Departure Confirmed: Fabio Celestini Out as FC Basel Coach
After a Double Win, a New Chapter Begins for the Club
BASEL, June 13, 2025 – FC Basel has announced that Fabio Celestini is no longer the team’s coach. After 19 months at the helm, the club confirmed the news today at 4:48 p.m., with Ludovic Magnin set to take over.
- Fabio Celestini’s 19-month tenure at FC Basel ends.
- Ludovic Magnin is set to become the new coach.
- The announcement comes a week before the new season’s training begins.
So, what’s the deal? FC Basel is moving on, confirming that Fabio Celestini has left his position as coach, just a week before the start of the new season’s training.
The End of an Era
The club’s announcement came on Friday. Discussions about Celestini’s future began eleven days before the official statement. After a cup victory in Wankdorf, Celestini said, “We want the best solution for FC Basel.”
Reports suggest Celestini had informed the club’s leadership before the final against FC Biel that he saw his coaching future elsewhere. Contract details likely prolonged the situation; Celestini had a contract through summer 2026 but wanted to leave. Adding to the complexity, he didn’t yet have a new job lined up, making the terms of his departure trickier.
Daniel Stucki’s Words of Praise
Celestini’s 19 months with Basel conclude with a Double win, stabilizing the team after taking over in October 2023 and saving them from relegation. Sports director Daniel Stucki stated, “Of course, especially after a season like this, we would have liked to see Fabio as head coach. At the same time, we understand his motives for the early end of his time in Basel and the ambition to face a new challenge.”
It’s worth noting that the club’s leadership wasn’t always thrilled with Celestini’s work. In March 2025, during the national team break, intensive discussions were held with the coach.
Did you know? FC Basel’s winning streak followed the discussions held in March 2025. The club then publicly reaffirmed their support for Celestini, though his future remained uncertain.
Celestini’s New Adventure
Celestini is ready for his next move. He said, “I have the feeling that my job is completed at FCB and I am now ready for a new adventure. I go with an incredibly positive feeling because of what we have achieved in the past few weeks and thank everyone in and around the club for this great experience.”
While Celestini’s departure is official, the appointment of his replacement is still in the works. Ludovic Magnin and FC Basel have reportedly agreed to a collaboration since last week. The 46-year-old is set to become the new coach. However, Magnin also has a contract with Lausanne-Sport until June 2026. Final details need to be sorted out quickly, as the next season begins on Friday.
