Xherdan Shaqiri is a Swiss footballer of Albanian origin who plays for the English club Liverpool and the Swiss national team. Xherdan started his career at Basel. Together with the capital team, he became the champion of Switzerland three times and won the country's cup twice. In the 2011/12 season, together with Basel, he reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, which attracted the attention of Bayern Munich. In the summer of 2012, he signed an agreement with the Munich team, becoming the fifth newcomer to the Reds. AT debut season won the German league title, the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup. In the winter of 2015, Shaqiri became a player in Inter Milan. In August 2015, he moved to English club Stoke City. Since 2010, he has been playing in the first team of the Swiss national team, a participant in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. In the summer of 2018, he moved to Liverpool.

• Full name: Xherdan Shaqiri
• Date and place of birth: October 10, 1991, Gnjilane (Yugoslavia)
• Role: winger

Club career Shaqiri

Born in Yugoslavia, shortly after the collapse of the USSR, the Shakiri family moved to Switzerland. Here Xherdan began to play as part of the Augusta amateur team, then moved to Basel, where he managed to prove himself in children's and youth teams. In 2008, the 17-year-old player was actively interested in the Catalan Barcelona and Bayern, but he chose to stay at Basel and soon signed his first professional contract with the capital club. He made his debut in the regular season match against St. Gallen, coming on as a substitute in the second half and playing 29 minutes.

On August 6, he scored his first goal for Basel, hitting the gates of KR Reykjavik in the Europa League. His first match in the Swiss Major League scored in November, hitting the Xamax goal. Already in his debut season, 18-year-old Shaqiri became a player in the main team, spent 2865 minutes and scored 10 goals with 2 assists and helped the team win the league title. In the second season, he helped his team reach the 1/4 finals of the Europa League. In 1/8, Basel met with Spartak, Shaqiri scored the first goal of his team, and in the 78th minute got sent off.

In the 2011/12 season, he played absolutely all the matches in the national championship and helped Basel secure the third league title in a row. Back in February, a promising Swiss national team player signed a preliminary agreement with Bayern Munich, and on July 1, 2012 he officially became a Bavaria player.

Career in Munich

Breaking into the base of the Munich team was much more difficult. Shaqiri played his first full-fledged match only in November, running back all 90 minutes of the meeting against Wolfsburg (3-1). Until the end of the season, he appeared in 39 games for Bayern, 26 of which he started in starting lineup and just spent 10 entirely. In the summer of 2013, Moscow Spartak and Lokomotiv were interested in the player, but Shakiri refused to move to Russian Premier League, calling it "a step back in a young player's career".

Under the leadership of Josep Guardiola, he began to get much more playing time, spending more than 2310 minutes and scoring 8 goals in the 2013/14 season. The Spanish coach used Shaqiri as a winger and in midfield. The Swiss himself admitted that he loves to play at the forefront of the attack, but respects the decision of the coach and is ready to play in any position.

"Inter"

In the winter of 2015, Xherdan moved to Inter, with whom he signed a contract until 2019. The player's debut took place on January 17 in the match of the 19th round of Serie A against Empoli. At the end of the 2014/15 season, he had 15 matches played in the Italian championship and 1 goal scored.

"Stoke City"

On August 11, 2015, Shaqiri joined Stoke City for a club-record €16.8 million. He played his first match for the Potters on August 22 in the 3rd round of the Premier League against Norwich. In his debut season for the English club he played 27 matches and scored 3 goals. At the beginning of the 2016/17 season, he suffered a torn calf muscle and flew out for 1 month.

"Liverpool"

In three seasons at Stoke City, Shaqiri became a real leader of the club, and played about 78 matches in the Premier League. After the 2017/18 season, the Potters were relegated from the Premier League, after which they began to sell their leading players.

On 13 July 2018, Shaqiri moved to Liverpool, who only paid Stoke City £13m.

Shaqiri's international career

Xherdan had the opportunity to play for the national teams of Kosovo, Albania and Switzerland. At the age of 16, he received an invitation to the Swiss team under 17. In 2009, he played several games for the national teams under 19 and 21, and in May 2010, quite unexpectedly, he received a call to the Swiss first team. He made his debut in the national team on June 5, 2010 in the last test match on the eve of the 2010 World Cup. Together with the team, he went to the final tournament in South Africa, where he became one of the youngest participants in the tournament. Xherdan spent on field 13 in the final match group stage against Honduras (0-0). The Swiss national team, despite a sensational victory over the future world champions, the Spaniards, did not make it to the playoffs.

Shortly after returning from the World Cup, he scored his first goal for the national team, hitting the gates of the England team as part of the qualification for the 2012 European Championship. In the summer of 2011, he went with the Switzerland youth team to the European Championship. Here he scored the winning goal in the first match against peers from Denmark (0-1). He spent all the matches in the starting lineup, and his team reached the final, where they lost to the Spaniards 0-2.

