Peter Karl Jehle (born 22 January 1982) is a Liechtensteiner former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
He spent most of his career with Vaduz, representing the club in both the Swiss Super League and the Challenge League. He also played in France and Portugal.
Over two decades, Jehle won 132 caps for the Liechtenstein national team.Peter Jehle, o mais internacional de sempre pelo Liechtenstein a quem o Boavista ainda deve dinheiro (Peter Jehle, Liechtenstein's most-capped player ever to whom Boavista still owe money); Expresso, 22 March 2023 (in Portuguese)
Club career Jehle was born in Schaan as the youngest of three brothers, all of whom grew up playing football.Connelly 2002, 300 At the age of 16 he had trials with English Premier League clubs Liverpool and Crystal Palace, and both offered him professional contracts but he turned them down to stay home and finish school.Connelly 2002, 301 Subsequently, he got further offers from Bayer Leverkusen of the Bundesliga and Juventus of Serie A, but turned those down as well.Connelly 2002, 302
Eventually, Jehle signed with Grasshoppers because of its proximity to his hometown. He made his Swiss Super League debut against Basel in August 2000, coming on in the 95th minute to replace first choice Stefan Huber who was sent off for giving away a penalty, and saved the ensuing spot kick taken by Massimo Ceccaroni;Connelly 2002, 58Connelly 2002, 303 he deputised in goal the next game, and kept a clean sheet in a 4–0 win. Towards the end of the season, he again became the starter as Huber was out injured; he appeared in the 4–0 away victory over St. Gallen, the opposition's first home loss in 34 matches and confirmation of his team's championship win.
Jehle moved to Boavista in summer 2006, gaining first-choice status during his second season.Peter Gelo (Peter Ice ("Gelo" in Portuguese, similar to his surname)) ; Correio da Manhã, 8 April 2008 (in Portuguese)Regresso de Peter Jehle em cima da mesa (Return of Peter Jehle on the table) ; O Jogo, 17 June 2014 (in Portuguese) In June 2008, following the Porto team's relegation from the Portuguese Primeira Liga due to the Apito Dourado affair, he left and signed a one-year contract with Tours from Ligue 2.Signature de Peter Jehle (Peter Jehle's signature) ; FC Tours, 30 June 2008 (in French)
After one season in France, Jehle returned to his country and joined Vaduz in the Swiss Challenge League.Saisonplanung 2009/10 (Season planification 2009/10) ; FC Vaduz, 30 June 2009 (in German) On 20 April 2018, the 36-year-old announced his retirement at the end of the campaign, following which he would work with the Liechtenstein Football Association in directorial capacities.Peter Jehle beendet Karriere und wechselt zum Verband (Peter Jehle ends career and joins the Association) ; Aargauer Zeitung, 20 April 2018 (in German)
International career Jehle made his debut for Liechtenstein on 14 October 1998, in a 2–1 win over Azerbaijan for the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers which was the country's first ever competitive victory. He was just 16 at the time, but quickly became first choice for the national team and remained in goal the following decade.Head of Liechtenstein FA outlines the way forward towards success ; Here Is The City, 6 October 2013
On 22 March 2013, with the score at 1–1 against Latvia, the opposition was awarded a penalty. Aleksandrs Cauņa stepped up to convert it but Jehle saved the shot, thus earning the hosts one of just two points during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.Liechtenstein off the mark after holding Latvia ; UEFA, 22 March 2013
Honours Grasshoppers Swiss Super League: 2000–01, 2002–03
Vaduz Swiss Challenge League: 2013–14Le FC Vaduz est promu en Super League (FC Vaduz promote to Super League) ; Le Matin, 4 May 2014 (in French) Liechtenstein Football Cup: 2009–10,Nach Penaltyknüller: FCV ist Cupsieger (After penalty blockbuster: FCV are Cup winners) ; Volksblatt, 13 May 2010 (in German) 2010–11,Der FC Vaduz ist alter und neuer Cupsieger (FC Vaduz are old and new Cup winners) ; Liechtensteiner Vaterland, 25 April 2011 (in German) 2012–13,Der FC Vaduz ist Cupsieger! (FC Vaduz are Cup winners!) ; Volksblatt, 1 May 2013 (in German) 2013–14,Vaduz claim record-equalling Liechtensteiner Cup; UEFA, 2 May 2014 2014–15,43. Cupsieg für den FC Vaduz (43rd Cup win for FC Vaduz) ; FC Vaduz, 13 May 2015 (in German) 2015–16,FC Vaduz Cupsieger 2016 (FC Vaduz 2016 Cup winner) ; FC Vaduz, 4 May 2016 (in German) 2016–17FC Vaduz holt sich dank Effizienz 45. Titel (FC Vaduz thank efficiency for their 45th title) ; Liechtensteiner Vaterland, 24 May 2017 (in German)
Individual Liechtensteiner Footballer of the Year: 2014,Jehle in Liechtenstein geehrt (Jehle honoured in Liechtenstein) ; UEFA, 27 November 2014 (in German) 2016Peter Jehle erneut Fussballer des Jahres (Peter Jehle Footballer of the Year again) ; Volksblatt, 3 October 2016 (in German)
See also List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
References
Connelly, Charlie (2002) Stamping Grounds: Exploring Liechtenstein and Its World Cup Dreams. Abacus.
External links