This European League Is Being Led By An Unlikely Side... And You've Heard Nothing About It

The Swiss League Side Dominating The League That You Won't Have Even Heard Of

Across Europe this season we are seeing a lot of shocks; here in England, for example, Sunderland are absolutely flying in the league - well, at least they were for a while - and Liverpool look like they've forgotten how to kick a ball despite being reigning champions.

However, perhaps the most surprising campaign is currently unfolding over in Switzerland, where FC Thun are top of the Swiss Super League and leading by 7 points.

So what makes this such a shock, I hear you asking? Well, FC Thun only rejoined the top flight this season after being out of it since 2020.

After a 5-year hiatus from playing in the top flight, they have come back to announce themselves as the best side in the league; talk about dramatic comebacks.

Something special is happening in the Swiss league. 🤯

Newly promoted FC Thun are 7 points clear at the top, and after hammering rivals Young Boys 4–1, they are starting to dream.

Thun have never lifted a major trophy in their 127-year history. 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/5AFJ6MmYHK

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) January 27, 2026

Who are FC Thun?

Founded in 1898, FC Thun hail from the Bernese Oberland town of Thun. They play in the Stockhorn Arena, which has a capacity of 10,000, and have very often fluctuated between the top flight and second division.

Perhaps their crowning achievement was achieving the group stages of the Champions League in the 2004/05 season, in which they were placed in a group with Arsenal, Ajax and Sparta Prague.

In the Champions League the side had a solid showing for a debut club with a win and a draw; however, they did in fact not qualify for the knockout rounds.

As mentioned earlier, they were relegated back in the 19/20 season and until this season have been in the Swiss second league, which brings us up to now, where they find themselves 7 clear at the top.

FC Thun and Ljubo Milicevic away to Arsenal at Highbury in the Champions League will live long in the memory. https://t.co/Lxn83gsmvW pic.twitter.com/fujNZejjdx

— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) January 27, 2026

A Quick Rundown On How The Swiss Super League Works

You may be wondering, 'why are you telling me how a league works?' Well, that's because the Swiss league is strange in comparison to what we know in the major leagues.

As of 2022, 'The Scottish Model' was adopted and since then has been in place for the league; any Scottish readers may as well skip this bit, as you'll know how it works, as the theme is basically the exact same.

The Swiss League is comprised of 12 teams, each of which plays each other 3 times to make up 33 games.

After these 33 games have been played, the league splits in two, the 'Championship group' and the 'Relegation group', with the top 6 sides going into the championship round and the bottom 6 in the relegation group.

Every side then plays the other 5 just once to make up the 38 games in a league season.

Teams carry through their points from the main 33 games into the respective groups, and after they have played the rounds, their final league positions are the deciders for who becomes champions, gets relegated or gets spots in the European tournaments.

The 127th season of the Swiss Super League begins tonight!

An expanded league, a new format, beautiful stadiums, passionate fans and exciting players.

Here are some reasons why we think Swiss football is so good... 👇 pic.twitter.com/ZQrrAJCGpX

— Craig King - 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘀EN (@FootballSwissEN) July 22, 2023

The season so far for FC Thun

So I wanted to outline how the league works to show that extra steps will be in place and it will get tougher for Thun to become Swiss League Champions; however, this is not to downplay how well they are performing this season.

To put into perspective what the side are doing this season, the equivalent would be like if Norwich came up to the Premier League next season and were leading the competition by 7 points with over half of the season already played.

This shows that it hasn't just been a fluke start for the side; they have kept it up consistently and have recorded some huge results in the process.

To pick out some of the main ones, last weekend they beat European regulars BSC Young Boys 4-1, did the double over Servette with 3-1 and 1-0 victories and had a huge 4-0 away win against FC Zurich back in August.

FC Thun also can brag about having scored the most goals in the league with 46 scored and the 2nd least conceded with only 25, which also gives them the best goal difference in the league. Furthermore, the side also has the highest number of big chances created in the league with 73.

What they're doing is simply incredible, and hopefully they actually go on to become first-time champions of the Swiss Super League; it's certainly one to keep an eye on, and it would absolutely be deserved.

Elmin Rastoder with two really well taken goals for FC Thun today, 4-1 win over Young Boys.

Rastoder in the best form of his career: 4 goals & 2 assists in his last 3 games.

FC Thun the fairtayle strory in 🇨🇭, promoted this season & currently top. pic.twitter.com/aPojrlM5ae

— Football Macedonia (@MacedonianFoot_) January 25, 2026