Fabian Frei

Fabian Frei
Frei with Basel in 2019
Personal information
Full name Fabian Frei
Date of birth (1989-01-08) 8 January 1989
Place of birth Frauenfeld, Switzerland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)
Youth career
1998–2000 Frauenfeld
2000–2004 Winterthur
2004–2007 Basel
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Basel II 31 (11)
2007–2015 Basel 172 (15)
2009–2011St. Gallen (loan) 64 (13)
2015–2018 Mainz 05 53 (1)
2018–2024 Basel 214 (25)
2024–2025 Winterthur 30 (2)
Total 564 (67)
International career
2004–2005 Switzerland U16 11 (4)
2005–2006 Switzerland U17 14 (10)
2006–2007 Switzerland U18 5 (2)
2007–2008 Switzerland U19 7 (5)
2008 Switzerland U20 3 (0)
2008–2011 Switzerland U21 18 (4)
2012 Switzerland Olympic 4 (0)
2011–2022 Switzerland 24 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Fabian Frei (born 8 January 1989) is a Swiss former professional footballer who primarily played as a defensive midfielder or centre-back. He is best known for holding the records for most appearances in competitive games for giants Basel and for most appearances in the Swiss Super League, with 543 and 468 appearances, respectively. During his time in Basel, he won five Swiss championships and three Swiss Cups.

Internationally, Frei represented Switzerland at several youth levels, most notably being part of the squad that finished as runners-up at the 2011 U21 Euro. He made his senior international debut for Switzerland on 7 October 2011 and was selected to represent his country at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He made 24 appearances for the national team and participated at two senior international tournaments, UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

He is of no relation to former club and country teammate Alexander Frei.