Tiny Vaduz secure spot in Swiss top division

BERNE, Switzerland, May 12 (Reuters) - Liechtenstein's only professional soccer team FC Vaduz won promotion to Switzerland's top division on Monday after winning the second division title with a 0-0 draw away to Chiasso.

Coached by Switzerland's most capped international player, Heinz Hermann, the team from the tiny Liechtenstein capital did just enough to finish a point clear of nearest rivals Bellinzona.

Bellinzona, who pulled off their own impressive feat by reaching this year's Swiss Cup final, won their final match 4-1 to set up a promotion play-off match against top division side St Gallen.

Vaduz have been playing in the Swiss leagues since 1932, after one year of playing Austrian opposition, but had never managed to gain promotion to the top flight.

With a local population of just over 5,000 people, Vaduz is set to be one of the smallest towns ever to play in a top European league.

Under the terms of their agreement with the Swiss football league, the club will not be recognised as Swiss champions in the unlikely event that they go on to win the top division.

They will also not be allowed to win a place in European competition via the Swiss league.

The club will continue to benefit however from their own more reliable route into the UEFA Cup's first qualifying round via Liechtenstein's own cup competition.

Vaduz have won the cup 37 times, including the last 11 years in a row.

(Editing by Miles Evans)