Early career Hassli began his career at his hometown club
Sarreguemines FC. In 2000 Hassli moved west to play for
Metz. In 2002, he moved on loan to England to play for
Southampton. He scored two goals in eight matches for Southampton's reserve side but made no appearances for their first team. Southampton decided not to sign Hassli permanently and so he returned to Metz.
Start in Switzerland Six months after returning from Southampton Hassli was on the move once again. He moved to Switzerland to play for
Neuchâtel Xamax in the
2003–04 season. His time at the club was not a success as he struggled to break into the first team. He managed just thirteen appearances, scoring two goals. At the end of the season he moved to
Geneva to play for
Servette of the
Swiss Challenge League. However, on 4 February 2005, the parent company of the club was declared bankrupt. It had run debts of over 10 million Swiss francs, having not paid the players since the previous November, and consequently the club suffered an exodus of players looking for paying clubs. Hassli left to join
St. Gallen of the
Swiss Super League, a club in the very east of Switzerland.
Breakthrough in Switzerland The transfer to St. Gallen proved the making of Hassli. His time at the club enhanced his reputation as he scored 18 goals in 47 games.
Return to France At the end of the
2005–06 season. Hassli attracted the attention of plenty of clubs and returned to France to play for
newly promoted Valenciennes in
Ligue 1 during the
2006–07 season. Back in France he had to settle for a place in the reserves as he only made 21 appearances, scoring 2 goals.
Return to Switzerland At the end of the season he returned to Switzerland to play for
FC Zürich. During his first season at the club, the
2007–08 season, he struggled to find his rhythm. In February 2008,
Daejeon Citizen in the
K-League attempted to bring Hassli, but they could not bring him due to his high transfer fee. He remained at the club despite this and during the
2008–09 season he regularly topped the goalscoring charts. While with Zürich Hassli scored 35 goals in 108 competitive matches.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2011 in 2011 On 4 March 2011, Hassli signed with the
Vancouver Whitecaps FC of
Major League Soccer as the team's first
designated player. Swiss media reported that Hassli was granted an early contract termination by
FC Zürich, allowing him to leave on a free transfer to Vancouver. He made his debut for the Whitecaps on 19 March 2011, in a game against
Toronto FC, scoring two of his team's four goals, one of which was the club's first goal in MLS competition. Hassli scored a penalty kick against the
New England Revolution on 6 April and was ejected from the match for his celebration. He had removed his jersey, revealing another jersey underneath, and was sent off with his second yellow card of the match. It was his second match ejection and suspension in three appearances for the Whitecaps. On 11 June, Hassli scored twice in a 2–2 draw against
Seattle Sounders FC: the first from the penalty spot; the second a volley from an apparently harmless position on the right edge of the 18 yard box that flew into the top left hand corner. The latter was called one of the best goals in MLS history. In a May 2012
Canadian Championship match against Toronto FC, Hassli scored with a volley in stoppage time. The goal was nominated for the 2012
FIFA Puskás Award.
Toronto FC On 20 July 2012, Hassli was traded from the Whitecaps to Toronto FC in exchange for a first-round pick in the
2014 MLS SuperDraft and an
international roster spot. Hassli remained a
Designated Player for Toronto FC, with Toronto needing a replacement for
Danny Koevermans who suffered an ACL injury. Hassli made his debut for Toronto on 4 August, in a 2–1 loss at the hands of
Chicago Fire, Hassli was subbed out in the 61st minute for
Andrew Wiedeman. Hassli scored his first goal for Toronto in his second game as a red on his home debut against
Portland Timbers 15 August, the game ended in a 2–2 home draw.
FC Dallas On 4 February 2013, Hassli was traded from Toronto FC to
FC Dallas in exchange for a second-round
2014 MLS SuperDraft pick. Hassli and FC Dallas mutually parted ways ahead of the 2014 season.
San Antonio Scorpions On 18 March 2014, the San Antonio Scorpions announced that Hassli had signed for the 2014 season. The franchise ceased operations following the 2015 season.
Las Vegas Legends On 2 December 2014, Hassli made his only appearance for indoor squad
Las Vegas Legends against
Ontario Fury in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). == References ==