Almost forgotten in Germany, in Switzerland in the football sky. After years of sporting failure, FC Basel is gaining the championship in Switzerland again – thanks to an outstanding Xherdan Shaqiri.
The mood on the “Barfi”, as Barfüsserplatz in Basel is lovingly called in Basel, was already boiling on Sunday. Then one of the greatest favorites of the fans of FC Basel finally entered the balcony of the city casino: Xherdan Shaqiri!
Accompanied by the cheers of tens of thousands, the “Kraft cubes” waved a huge FCB flag and heralded the climax of the spontaneous master party. The former serial champion, which had come into the relegation battle in the meantime, had to wait eight years. Thanks to Shaqiri, this bitter thirst stretch came to a acclaimed end.
Xherdan Shaqiri won the championship with FC Basel
At Shaqiri “emotions come high”
“I came to Basel with ambitions and destinations. In Basel it was always a title,” said Shaqiri. “When you are back on the balcony, emotions come up from the past.”
The return of the lost son at the beginning of the season sparked an euphoria wave on the Rhine knee. Even then he confidently spoke of the championship. And he kept word.
“My biggest goal was that the FCB can play for titles again and that we will bring the bucket back home,” said the 33-year-old. After the drawing of pursuers Servette Geneva, the title is no longer to be taken from the Basers three game days before the end.
“The bucket”, that is, the master cup, there is after the last game against FC Lucerne on May 24th – the tickets for the game have long been out of print.
Shaqiri with shiny statistics
“I myself wouldn’t have thought that it would work again in the first year. But of course it is all the more beautiful,” enthused Shaqiri.
The 125-time Swiss international, who declared his resignation after the European Championship last year, has a decisive part in the Success of the FCB.
After his return from Chicago to Switzerland, Shaqiri immediately developed into a top performer earlier – and collected scorer points. 18 goals and 20 templates in 31 missions have both the goal statistics and the Assist statistics of the Swiss league listed.
The beginning of a Shaqiri saga
In 2012 Shaqiri switched from Basel to FC Bayern for 12.5 million euros. Under coach Jupp Heynckes, the Swiss wrote history with Bayern straight away.
For the first time in the club history, the team won the triple of the championship, cup victory and Champions League. In the following years, Shaqiri and FC Bayern won two German championships, the DFB Cup, the German Super Cup and the World Cup.
After two and a half successful years in Munich, he switched to Inter Milan – initially on a loan, then in summer 2015.
More titles in England
But just a few days later – the transfer window was not yet closed – Inter continued to sell the Swiss to Stoke City, where the success failed. Three years later, the next change was due to expand his title collection.
With Liverpool, Shaqiri won both the Champions League and the Premier League
FC Liverpool under successful coach Jürgen Klopp Shaqiri for 14.7 million euros. With Liverpool he won a championship, the UEFA supercup, the club world championship and another Champions League title.
The circle closes
After the time in Liverpool, Shaqiri should continue in France. The veteran played for half a year for Olympique Lyon before saying goodbye to European football in 2022 and joined Chicago Fire in the MLS.
The Swiss crowd favorite was gradually being forgotten in Europe. At the beginning of this season, Shaqiri switched to his youth club FC Basel again and finally led him to the title after eight years.
“Simply priceless,” enthused the boulevard leaf . He symbolizes the roots in the region. “For the younger ones, he is the far-traveled Nati star that they can suddenly see every week. And who actually does all the magic things that have always been told about him.”
And Shaqiri once again demonstrated that you should never write it down.