September 6, 2011 marked the first hat-trick in the first team and helped defeat the Bulgarians in the selection for Euro 2012. He made his way with the team to the 2014 World Cup. As part of the selection, he went with the national team to Albania and received numerous threats from fans who were sure that Shaqiri should have played for the country in which he was born. At the final tournament, he scored a hat-trick against the Honduras national team, and also scored a prestige goal against France (2-5). The Swiss national team flew out at the 1/8 playoff stage, losing with a minimum score of 0-1 to the future finalists of the tournament, the Argentina national team. As part of the Swiss team, he also reached the 1/8 finals at the 2016 European Championship, which was held in France.

Achievements of Xherdan Shaqiri

"Basel"

• Swiss Champion: 2010, 2011, 2012
• Swiss Cup Winner: 2010, 2012

Bayern

• German Champion: 2013, 2014
• German Cup Winner: 2013, 2014
• German Supercup Winner: 2012
• UEFA Champions League Winner: 2013
• UEFA Super Cup Winner: 2013
• Club World Cup Winner: 2013
• Telecom-Cup trophy winner: 2013

Swiss national team U-21

• Silver medalist of the European Championship: 2011

Xherdan Shaqiri has already been called a teenager best player youth tournament, and joining the Swiss national team, the striker instantly became the leader of the team. On the pitch, Shaqiri exudes confidence. Coaches note that the professional success of a football player lies in his calmness: no matter who plays against him, the young man easily adapts to any situation.

Childhood and youth

The biography of the future football player began in Yugoslavia. Born in the city of Gnilan, but at the age of one, together with his parents - Kosovo Albanians - ended up in Switzerland. A family of large emigrants (except for Dzherdan, the parents raised four more children), fleeing the fire of war, settled and took root in this European country of great opportunities.

Once, football entered the circle of interests of the growing Dzherdan. An 8-year-old boy was brought to the August Academy, from where in the future he moved to the Basel club, where he first played for the children's team. When the teenager was 15 years old, he experienced the sweetness of the first glory. Shaqiri excelled at the Nike Cup tournament, receiving the title of the best junior player. Offers poured in from other eminent football organizations, but the Albanian preferred the native walls of Basel.

Football

In the winter of 2009, Xherdan Shaqiri finally joined the ranks of the adult team of the Swiss club. In this status, he entered the field for the first time in a match with St. Gallen. And he sent his debut goal into the gate in late autumn - the Xamax team could not beat it off. Then Basel defeated the opponent with a score of 4:1.

Xherdan played three seasons at the club, establishing himself as an excellent striker. On account young man 18 goals. Fans remember the football player's work in the match with Manchester United in the Champions League (2011), when two of his assists helped the team to defeat the English. In Basel, Shaqiri, together with his colleagues, became the national champion three times and held the Swiss Cup twice.

In early February 2012, football fans learned the news that Xherdan was being sold to the Germans. Bayern got the striker, the transfer amount was € 11.6 million. The Munich club also increased the player’s salary, now the Albanian received € 2 million a year.

Xherdan donned the number 11 Reds jersey and charged into action. In the very first fight involving Shaqiri, the Bavarians snatched victory from their compatriot Unterhaching, but here the Albanian did not excel. But in the next match against Jan (Regensburg), he increased his personal statistics by one goal scored (the second in a row for the team in this game) and made two assists and Claudio Pizarro. As a result - 4:0.

The German Machine with Xherdan added to the list of trophies with a victory in the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.

Three years later, Bayern announced the transfer of the player to the Italian Inter. Another contender for the player was Liverpool, but was refused by the athlete, and in a harsh form. He also wanted to see Xherdan in his ranks at Stoke City (England). The footballer himself was not indifferent to the British. Therefore, having played 15 matches and scoring one goal for Internazionale, he went to the UK with peace of mind.

The transfer proved to be the most expensive in the history of the Stoke City team - Xherdan cost the club £12m. However, FC did not regret: in the very first game, the Swiss made an assist, and four months after signing the contract, he scored a goal. For all the time in Stoke City, the young man hit the opponents' goal 14 times.

Xherdan Shaqiri has been defending the honor of Switzerland at international games since the age of 16. As part of an adult team, he first appeared in one match of the 2010 World Cup, when the team fought with Italy. In the next world championship, he pleased the fans with a hat-trick against Honduras.

But the most amazing performance came at Euro 2016, where Shaqiri was entrusted with all four games. The Swiss team advanced to the playoffs. In the game against Poland, he took the opponent's goal very effectively - he scored a goal through himself.

Best Goals Xherdana Shaqiri

What kind of nicknames does not carry Xherdan, including the football player is called the "second Messi". He, like him, is considered the leader of the national team, handles the ball no worse, skillfully kicks with his left foot and easily bypasses opponents. It is noteworthy that the athletes have the same height with weight - 169 cm and 72 kg. Only Shakiri is denser in complexion due to pumped up muscles.

