Alexander Frei (born 15 July 1979 in Basel) is a
Swiss footballer.
Frei signed a 4-year contract with Borussia Dortmund
on 29 June, 2007. Dortmund paid a transfer fee of
approximately 5 million euros for him. From the end
of the 2006–07 season he has been continually linked
with Celtic, whether this move will materialise
however is in doubt after Borussia Dortmund released
a statement insisting that Frei would go nowhere,
even if a club offered 25 million euros.
Frei was the highest goalscorer in the French league
for the 2004-05 season with 20 goals, playing for
Rennes and was named Swiss Footballer of the year
the same season.
He has recovered from a long-term injury this season
at current club Borussia Dortmund to score six times
in his last eight appearances and prove his fitness
for the forthcoming European Football Championships
- for which the Schweitzer Nati will be co-hosts
along with Austria.
Frei played for Switzerland at Euro 2004 and at the
FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany. He scored two goals
in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, one in the match against
Togo, and another a controversial goal against South
Korea. Until now he has been capped 56 times for his
country (as of May 2008).
Frei is Switzerland's all time top scorer with 35
goals.
During Euro 2004, in a group match against England,
Frei was caught on camera appearing to spit at
Steven Gerrard. Although no action was taken at the
time, Frei was later charged and given a provisional
15 day suspension by UEFA. Despite this, he was
subsequently cleared of the charge on appeal.
