Last Updated on September 29, 2026 by Mike
Raphaël Wicky is a Swiss football coach and former international player who currently serves as head coach of Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer. Born on April 26, 1977, in Leuggern, Switzerland, Wicky grew up in the small Valais village of Steg before embarking on a career that took him to Switzerland, Germany, Spain and the United States.
Family has remained a particularly important part of Wicky’s life despite his international football career. His parents are Kurt and Rosmarie “Romi” Wicky, and he grew up with two sisters. He is married to Laura, an American from California, and the couple welcomed their first child, a son, in 2025. Wicky has repeatedly described his parents, sisters, wife and wider social circle as central sources of stability away from football.
Who Is Raphaël Wicky’s Wife?
Raphaël Wicky’s wife is Laura, an American from California. Their relationship began several years before Wicky returned to the United States as a coach.
The couple first became publicly known during Wicky’s time as head coach of FC Basel. In January 2018, Laura accompanied him to the Swiss Football League Award Night, where Swiss media reported that they had already been together for approximately one year.
Laura had moved from California to Switzerland to be with Wicky while he was coaching Basel. Although she did not grow up immersed in European football, Wicky said she became interested in his work and regularly attended Basel matches.
How Did Raphaël Wicky Meet Laura?
Wicky and Laura met by chance at the airport in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Wicky later explained that they were both waiting for flights when they began talking. The meeting developed into a relationship, initially involving considerable travel between Europe and California.
Wicky visited Laura in Los Angeles while he was still working in FC Basel’s youth system. Laura eventually moved to Switzerland, and the couple lived together in Basel while his coaching career progressed.
When Did Raphaël Wicky and Laura Get Married?
Raphaël Wicky and Laura married on December 31, 2018, in Los Angeles.
The wedding took place in a relatively small gathering involving family and close friends. Wicky had proposed to Laura during a vacation in Hawaii earlier that year.
The timing came during an important transitional period in his career. After leaving FC Basel in July 2018, Wicky spent more time in California, where he already had strong connections dating back to the end of his playing career with Chivas USA.
Several months after the wedding, Wicky returned to professional football when he became head coach of the United States U-17 national team.
Laura Wicky’s American Background
Laura is from California, particularly the Los Angeles area. Her American background has played an important role in Wicky’s long-standing connection with the United States.
Wicky already knew Southern California from his playing days with Chivas USA, but his marriage strengthened those ties. He has described California as a second home while continuing to identify Switzerland and the Valais region as his true roots.
When Wicky became Chicago Fire head coach ahead of the 2020 MLS season, Laura moved to Chicago with him. ESPN confirmed that she was living with Wicky there during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The couple later returned to Switzerland when Wicky took charge of Young Boys before eventually beginning another American chapter after Sporting Kansas City hired him in January 2026.
Does Raphaël Wicky Have Children?
Yes. Raphaël Wicky and his wife Laura have one publicly known child, a son.
Wicky became a father for the first time in 2025. In October of that year, he revealed in an interview that he had recently become a father and had spent approximately three months enjoying family life with his wife and newborn son.
The birth came several years after Wicky publicly said that he and Laura hoped to start a family. During his time with Young Boys, he had spoken openly about their desire to have children while acknowledging that such matters could not always be planned.
Raphaël Wicky’s Son
Wicky’s son was born in 2025. His name and exact date of birth have not been widely disclosed through authoritative football sources.
Wicky has deliberately maintained privacy around his child. Public reports confirm that he and Laura became parents and that their baby accompanied them as they began their new chapter in Kansas City, but identifying details about the boy remain private.
Major League Soccer noted in 2026 that Wicky and Laura had welcomed their first child the previous year, adding a new family dimension to his return to MLS.
Becoming a Father Later in Life
Fatherhood represented an important personal milestone for Wicky, who became a first-time parent in his late forties.
During an earlier interview in 2017, Wicky had spoken about hoping to eventually have a family of his own. By 2018 he had met Laura, and they married at the end of that year.
In 2022, the couple were still open about wanting children. Their son eventually arrived in 2025 during a period when Wicky was temporarily away from club management.
That timing gave him an unusual opportunity for a football coach: several months in which he could concentrate heavily on his wife and newborn son before accepting his next major coaching role.
Who Are Raphaël Wicky’s Parents?
Raphaël Wicky’s parents are Kurt and Rosmarie “Romi” Wicky.
Wicky has repeatedly described his parents as two of the most important people in his life. He has credited them with teaching him his values and supporting his football career without putting excessive pressure on him.
His parents regularly traveled to watch him during both his playing and coaching careers, including trips outside Switzerland.
Raphaël Wicky’s Father: Kurt Wicky
Raphaël Wicky’s father is Kurt Wicky. Kurt is from the Valais region of Switzerland, explaining the strong connection Raphaël developed with the canton despite being born in Leuggern in Aargau.
