Xherdan Shaqiri facts for kids
Shaqiri with Switzerland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Xherdan Shaqiri | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 10 October 1991 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Gjilan, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia (present-day Kosovo) |
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| Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Winger | |||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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FC Basel | |||||||||||||||
| Number | 10 | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | SV Augst | |||||||||||||||
| 2001–2009 | Basel | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | FC Basel II | 19 | (8) | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | FC Basel | 92 | (18) | |||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Bayern Munich | 52 | (11) | |||||||||||||
| 2015 | Inter Milan | 15 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2015–2018 | Stoke City | 84 | (15) | |||||||||||||
| 2018–2021 | Liverpool | 45 | (7) | |||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Lyon | 11 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Chicago Fire | 69 | (14) | |||||||||||||
| 2024– | FC Basel | 15 | (6) | |||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Switzerland U17 | 10 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Switzerland U18 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2009 | Switzerland U19 | 5 | (3) | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Switzerland U21 | 7 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2010–2024 | Switzerland | 125 | (32) | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 January 2025 | ||||||||||||||||
Xherdan Shaqiri (born 10 October 1991) is a Swiss professional footballer. He plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club Basel. A winger is a player who plays on the sides of the field, usually helping with attacks.
Shaqiri started his career at Basel and quickly became a key player. He helped Basel win three Swiss Super League titles. In 2012, he moved to Bayern Munich in Germany. There, he won many trophies, including the UEFA Champions League.
After playing for Inter Milan in Italy, Shaqiri joined Stoke City in England in 2015. He later moved to Liverpool in 2018. With Liverpool, he won the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League. This was Liverpool's first league title in 30 years.
Shaqiri played for the Swiss national team from 2010 to 2024. He played in four FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. He is one of Switzerland's most capped players and highest goalscorers.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Xherdan Shaqiri was born in a place called Gjilan, which was part of Yugoslavia at the time. His parents were from Kosovo. In 1992, when Xherdan was very young, his family moved to Switzerland. He has three siblings, and his brother Arianit is also involved in football as a youth coach. They settled in a small town called Augst.
His father worked hard, first washing dishes and then building roads, because he didn't speak Swiss German. His mother cleaned offices, and Xherdan and his brothers would help her. Money was tight, as his father sent much of it back to their family in Kosovo. Xherdan looked up to the famous Brazilian footballer Ronaldo, saying he played "like magic."
Club Career Highlights
Starting with Basel
Shaqiri began his football journey at his local club, SV Augst. When he was eight, Basel noticed his talent and signed him. He played for Basel's youth team and was even named the best player at the Under-15 Nike Cup in 2007. He decided to stay with Basel despite other clubs wanting him.
He signed his first professional contract with Basel in 2009. Shaqiri made his first team debut for Basel in July 2009. A few months later, he scored his first goal for the club. Basel won the Swiss league and cup in 2010, and the league again in 2011. In December 2011, he helped Basel beat Manchester United in a big match. By the end of the 2011–12 season, he had won the league and cup again with Basel.
Moving to Bayern Munich
In February 2012, Shaqiri agreed to join German club Bayern Munich. He signed a four-year contract. At Bayern, he faced strong competition from other talented players like Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben.
He made his first competitive appearance for Bayern in August 2012. He scored a goal and helped set up others in a 4–0 win. He also scored a key goal in the UEFA Champions League against BATE Borisov. In April 2013, he scored a great long-range shot in a cup semi-final. Even though he didn't play in the final, Shaqiri won the Champions League with Bayern. He also won the Bundesliga (German league) and the German Cup. This meant Bayern won a "treble" – three major trophies in one season! He later added the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to his wins. By 2014, Shaqiri had won 13 medals, making him one of the most successful Swiss footballers at a young age.
Time at Inter Milan
Shaqiri moved to Italian club Inter Milan in January 2015 for €15 million. He chose the number 91 for his shirt, which was his birth year. He made his debut for Inter as a substitute on 17 January. A few days later, he scored his first goal for Inter in a cup match, helping them win 2–0. He also scored his first Italian league goal in February 2015.
Playing for Stoke City
In August 2015, Shaqiri joined Stoke City in England. He signed a five-year deal for a club-record fee of £12 million. He made his debut soon after, helping set up a goal. In December, he scored his first two goals for Stoke in a 4–3 win against Everton. One of these was a fantastic half-volley.
In the 2016–17 season, Shaqiri scored a great free kick on the first day. He later scored two more long-range goals against Hull City. One of these was named Stoke's goal of the season. In March 2018, Shaqiri caused some talk when he said there was "a lack of quality" in his Stoke teammates. At the end of the 2017–18 season, Stoke was relegated from the Premier League. Shaqiri played 38 games and was the top goalscorer for the club with 8 goals.
Success with Liverpool
On 13 July 2018, Liverpool signed Shaqiri. He made his debut in a 4–0 win against West Ham United. His first full start was on 22 September, where he played very well.
