Eric Hassli

PROFILE:
A tall striker known for his physical strength and technical ability, Eric Hassli joined Whitecaps FC as the club's first Designated Player on Mar. 4, 2011. The native of Sarreguemines, France, comes to the Major League Soccer club after spells in Switzerland, France, and England.

MLS EXPERIENCE:

2012: Hassli joined Toronto FC on July 20, in a trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The target forward scored three goals and two assists in eight appearances with Toronto FC. 2011: Hassli appeared in 44 matches for Vancouver, scoring 12 goals and five assists during league play. He was named as one of six inactive players on the MLS All-Star roster on July 25, 2011.

2011: Hassli's MLS debut will long be remembered by Whitecaps FC fans. In the club's debut match at Empire Field on Mar. 19, the striker scored the club's first-ever goal in MLS before adding Vancouver's fourth goal in Whitecaps FC's 4-2 home win over Canadian rivals Toronto FC. He then scored Vancouver's first penalty in MLS during a 1-1 home draw with New England Revolution on Apr. 6. Hassli scored again against Toronto FC on May 18, as Whitecaps FC were held to a 1-1 home draw in the first leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship final. The striker scored his second penalty of the season during a 1-1 home draw with New York Red Bulls on May 28. On June 11, Hassli had a memorable two-goal performance during a 2-2 draw at Interstate 5 rivals Seattle Sounders FC. He scored his third penalty of the season to give Whitecaps FC the lead before striking a brilliant volleyed equalizer in the late stages at Qwest Field. Hassli's efforts earned him the MLS Goal of the Week award in a landslide vote and a spot in the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 13. The goal also earned him a 2011 'Best Play' nomination for an Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award (ESPY) by American cable sports television network ESPN. On July 20, Hassli scored two goals during a 2-2 away draw with San Jose Earthquakes. On July 25, Hassli was named as one of six inactive players on the 2011 MLS All-Star final roster, as voted by MLS players. On Aug. 7, Hassli scored two goals and recorded an assist in Whitecaps FC's 4-2 home win over Chicago Fire. The striker's efforts earned him a spot in the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 21. He then assisted on Camilo's goal during the 3-1 home defeat to Pacific Northwest rivals Seattle Sounders FC on Sept. 24.

SWISS SUPER LEAGUE:

