# 2016–17 Swiss Challenge League

The 2016–17 Swiss Challenge League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Brack.ch Challenge League, was the 14th season of the Swiss Challenge League, the second tier in the Swiss football pyramid. It began on 23 July 2016 and ended on 3 June 2017.
On 1 May 2017 FC Le Mont decided to voluntarily relegate three steps down in the league system after being denied a licence to play in the Swiss Challenge League.
On 18 May 2017, Zürich became champions of the 2016–17 Challenge League following their 1–1 draw against Servette and Neuchâtel Xamax's 2–1 defeat at Schaffhausen. They are thus promoted back to the top flight immediately following their relegation the previous season.

## Participating teams

2015–16 Swiss Challenge League champions FC Lausanne-Sport were promoted to the 2016–17 Swiss Super League. They were replaced by FC Zürich, who got relegated after last place finish in the 2015–16 Swiss Super League. FC Biel-Bienne got relegated from the Challenge League as the Swiss Football League stripped Biel-Bienne of their league licence. Servette FC won promotion from the 2015–16 1. Liga Promotion.

### Stadia and locations

| Team | Venue | Capacity |
| FC Aarau | Stadion Brügglifeld | 8,000 |
| FC Chiasso | Stadio Comunale Riva IV | 5,000 |
| FC Le Mont | Stade Sous-Ville | 4,000 |
| Neuchâtel Xamax | Stade de la Maladière | 12,000 |
| Servette FC | Stade de Genève | 30,084 |
| FC Schaffhausen | Stadion Breite LIPO Park Schaffhausen | 4,200 8,200 |
| FC Wil | IGP Arena | 6,958 |
| FC Winterthur | Schützenwiese | 8,550 |
| FC Wohlen | Stadion Niedermatten | 3,624 |
| FC Zürich | Letzigrund | 23,605 |

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer |
| FC Aarau | Marco Schällibaum | Nike |
| FC Chiasso | Baldo Raineri | Primato |
| FC Le Mont | John Dragani | Karhu |
| Neuchâtel Xamax | Michel Decastel | Erima |
| FC Schaffhausen | Murat Yakin | gpard |
| Servette FC | Meho Kodro | 14fourteen |
| FC Wil | Maurizio Jacobacci | Nike |
| FC Winterthur | Umberto Romano (interim) | gpard |
| FC Wohlen | Francesco Gabriele | Adidas |
| FC Zürich | Uli Forte | Nike |

### Managerial changes

| Club | Name | Date of departure | Position in table | Replacement | Date of appointment |
| Wil | Ugur Tütüneker | 24 August 2016 | 7th | Martin Rueda | 3 September 2016 |
| Wohlen | Martin Rueda | 2 September 2016 | 9th | Francesco Gabriele | 7 September 2016 |
| Schaffhausen | Axel Thoma | 7 December 2016 | 10th | Nedjad Kuruzovic | Interim |
| Wil | Martin Rueda | 12 December 2016 | 3rd | Ronny Teuber | 12 December 2016 |
| Schaffhausen | Nedjad Kuruzovic | Interim | 10th | Murat Yakin | 21 December 2016 |
| Servette | Anthony Braizat | 30 December 2016 | 5th | Meho Kodro | 30 December 2016 |
| Winterthur | Sven Christ | 14 February 2017 | 9th | Umberto Romano | Interim |
| Wil | Ronny Teuber | 27 March 2017 | 6th | Maurizio Jacobacci | 27 March 2017 |
| Chiasso | Giuseppe Scienza | 18 April 2017 | 10th | Baldo Raineri | 18 April 2017 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Zürich (C, P) | 36 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 91 | 30 | +61 | 85 | Promotion to 2017–18 Swiss Super League |
| 2 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 36 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 66 | 36 | +30 | 73 | |
| 3 | Servette | 36 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 55 | 43 | +12 | 62 | |
| 4 | Schaffhausen | 36 | 16 | 3 | 17 | 64 | 59 | +5 | 51 | |
| 5 | Aarau | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 57 | 64 | −7 | 45 | |
| 6 | Winterthur | 36 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 45 | 62 | −17 | 41 | |
| 7 | Wohlen | 36 | 12 | 3 | 21 | 42 | 60 | −18 | 39 | |
| 8 | Chiasso | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 43 | 63 | −20 | 37 | |
| 9 | Le Mont (R) | 36 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 31 | 54 | −23 | 35 | Relegation to 2017–18 2. Liga Interregional |
| 10 | Wil | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 35 | 58 | −23 | 34 | |
* ↑ Le Mont will take voluntary relegation three steps down
* ↑ Wil were deducted three points for licence rules violation