*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:17, 19 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:06, 26 March 2024 (UTC)
Beginning his career at his hometown club of Wil, Schär transferred to Basel in 2012, winning the Swiss Super League in all three of his seasons there before his move to 1899 Hoffenheim.
Born in Wil, in the Canton of St. Gallen, Schär began his playing career at hometown club Wil and rose through the youth ranks, soon playing regularly for Wil's reserve team. He eventually made his league debut on 29 November 2009 against FC Stade Nyonnais, coming on as a late substitute. He scored his first Swiss Challenge League goal in an away win against Yverdon-Sport on 30 October 2010.
Basel
On 4 July 2012, Schär transferred to Basel on a three-year contract with the option of a fourth.[3][4] He made his Swiss Super League debut on 29 September in a 1–1 away draw against Lausanne-Sport.[5] He scored his first goal for his new club on 7 October in the St. Jakob-Park during the 3–2 home win against Servette, heading an equaliser following a corner from Fabian Frei.[6]
The 2014–15 season was a very successful one for Basel and Schär. Basel won the championship for the sixth time in a row that season.[11] In the 2014–15 Swiss Cup they reached the final, but for the third season in a row, they finished as runners-up, losing 0–3 to Sion in the final. Basel entered the Champions League in the group stage and reached the knockout stages, with a 1–1 away draw against Liverpool enough to take them through.[12] Basel later lost to Porto in the Round of 16.[13]
Hoffenheim
On 4 June 2015, Schär signed for Hoffenheim.[14] On 16 April 2016, he scored his only goal at the club from a header in a 2–1 victory over Hertha BSC.[15]
On 26 July 2018, following Deportivo de La Coruña's relegation from La Liga, Schär signed a three-year deal with Newcastle United after the club had activated his £3 million buy out clause in his contract.[18]
He made his debut for the club on 26 August 2018 in a 2–1 defeat to Chelsea. Schär scored his first goals for Newcastle against Cardiff City on 19 January 2019, netting twice in a 3–0 victory at St James' Park.[19] He scored his third Newcastle goal against Burnley in a 2–0 win, opening the scoring with a 30-yard strike that would win Premier League and Match of the Day's February Goal of the Month competition. His fourth goal came in the final game of the season, and eventual 4–0 win over Fulham.[20]
On 4 October 2023, Schär scored his first Champions League goal for Newcastle United against Paris Saint-Germain in a 4–1 home victory during the 2023–24 season group stage.[21]
On 8 January 2024, Schär extended his contract with Newcastle until the summer of 2025.[22]
On 13 April 2024, Schär netted his 50th career goal during United's 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.[23]
International career
Youth
Schär was a Switzerland youth international having played at under-20 and under-21 level. Schär made his international debut for the Swiss U-20 team in a game against Poland U-20 on 17 November 2011. He played his first game for the Swiss U-21 on 29 February 2012 in the 2–1 defeat against the Austrian U-21. He scored his first goal for the Swiss U-21 during his fourth appearance for them on 10 September 2012 in a match against Estonia U-21[24] This was the final game in the qualification to the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. Switzerland finished in second position and entered the play-offs. In the first leg of the qualification play-offs on 12 October 2012 against the German U-21 team Schär was shown the red card after he fouled Sebastian Polter as last man. Despite the goal from the penalty spot the game ended in a 1–1 draw.[25]
On 6 September 2013, scored his first goal for the Swiss senior team in a 4–4 home draw against Iceland. Four days later, on 10 September, Schär scored two more goals in a 2–0 away win over Norway.[30]
On 13 May 2014, Schär was named in Switzerland's squad for the 2014 World Cup.[31] He made his tournament debut as a starter in the team's third match, replacing the injured Steve von Bergen and helping Switzerland to a clean sheet in a 3–0 defeat of Honduras.[32]
In May 2019, he was named to the national team for the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League final matches and played in all two matches but finished 4th.[35]
In 2021, he was called up to the national team for the 2020 UEFA European Championship, where the team created one of the main sensations of the tournament reaching the quarter-finals.[36]
In November 2022, he was selected in the final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[37]
Personal life
Schär has a girlfriend, Alexandra Munger.[38] In 2023 he completed a degree in Sports Management.[39]
^"Switzerland triumph over Estonia". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 10 September 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.