Eric Hassli

Eric Hassli
	Hassli with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth	3 May 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Sarreguemines, France
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
0000–2000	Sarreguemines FC
Senior career*
Years	Team
2000–2003	Metz
2002	→ Southampton (loan)
2003–2004	Neuchâtel Xamax
2004–2005	Servette
2005–2006	St. Gallen
2006–2007	Valenciennes
2007–2011	Zürich
2011–2012	Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2012	Toronto FC
2013	FC Dallas
2014–2015	San Antonio Scorpions
2014	Las Vegas Legends (indoor)
Total
International career
2002	France U21
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Eric Hassli (born 3 May 1981) is a French former professional footballer who played as a forward.^[1]

Career

Early career

Hassli began his career at his hometown club Sarreguemines FC. In 2000 Hassli moved 40 miles (64 km) west to play for FC Metz. In 2002, he moved on loan to England to play for Southampton. He scored two goals in eight matches for Southampton's reserve side but made no appearances for their first team. Southampton decided not to sign Eric Hassli permanently and so he returned to Metz.^[2]

Start in Switzerland

Six months after returning from Southampton Hassli was on the move once again. He moved to Switzerland to play for Neuchâtel Xamax in the 2003–04 season. His time at the club was not a success as he struggled to break into the first team. He managed just thirteen appearances, scoring two goals.

At the end of the season he moved to Geneva to play for Servette FC of the Swiss Challenge League. However, on 4 February 2005, the parent company of the club was declared bankrupt. It had run debts of over 10 million Swiss francs, having not paid the players since the previous November, and consequently the club suffered an exodus of players looking for paying clubs.

Hassli left to join FC St. Gallen of the Swiss Super League, a club in the very east of Switzerland.

Breakthrough in Switzerland

The transfer to FC St. Gallen proved the making of Hassli. His time at the club enhanced his reputation as he scored 18 goals in 47 games.

Return to France

At the end of the 2005–06 season. Hassli attracted the attention of plenty of clubs and returned to France to play for newly promoted Valenciennes in Ligue 1 during the 2006–07 season. Back in France he had to settle for a place in the reserves as he only made 21 appearances, scoring 2 goals.

Return to Switzerland

At the end of the season he returned to Switzerland to play for FC Zürich. During his first season at the club, the 2007–08 season, he struggled to find his rhythm. In February 2008, Daejeon Citizen in the K-League attempted to bring Hassli, but they could not bring him due to his high transfer fee. He remained at the club despite this and during the 2008–09 season he regularly topped the goalscoring charts. While with Zürich Hassli scored 35 goals in 108 competitive matches.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

On 4 March 2011, Hassli signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer as the team's first designated player.^[3] Swiss media reported that Hassli was granted an early contract termination by FC Zürich, allowing him to leave on a free transfer to Vancouver.^[4] He made his debut for the Whitecaps on 19 March 2011, in a game against Toronto FC, scoring two of his team's four goals, one of which was the club's first goal in MLS competition.^[5] In the Whitecaps' 11 June 2011 match against the Seattle Sounders, Hassli scored two goals: the first from the penalty spot; the second a volley from an apparently harmless position on the right edge of the 18 yard box that flew into the top left hand corner. The latter has been called one of the best goals in MLS history.^[6]^[7]

In a May 2012 Canadian Championship match against Toronto FC, Hassli scored with a volley in stoppage time. The goal was nominated for the 2012 FIFA Puskás Award.^[8]

Toronto FC

On 20 July 2012, Hassli was traded from the Whitecaps to Toronto FC in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and an international roster spot. Hassli remained a Designated Player for Toronto FC, with Toronto needing a replacement for Danny Koevermans who suffered an ACL injury.^[9] Hassli made his debut for Toronto on 4 August, in a 2–1 loss at the hands of Chicago Fire, Hassli was subbed out in the 61st minute for Andrew Wiedeman.^[10] Hassli scored his first goal for Toronto in his second game as a red on his home debut against Portland Timbers 15 August, the game ended in a 2-2 home draw.^[11]

FC Dallas

On 4 February 2013, Hassli was traded from Toronto FC to FC Dallas in exchange for a second-round 2014 MLS SuperDraft pick.^[12] Hassli and FC Dallas mutually parted ways ahead of the 2014 season.^[13]

San Antonio Scorpions

On 18 March 2014, the San Antonio Scorpions announced that Hassli had signed for the 2014 season.^[14] The franchise ceased operations following the 2015 season.^[15]

Las Vegas Legends

On 2 December 2014, Hassli made his only appearance for indoor squad Las Vegas Legends against Ontario Fury in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL).^[16]