Shaqiri scored his first goal for Liverpool on 27 October. In December, he scored two goals as a substitute against Manchester United, helping Liverpool win 3–1. This was Liverpool's first league win against Manchester United since 2014.
In June 2019, Shaqiri won his second UEFA Champions League medal with Liverpool. He didn't play in the final but was important in the semi-final. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019. In June 2020, Liverpool won the Premier League, their first league title in 30 years, and Shaqiri received a medal for his part in the team.
Short Stay at Lyon
In August 2021, Shaqiri moved to French club Lyon. Liverpool received €6 million for the transfer. However, he played in only about half of their league matches. Less than six months later, it was reported he might return to Switzerland.
Playing in the USA with Chicago Fire
On 9 February 2022, Shaqiri joined Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire in the United States. He signed a contract until 2024 as a "Designated Player." This means he was one of the highest-paid players on the team. His transfer was the most expensive in Chicago Fire's history, costing about €6.5 million. He was reunited with Georg Heitz, who had worked at FC Basel when Shaqiri was younger.
On 14 August 2024, Shaqiri and Chicago Fire agreed to end his contract early. He said it was the "right time" to look for new opportunities.
Return to Basel
Just two days after leaving Chicago Fire, Shaqiri returned to FC Basel. He signed a three-year contract with his former club.
International Career for Switzerland
Youth and Early Senior Years
Shaqiri first played for the Switzerland under-21s in November 2009. He scored his first goal for them in June 2011.
He joined the Switzerland senior team in 2010. His first game was in March 2010. He was surprisingly called up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Shaqiri scored his first goal for the senior team in September 2010 with a powerful left-footed shot. In September 2011, he scored three goals (a hat-trick) in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria.
FIFA World Cups and Euros
In June 2014, Shaqiri was part of Switzerland's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In their first match, he was named man of the match. Ten days later, he scored a hat-trick against Honduras, helping Switzerland reach the knockout stage. They were later knocked out by Argentina.
Shaqiri scored three goals during Switzerland's qualification for UEFA Euro 2016. In the tournament, he scored a fantastic bicycle kick goal against Poland. He also scored in the penalty shootout, but Switzerland lost the match.
He was in Switzerland's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. In a group stage match, he scored the winning goal against Serbia. He and another player, Granit Xhaka, celebrated with an "eagle gesture," which is a symbol for ethnic Albanians. FIFA fined them for this celebration.
Shaqiri was also part of Switzerland's team at UEFA Euro 2020. He scored two goals against Turkey in a group stage match. He also scored in the quarter-final against Spain, but Switzerland lost in a penalty shootout.
In November 2021, Shaqiri reached 100 games for Switzerland, becoming only the fifth Swiss player to do so. He was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In December, he scored a goal in a 3–2 win against Serbia, helping his country move to the knockout stage.
For UEFA Euro 2024, Shaqiri was again selected for the squad. On 19 June, he scored a goal against Scotland. This made him the first player to score in six major international tournaments in a row (World Cup '14, Euros '16, World Cup '18, Euros '20, World Cup '22, and Euros '24).
On 15 July 2024, Shaqiri announced he was retiring from the national team. He had played 125 games and scored 32 goals for Switzerland.
Playing Style
Shaqiri mainly plays as a right winger. FIFA's website says he is "unpredictable with the ball" and "good with both feet." He is also known for his "excellent vision" and being "clinical in front of goal." People often describe him as "stocky and powerful" with a "wand of a left foot." He has been nicknamed "the Alpine Messi" and "the magic dwarf."
He can also play as an attacking midfielder. He is quick and agile, with great technique and balance. He is left-footed but can play well on either wing or as a central playmaker. He has good vision and can pass and shoot quickly. His tricks and direct running make him dangerous in attack.
Personal Life
Shaqiri is a Muslim but celebrates Christmas. His family celebrated it when he was a child. He explained that his little sister loves having a Christmas tree, so they always get one. Shaqiri was chosen to be on the cover of the FIFA 15 video game in Switzerland, next to Lionel Messi. He is sponsored by Nike and wears their boots. At the 2018 World Cup, his boots had the flags of Switzerland and Kosovo sewn on them.
In 2018, Shaqiri was the most searched person on Google in Switzerland.
Images for kids
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Shaqiri playing for Switzerland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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Honours
Basel
- Swiss Super League: 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
- Swiss Cup: 2009–10, 2011–12
Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
- DFB-Pokal: 2012–13, 2013–14
- DFL-Supercup: 2012
- UEFA Champions League: 2012–13
- UEFA Super Cup: 2013
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2013
Liverpool
- Premier League: 2019–20
- UEFA Champions League: 2018–19
- UEFA Super Cup: 2019
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2019
Switzerland U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2011
Individual Awards
- Swiss Footballer of the Year: 2011, 2012
- Swiss Golden Player Award "SFAP Golden Player": 2012
- Swiss Golden Player Award "Best Young Player": 2012
- UEFA European Championship Goal of the Tournament: 2016
- UEFA Nations League Finals Team of the Tournament: 2019
See also
In Spanish: Xherdan Shaqiri para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
