Welcome to the History Blog featuring the connections between Switzerland and the Midwest. I am Joerg Oberschmied, Deputy Consul General in Chicago. My interest in history started at an early age and continues to this day. The views expressed are solely mine and I hope you enjoy these journeys through time.

Vincent Cavin serves as Technical Director with the Chicago Fire FC football (soccer) team. After a 10-year playing career in Switzerland, Cavin began his coaching career in 2005. He joined the Swiss Federation in 2010 as an Assistant Coach and analyst with the U-21 team that finished as runner-up in the 2011 European U-21 Championship and then participated in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. He spent 13 years in various capacities with the Swiss Men’s National Team and participated in three FIFA World Cups, two UEFA European Championships and advanced to the final four of the UEFA Nations League. He also served as a course leader and instructor for the Swiss Football Association for multiple coaching education licenses. Prior to his engagement with the Chicago Fire, Cavin also served as Assistant Coach with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Joerg Oberschmied: You grew up in Switzerland and played professional football (soccer). Tell us about that experience.

Vincent Cavin: I grew up in the French part of Switzerland in a small village of 300 people and for me and my family football (soccer) was everything, both my father and my grandfather played and sometimes our environment decides which sport we pick. My dream was to become a professional player, but in Switzerland a good education was more important. I went to college and became a teacher and afterwards became a professional player at Lausanne Sports. After that I played for AC Bellinzona and FC Lugano, where I finished my playing career. Because I was a teacher I pursued a coaching career, becoming a youth coach and Youth Academy Director. During that time, the U21 coach of the Swiss National team was looking for a scout. I used video tools for my scouting which impressed him. From there I became the video analyst for the senior National team.

JO: Aside from your parents, which person(s) had the greatest influence on your development in Switzerland?

VC: I would say Lucien Favre, a former Swiss national player and coach. I was lucky we came from the same region. When I was 16, he started his coaching career and mentored me. He later became a great coach and was also successful in Germany and France. He taught me the way in the football world. Another influential person was Ottmar Hitzfeld, with whom I did the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I picked up many pointers from him.

JO: What brought you to America and in particular to the Midwest?

VC: After ten years with the national team, I was looking for a change and Greg Berhalter, who at the time coached the U.S. National team, was looking for an assistant coach. I joined in 2024 planning to participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, but following a disappointing Copa America, the Federation decided to change the coach. At that point Greg took over the Chicago Fire and asked me to join him as Technical Director, establishing a connection between the Academy and the first team.

JO: You worked for many years with the Swiss national team. What lessons did you take away from that experience?

VC: Working with the Swiss National team was an amazing experience. As my children grew up, they realized that I did not have a normal job like other parents. But football is the same regardless if it is a youth team or the national team. The quality of the players is different, but the environment is the same. Even at that highest level I realized that the players are very humble.

JO: What are the main differences between football in Switzerland and in the U.S.?

VC: The main difference is when kids start to play. In Switzerland it is more a community-based activity, whereas in America it is school based. Having been involved with both national teams, there is also a cultural difference. In America the leading sports are American Football and Baseball, and the coaches here are very analytical, trying to explain the game more to the players. In Europe, coaches try to create the right environment, and the players then figure it out. For European players coming here thus creates certain difficulties.

JO: You are currently taking on several new responsibilities with the Chicago Fire, tell us about them.

VC: When I joined, there was not much in terms of connection between the first and second team and the Academy. The goal was to get everyone work in the same direction. It helped that we had a new training center, whereas before they were dispersed. In the beginning I oversaw the technical aspect and now in addition I am also more involved with the second team and the academy.

JO: What do you see as the greatest global challenges in football going forward?

VC: To keep it simple. Now the money involved is making it more complex with many different actors involved.

JO: What do you value most about Switzerland and what do you value most about the United States?

VC: Traveling around the world, every time I returned, I realized how fortunate Switzerland is with its high quality of life. In America everything is possible and more open. People are more extrovert and not as judgmental.

JO: What advice would you give a young person starting out today and wishing to enter the football business?

VC: Firstly, to be prepared, this is a world with many opportunities. Often people are not ready to do the hard work. America needs coaches and there are great opportunities for people who are prepared for the challenge.

JO: Vincent Cavin, thank you for taking the time to share these stories with our readers.

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