The family moved to Steg when Raphaël was approximately three years old. It was there that he spent the childhood he continues to describe as formative to his identity.
Wicky has said his father followed his football career closely and frequently traveled to matches. Even after Raphaël became an established professional player and later a coach, the relationship remained extremely close.
Wicky has emphasized that his parents never attempted to build their own ambitions around his football talent. Instead, they supported him while allowing him considerable freedom to develop naturally.
Raphaël Wicky’s Mother: Rosmarie “Romi” Wicky
Raphaël Wicky’s mother is Rosmarie Wicky, whose maiden family name is Fuchs. She is commonly referred to as Romi.
Rosmarie comes from Safnern, near Biel in Switzerland’s Bernese Seeland region. This gives Wicky family roots in two distinct areas of Switzerland: the Valais through his father and the Bernese region through his mother.
Rosmarie met her future husband while working in Bern. The couple later moved to Valais and raised their children in Steg.
Wicky has spoken warmly about both parents, saying that the values they taught him remained important throughout a career that took him into very different countries and football cultures.
Raphaël Wicky’s Relationship With His Parents
Wicky has repeatedly emphasized that his bond with his parents goes far beyond football.
In a lengthy interview during his FC Basel years, he said Kurt and Romi had followed his career everywhere and were sometimes more nervous during matches than he was.
They also traveled internationally to support him. During Basel’s memorable 2017-18 Champions League campaign, Wicky mentioned that his parents attended matches including away fixtures in Manchester and Lisbon.
Even during periods when his professional life became difficult, Wicky returned to his family environment in Steg. After leaving Chicago Fire in 2021, he spent significant time in his hometown before eventually taking the Young Boys job.
Does Raphaël Wicky Have Siblings?
Yes. Raphaël Wicky has two sisters.
Wicky has publicly referred to his sisters on several occasions, particularly when discussing the importance of his family and his connection with Valais.
Their names have not been consistently published in authoritative football sources, and unlike their brother they have remained private individuals.
Wicky has said that both sisters and their children live in the Valais region, helping maintain his close connection with the area where he grew up.
Raphaël Wicky’s Two Sisters
Wicky grew up as one of three children. His maternal grandmother, Vreni Fuchs, recalled Raphaël and his two siblings regularly visiting her in Safnern when they were children.
Years later, Wicky explicitly referred to his “two sisters” when discussing the relatives who still lived in Valais.
His sisters initially were not necessarily as deeply interested in football as Raphaël, but he has recalled that his coaching career eventually drew the whole family more closely into the sport.
Both sisters have children, making Wicky an uncle. He has not widely disclosed the names of his nieces and nephews, and their personal lives remain outside the public football spotlight.
Raphaël Wicky’s Maternal Grandparents
Wicky also had a particularly close relationship with his maternal grandparents in Safnern.
His grandmother was Vreni Fuchs. In a 2017 interview, she recalled how Raphaël regularly visited as a child and almost always had a football with him.
Vreni became an enthusiastic follower of her grandson’s career. She and her husband traveled to watch him play, including trips to Germany during his spells with Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV.
Heinrich Fuchs
Raphaël’s maternal grandfather was Heinrich Fuchs.
According to Vreni, Heinrich and Raphaël were particularly close. Heinrich followed his grandson’s career passionately and attended matches during Wicky’s playing years.
He died several years before Wicky became FC Basel’s first-team coach, meaning he did not live to see his grandson lead Basel in the Champions League.
Growing Up in Steg, Switzerland
Although Wicky was born in Leuggern in the canton of Aargau, he considers Steg in Valais his childhood home.
His parents moved there when he was around three years old. Steg was a small village of roughly 1,000 residents, providing Wicky with a childhood very different from the large cities in which he later lived as a professional footballer.
He has described his childhood using words such as freedom, mountains and family. He remembered walking to school independently and spending summers at the family’s alpine hut.
Football quickly became central to that upbringing. Wicky began playing for FC Steg as a child before entering FC Sion’s academy at around 13.
How Raphaël Wicky’s Parents Supported His Football Career
Wicky developed unusually quickly. By 16, he had already made his senior debut for FC Sion.
Despite their son becoming a professional at such a young age, Kurt and Romi tried to keep the situation as normal as possible.
Wicky has specifically praised his family for supporting his ambitions without putting pressure on him. This approach allowed him to experience football primarily as something he enjoyed rather than an obligation imposed by his parents.
That philosophy became part of Wicky’s own approach when he later entered coaching, especially during his many years working with youth players.
From Switzerland to Germany, Spain and the United States
Wicky’s career eventually took him far from his family home.
After establishing himself with FC Sion, he joined Werder Bremen in 1997. He later represented Atlético Madrid and Hamburger SV before briefly returning to Sion.
His final playing chapter came in the United States with Chivas USA in 2008. Although injuries restricted his appearances, the move introduced him to Southern California—an area that would later become personally important through his relationship with Laura.
