerland won their group without conceding a goal in front of a large contingent of Swiss supporters who traveled to Germany for the competition.

"That team's spirit was outstanding," he remarked. Barnetta was a key player in Switzerland's 2006 World Cup triumph, scoring a goal in their second game against Togo and subsequently being nominated for the tournament's Best Young Player award.

The two goals he scored against England at Wembley Stadium during Euro 2012 qualification – both within three minutes of them other – were right up there with that.

"That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he remarked. "I've got a few of them." I like reminiscing about those times. It's always enjoyable to reflect."

Barnetta enjoys playing tennis with friends between seasons since he doesn't get to play much throughout the season. "My forehand is a bit better after this summer," he remarked.

Naturally, he admires his fellow countryman Roger Federer, who is widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time.

"It's incredible to see what he's accomplished throughout the years," Barnetta remarked.

He's watched more baseball and basketball since moving to the United States. He still doesn't understand "the other" game, but he had a good time watching the Super Bowl with his buddies at a Florida sports bar on Sunday.

He remarked, "It was lovely to watch alongside my teammates. They're a bit more knowledgeable about American football than I am, so they can explain a few things." He prefers comedy set in the United States, particularly those with tigers imprisoned in toilets.

"There doesn't have to be a lot of motion," he said. "If that's the case, I'm not fond of it. I like movies like The Hangover and other such fare."

He is fluent in five languages. English, German, Italian, Spanish, and French. Barnetta can communicate in all of these languages; however, he admits that his Spanish and French aren't great.

"The most essential thing is that I can speak with teammates and things," Barnetta added. "However, I am unable to discuss politics or anything else in Spanish or French."

He also said that his Italian isn't terrific. His grandpa, on the other hand, was born in Italy, and he enjoys both Swiss and Italian citizenship.

Barnetta has said about his absence in the media since his resignation in 2019, “Because I'd been in the public eye for so long, everyone knew pretty much everything about me.

That's why I chose this step on purpose. I wanted to get some distance, to be simple, and to stop looking at what I said and did all the time. That was extremely beneficial to me.”

"This total presence has been very draining over the years. There was always interest in me in the past, which is why I chose the general route. Today, I'm not looking for any kind of publicity; I'm just going to take it as it comes.”

Barnetta's passion for his local club is well-known. St. Gallen has always had a particular place in his heart and will continue to do so.

"When I was 11 years old, I signed with them [St. Gallen]. I used to sit in the stands and cheer for the first team while I was on the young squad.

Then, when I was 17, I got the opportunity to play on the same field where I had been a spectator a few months earlier. It was incredible to play in front of my friends and family on that pitch; it was an incredible experience."

Barnetta, on the other hand, was ready to move up after two years at St. Gallen. In the German Bundesliga, he joined Bayer Leverkusen.

"I was 19 at the time, and it was my first trip out of the country. It was a very trying period. There was also the added pressure of having to perform. I did my best to deal with anything that came my way.”

“My relatives and friends came to visit, and everything worked great. Leverkusen seemed like a second home for me after I spent seven years there [2005-2012]. Going to a new nation at such a young age was a fantastic life experience."

Barnetta subsequently moved to Schalke 04, where he stayed for three years until making his way to the United States in 2015.

"Schalke was a fantastic city. There are some fantastic fans there. They rally behind you wholeheartedly because soccer is important to them."

Barnetta gained experience at the highest level in Europe while playing for Schalke and Leverkusen in the Bundelsiga and Champions League, respectively.

"In a Champions or Europa League game, every single minute is incredibly meaningful. When you go out and hear the song, it gives you a tremendous feeling. Those two teams have a lengthy history of playing at a high level. I believe you can see they have a lot of expertise putting together elite teams."

Despite being two top-flight clubs, Schalke and Leverkusen play in entirely different ways. "In Leverkusen, we've always had a really technical squad, so we've always played extremely offensively and tried to create a lot of opportunities."

“We put a greater emphasis on hard effort and aggressive play at Schalke. Nobody wants to play at the stadium of Schalke (Veltins-Arena.) On the pitch, what the spectators generate is unique, and winning on the road there is always difficult."

The Philadelphia Union announced Tranquillo Barnetta's historic move on July 29, 2015. Many people did not anticipate the club to recruit a European player still in his prime.

Barnetta stated, "I was hoping for a fresh experience. I spoke with Jim [Curtin] and Chris Albright initially. I was satisfied with their intentions and eager to go on. I wanted to be a member of a club that was developing and evolving. I'd make the same decision again in a heartbeat."

Some more facts about Tranquillo Barnetta:

A notable fact about Tranquillo Barnetta is that he was loaned out to Eintracht Frankfurt for the rest of the season on September 2, 2013.

Barnetta returned to FC Schalke 04 for the 2014/15 season after the club and Eintracht Frankfurt were unable to reach an agreement on a further loan or permanent commitment.  He scored his first goal for Schalke on September 23, 2014, in a 3-0 away win over

.

Nonetheless, he played a minor role in Jens Keller's plans. Only under Roberto Di Matteo did he get more playing time, and he scored the game-winning goal in a 4-1 victory over 1. FSV Mainz 05.

With three assists in Schalke's 4-0 away win over

, he contributed to the team's victory. Barnetta's contract, which expires at the end of the season, will not be renewed.

He joined the Philadelphia Union of the North American Major League Soccer in late July 2015. He agreed to terms on a contract that will last until the end of 2016.

Barnetta has been back in action for FC St. Gallen since January 1, 2017. His contract was set to expire in the summer of 2019. Barnetta announced his retirement at the end of the season on April 23, 2019.

A notable fact about Tranquillo Barnetta is that he scouted all of Switzerland's junior national teams. He won the U-17 European Championship in 2002 and competed in the U21 European Championship in Germany in 2004.

He was called up in early June 2004 to replace the injured Johann Lonfat in the Swiss senior national team squad for Euro 2004, but he did not play in the tournament. On September 8, 2004, he made his national team debut against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier.

On March 1, 2006, he scored his first international goal in the Swiss team's 3-1 victory over Scotland in Glasgow. Barnetta scored and assisted in his team's 2-0 win over Togo in the second World Cup group game on June 19, 2006.

An important fact about Tranquillo Barnetta is that he also competed for Switzerland in the 2008 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup. He appeared in all three preliminary round games of the Swiss in both tournaments.

Barnetta was in the Swiss national team's squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, as he had been in previous tournaments, but he did not play any games.

In the 2008/09 season, the Swiss reached the DFB Cup final with Leverkusen, losing to SV Werder Bremen.

Barnetta returned to the 2010/11 season as a regular under Coach Jupp Heynckes, but shortly after the start of the second half of the season, he tore a medial meniscus in a test match, putting him out for an extended period of time.

He returned to the team on Matchday 27 and did not play another full game for the remainder of the season. It was his first season with Bayer in which he played fewer than 30 league games. Despite this, he had the best season of his career in the Bundesliga, finishing second.

Tranquillo Barnetta social media

Regarding

Tranquillo Barnetta social media

, it should be mentioned that he does not have any pages on any social media platforms.

Tranquillo Barnetta body measurements

Speaking about

Tranquillo Barnetta body measurements

, it should be mentioned that the former player is 178cm and 68kg.

Tranquillo Barnetta net worth and salary

Tranquillo Barnetta's net worth

is estimated to be around $8 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.

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