Xherdan Shaqiri blooms at FC Basel this season – and could even break a record. Where everything started, the circle closes for the “power cube”, which is known for its dream goals in the national team across Europe.
“Football god !!!” – So the picture headlined after the greatest stroke of genius in the career of Xherdan Shaqiri. The Swiss had scored the most beautiful goal of the tournament in the 83rd minute at the EM 2016 in the round of 16 against Poland. After a rebound, the “force cube” started to become a side puller and put the ball right next to the post in the goal.
Also at the European Championship last year, Shaqiri once again let all fans know that it was still available. In the group game against Scotland, he achieved the next dream goal. From the penalty area he fled a ball into the corner without a mistake. Now it is running again in the club for the 33-year-old, who never made a breakthrough at top European clubs.
Xherdan Shaqiri plays a strong season for FC Basel
Shaqiri has been playing again at FC Basel in the Super League since last summer – where it all started.
Already 13 templates for Shaqiri
In 2007 his professional career started at the 20-time Swiss champion, where he had gone through almost all youth teams since 2000.
Basel is in second place after 29 match days after 29 match days behind Servette FC. Shaqiri will take ten goals in the league for the first time in 18 years. In 25 games, he also prepared 13 more goals. If he adds a passage, he could even break the Swiss assist record of 20 templates.
So far, such good statistics of his national team career were reserved. With ten tournament hits at an EM, Shaqiri, for example, has more goals in the account than the legends Eusébio, Wayne Rooney or Raúl. After the European Championships in 2024, however, he ended his career at the “Nati”.
Before he pulled him back to his home club, the wing racer tried the MLS at Chicago Fire. But it is only at home that does he really bloom again.
Shaqiri blooms again at “Heimatverein” Basel
After the 2-0 win against FC Winterthur, in which he – who else – was involved in both goals, raved Shaqiri: “It is always nice when I meet – especially for FC Basel, my home club. At the beginning of the season I had difficulties, but I always believed in my qualities.”
The press in Switzerland was also enthusiastic about Shaqiri’s performance, with which he almost brought the threesome to Basel. “Wunder-Shaqiri hardly ever,” wrote the internet portal MSN .
Outside of Switzerland, Shaqiri was rarely able to trigger similar storms of enthusiasm at his clubs. Since moving from Basel to Bayern in 2012, he has never managed to sustainably prevail at a club.
Nevertheless, Shaqiri won the Champions League twice – once with Bayern 2013 and once with Liverpool FC 2019. In between he played at Inter Milan and Stoke City. He never scored ten hits in one season – until now.
Shaqiri has always been unique
The “power cube” was unique in all his career. The 1.69m-sized left foot combines pace, technology and strength like hardly any other player.
At the age of 33, Shaqiri saw a lot in his career – but he never felt as comfortable as in Basel. Will he end his career in his home country in the next few years?
With his current services, it is probably not to be expected that the “Alpen-Messi” will soon be releasing from the stage.