Under coach Marco Schällibaum the turn of the century marked a rise in fortunes for BSC Young Boys after the problematic years of the late 1990s. The 2000 - 01 season saw one of the great names of the Swiss game earn promotion back to the top flight, this in the year when they would move home from their famous old Wankdorf Stadium.

Experienced players such as Erich Hänzi and Harutyun Vardanyan and the influential midfielder Gürkan Sermeter raised the standards and a side playing some pleasing attacking football and scoring plenty of late goals finished top of the table in the regular season. The Final Round proved more demanding and it needed a win in the final game to deservedly earn the last promotion slot.