• 2010-11: Prior to his move to Whitecaps FC, Hassli scored four goals in 16 Swiss Super League appearances for FC Zürich. Those goals came in a 4-2 defeat at Berner Sport Club (BSC) Young Boys on Feb. 13, 2011; a 3-1 home victory over former club FC St. Gallen on Feb. 19, 2011; and two goals in a 5-0 home win over AC Bellinzona on Feb. 26, 2011. The striker also scored the match winner in a 4-0 victory at third-tier 1.Liga outfit FC Tuggen in the third round of the Schweizer Cup on Nov. 20, 2010.
• 2009-10: Hassli appeared in the UEFA Champions League with Swiss champions FC Zürich that season. This included both legs of the club's third qualifying round success over NK Maribor, with the striker scoring the second goal in the 3-2 first-leg defeat to the Slovenian club on July 29, 2009. Hassli then helped FC Zürich to the Champions League group stage after appearing in the two-leg playoff win over Latvia's FK Ventspils in Aug. 2009. Playing in Group C, the striker appeared in FC Zürich 5-2 home defeat to Spanish giants Real Madrid on Sept. 15, 2009. In the Swiss Super League, Hassli scored goals against BSC Young Boys (July 14, 2009), FC St. Gallen (July 22, 2009), and FC Luzern (Aug. 22, 2009), while he also scored for the club's U-21 side (FC Zürich II) during a 7-1 home win over Sport-Réunis de Delémont in Switzerland's third-tier 1.Liga on Apr. 10, 2010.
• 2008-09: The striker finished third in the Swiss Super League goalscoring charts, as the Frenchman led FC Zürich to the league title that season. Among his 17 goals and 10 assists that year, Hassli scored twice in a 7-1 win at FC Vaduz on Sept. 14, 2008, and a 2-2 draw at BSC Young Boys on Nov. 2, 2008. He then struck a hat-trick in a 5-3 win at FC Vaduz on May 12, 2009. Hassli also scored in the first leg of the club's UEFA Cup second qualifying round match-up versus Austria's SK Sturm Graz on Aug. 14, 2008, as well as a hat-trick in a 6-0 victory at FC Widnau in the first round of the Schweizer Cup on Sept. 21, 2008. The striker also appeared in both legs of FC Zürich's UEFA Cup first-round defeat to Italian giants AC Milan.
• 2007-08: Following a season in his native France with Valenciennes FC, Hassli returned to Switzerland when he joined FC Zürich. He scored goals against FC Sion (Aug. 19, 2007), FC Basel (Sept. 26, 2007), and Neuchâtel Xamax (Mar. 30, 2008), as FC Zürich finished third in the Swiss Super League standings that year. The striker also scored two goals in a 6-0 victory at FC Herrliberg in the first round of the Schweizer Cup on Sept. 15, 2007. Hassli also appeared in European club competition that season. This included both legs in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, as FC Zürich fell 3-1 on aggregate to Turkish club Beşiktaş J.K. in Aug. 2007. After failing to reach the UEFA Champions League group stages, FC Zürich took part in the UEFA Cup, with Hassli making five appearances for the Swiss outfit, as they reached the Round of 32 before falling 3-1 on aggregate to German giants Hamburger SV.
• 2005-06: The striker's second season with FC St. Gallen was a highly productive one, as Hassli scored 13 goals and added eight assists that season. This included five two-goal performances versus FC Thun (July 30, 2005), FC Basel (Aug. 14, 2005), Neuchâtel Xamax (Dec. 4, 2005), FC Zürich (Apr. 23, 2006), and FC Schaffhausen (May 14, 2006).
• 2004-05: Following a season with Neuchâtel Xamax, Hassli joined Servette FC, where he scored three goals in 11 appearances with the Geneva-based outfit. Those goals came against FC Zürich (Aug. 21, 2004) and BSC Young Boys (Aug. 29 & Nov. 28, 2004). He also made his European club debut with Servette FC, having appeared in both legs of their UEFA Cup second qualifying round defeat to Hungary's Újpest FC in Aug. 2004. The striker's time in Geneva came to an abrupt end when Servette FC's parent company declared bankruptcy on Feb. 4, 2005. As a result, Hassli joined FC St. Gallen, where he scored five goals in 13 appearances. This included a two-goal performance in a 3-1 home win over FC Basel on Feb. 20, 2005.
• 2003-04: Hassli began his career in the Swiss Super League with Neuchâtel Xamax, where he scored two goals in 13 appearances for the club.

FRANCE:

• 2006-07: After completing his first spell in Switzerland, Hassli joined newly-promoted Ligue 1 outfit Valenciennes FC. He scored two goals for the northern French outfit that season, with the striker getting on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory at Lille OSC on Apr. 1, 2007, and in a 1-1 draw at Club Sportif Sedan Ardennes on May 19, 2007.
• 2002-03: The striker helped FC Metz make a return to Ligue 1 after making 16 appearances for the northeast French club. Hassli's lone goal that season came in a 2-0 victory at FC Gueugnon on Aug. 3, 2002.
• 2001-02: Hassli made just four appearances for FC Metz before moving to the English Premier League for a loan spell with Southampton FC. FC Metz suffered relegation from Ligue 1 at the end of the season.
• 2000-01: In his first season with FC Metz, Hassli scored two goals in 18 appearances. This included the match winner in a 1-0 home win over Paris Saint-Germain FC on Aug. 19, 2000, and a 2-2 home draw versus Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne on Oct. 14, 2000. FC Metz finished 12th in France's top-flight Ligue 1 that season.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:

• 2001-02: During his second season with France's FC Metz, Hassli went on loan with Southampton FC. The Saints finished mid-table in the English Premier League standings that season.

INTERNATIONAL:

• U-21: Hassli made several appearances for France's U-21 squad. This included the striker's participation in qualifying for the 2002 UEFA European U-21 Championship, with Raymond Domenech's side finishing runners-up at the tournament in Switzerland that year.

YOUTH/AMATEUR:
Hassli started his soccer career with L’Association sarregueminoise de football 93 (ASF 93) in his hometown of Sarreguemines, France, before embarking on his professional career with FC Metz in 2000.

PERSONAL:
Hassli was born and raised in the Moselle department commune of Sarreguemines, which is based in the Lorraine region of northeast France and right next to the border with Germany.

INTERESTING FACTS:
When not concentrating on his soccer career, Hassli enjoys listening to music, dining out, and visiting friends. The striker is also a fan of English Premier League giants Chelsea FC.