Wicky retired as a player in 2009 after earning 75 senior caps for Switzerland and appearing at the 1996 and 2004 European Championships and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Laura and Raphaël Wicky’s Life Between Switzerland and the United States
International moves have been a recurring feature of Raphaël and Laura’s marriage.
Laura initially left California to live with Wicky in Basel. After his departure from FC Basel, the couple spent time in California and married in Los Angeles.
Wicky’s subsequent employment with the United States U-17 national team and Chicago Fire allowed them to remain in America for several years.
When Wicky returned to Switzerland, Laura again adjusted to European life. Wicky has explained that major family decisions, including whether to move between Switzerland and the United States, are discussed together rather than being determined solely by his coaching career.
The couple’s ability to live comfortably in both countries has become an important part of Wicky’s professional flexibility.
Why Family Matters So Much to Raphaël Wicky
Wicky has said that he does not define himself solely through football.
During an interview with Swiss broadcaster SRF, he described his social environment as the most important part of his life and specifically mentioned his close relationship with his parents and sisters.
He explained that family and longtime friends remain present whether his career is going well or badly. That support has helped him maintain perspective through the dramatic changes common in professional football management.
The arrival of his son in 2025 has expanded that family circle further, giving Wicky another priority beyond his coaching career.
Raphaël Wicky’s Move to Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City appointed Wicky as head coach in January 2026.
He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract through the 2027-28 MLS season with an option for the 2028-29 campaign.
The appointment represented Wicky’s return to Major League Soccer after previously coaching Chicago Fire from 2020 to 2021.
It also brought his personal connection with the United States full circle. He had ended his playing career in Southern California, married an American woman, coached the U.S. U-17 national team and Chicago Fire, and was now returning to MLS with Laura and their young son.
MLS noted that becoming a father added another dimension to Wicky and Laura’s process of establishing themselves in Kansas City.
Raphaël Wicky’s Family Life Today
As of now, Raphaël Wicky is married to Laura, an American from California whom he met at an airport in Mexico. The couple married in Los Angeles on December 31, 2018.
They welcomed their first child, a son, in 2025. His name and detailed personal information have remained private.
Wicky’s parents are Kurt and Rosmarie “Romi” Wicky. His father comes from Valais, while his mother grew up in Safnern in the Bernese Seeland. Wicky has two sisters, both of whom have also largely remained outside the public spotlight.
His wider family history includes maternal grandparents Vreni and Heinrich Fuchs, who closely followed his football career. Despite decades spent traveling internationally as a player and coach, Wicky continues to describe Steg and the Valais region as home.
Today, that Swiss family background exists alongside the American family he has created with Laura and their son, making both Switzerland and the United States important parts of his life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Raphaël Wicky’s Family
Who is Raphaël Wicky’s wife?
Raphaël Wicky’s wife is Laura, an American from California. They married in Los Angeles on December 31, 2018.
How did Raphaël Wicky meet his wife?
Wicky met Laura while they were waiting for flights at the airport in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Their relationship initially developed between Europe and California before Laura moved to Switzerland.
Does Raphaël Wicky have children?
Yes. Wicky and Laura have one publicly known child, a son born in 2025.
What is Raphaël Wicky’s son’s name?
His son’s name has not been widely disclosed through authoritative football sources, and Wicky has kept his child largely private.
Who are Raphaël Wicky’s parents?
His parents are Kurt and Rosmarie “Romi” Wicky.
Who is Raphaël Wicky’s father?
Raphaël Wicky’s father is Kurt Wicky, who comes from Switzerland’s Valais region. Wicky has described his father as one of the most important people in his life.
Who is Raphaël Wicky’s mother?
His mother is Rosmarie “Romi” Wicky, née Fuchs. She comes from Safnern near Biel in Switzerland’s Bernese Seeland.
Does Raphaël Wicky have siblings?
Yes. Wicky has two sisters. Their names have not been consistently disclosed in authoritative public sources.
Who are Raphaël Wicky’s grandparents?
His publicly documented maternal grandparents were Vreni and Heinrich Fuchs of Safnern. They closely followed his football career.
Where did Raphaël Wicky grow up?
Wicky was born in Leuggern, Aargau, but moved to Steg in the canton of Valais with his family when he was around three years old. He considers Valais his home region.
Is Raphaël Wicky’s wife American?
Yes. Laura is from California, and Wicky has described Southern California as a second home while maintaining that Switzerland remains his true homeland.
Does Raphaël Wicky currently coach Sporting Kansas City?
Yes. Sporting Kansas City appointed Wicky as head coach in January 2026 on a contract through the 2027-28 MLS season, with an option for 2028-29.
Ronald Mike is a football writer covering the English Premier League, providing match analysis, tactical insight, and coverage of key rivalries and title races across the season.