Xherdan is not against such a nickname, because Messi considers his idol. After the Argentine puts . I am sure that the rest of the players can only dream of surpassing these two stars of the game on the grass.

Personal life

History is silent about who owns the athlete's heart. Apparently, Xherdan is still free from the bonds of marriage - to the delight of fans. Fans sometimes go to extreme measures to be in the company of a handsome athlete. Shaqiri told reporters that he once had to go on a date with a fan who threatened to commit suicide if she was refused. He speaks:

“I went to her, reassured her, gave her a T-shirt, the meeting ended in peace.”

The young man is very attached to his family. As soon as I started making money on my football career, I immediately bought it for my parents new house. The old housing did not even have a heating system. Shaqiri considers his brother Erdin to be his best friend, whom he trusts with the most intimate. The relative reciprocates.

Celebrating the winning goal against Serbia, depicted the wings of a bird. A little earlier, another player of the Swiss team also noted his success Xhaka Granite.

What does it mean?

Everyone is sure that the players made a reference to the flag of Albania, their historical homeland. In addition to this gesture, Shaqiri spent the second match in boots, which depict the flags of Switzerland and Kosovo.

Why would they do that?

For several reasons. First, Shaqiri was born into a Kosovo Albanian family and has three passports: Albanian, Swiss and Kosovo. In fact, the celebration is a completely political gesture.

Secondly, Kosovo and its status, as well as relations between Albania and Serbia, is the subject of long political discussions. Shaqiri was born in Kosovo and his family later emigrated to Switzerland. Xhaka's father was convicted for protesting against the communist regime. Serbian fans greeted both players with a whistle. And in Shakiri they threw everything that came to hand when he celebrated a goal.

What can FIFA do?

Most likely nothing. Shaqiri had every right to put the flag of Kosovo on the boots, since he is a member of FIFA. The equipment of football players is always checked before matches, the midfielder has worn boots for the second time – FIFA has no complaints against him.

Celebrations are even more difficult. Yes, on a general level, everyone understands exactly what kind of bird Jaka and Shaqiri portrayed. But the gesture itself is not prohibited, it will be difficult to prove its political overtones and punish the players. Rather, sanctions will be applied to those Serbs who threw objects at the players.

Winning goal in boots with the flag of Kosovo. The main thing about the match Serbia - Switzerland

The Serbs ruined everything for themselves.

What do the players themselves say?

“I will not talk about my gesture, you saw what I did - these are emotions. These were emotions, and I don’t ascribe anything else to this and don’t want to talk about my gesture, ”Shaqiri said, answering a question from the Championship correspondent Nikita Kuzin.

Already in the mixed zone, Shaqiri was asked to make a statement to the Serbian media. The midfielder asked for an English translation. Hearing the clarification, he turned around and left.

Why is this being discussed?

FIFA is constantly striving to get away from politics in football, especially at matches. The game between Switzerland and Serbia initially suggested the possibility of provocations, but in general everything went quite calmly. "Eagles" from Shaqiri and Jaka are in fact the first political gestures in the entire tournament.

In addition, many are outraged that Xhaka and Shaqiri make references to their historical homeland, speaking for a completely different country. In many interviews, Shaqiri himself cannot fully explain which country he considers his native: he emphasizes that he was born in Kosovo, and speaks Albanian at home. Jaka's older brother Taulant plays for Albania.

Xherdan Shaqiri - Swiss professional football player Albanian who plays as a winger for English club Stoke City and the Swiss national team. For his phenomenal game, he received such nicknames as the Alpine Messi and the Magic Dwarf. The player has good speed, dribbling and accurate blow. Excellent with both feet, he is known for his unpredictability on the pitch. Previously performed in famous clubs like Swiss Basel, German Bayern Munich and Italian Internazionale. He has been playing for the Swiss national team since 2010, at the time of October 2017 he played 57 matches and scored 18 goals.

Biography

Jherdan Shaqiri was born on October 10, 1991 in the city of Gnjilane (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, now When the guy was one year old, his family emigrated to Switzerland. From the age of eight he started playing football, played at the August Academy. From 2001 to 2009 he played At the age of fifteen he was named the best player in the Swiss Cup tournament under 15. Many well-known European clubs wanted to sign him, but the guy decided to remain in Basel.

The beginning of a professional career at Basel

In 2009, Xherdan Shaqiri signed a professional contract with the club and began performing in the highest football league Switzerland. The debut match took place on July 12, 2009 against the St. Gallen club at the AFG Arena. Four months later, he scored his debut goal in the match against Xamax (overall score in favor of Basel 4-1).

In December 2011, in a Champions League match against Manchester United, he scored two assists, thereby helping the team win 2-1.

As part of the Swiss club, he played 3 seasons (he held 92 meetings and recorded 18 goals in his statistics). Xherdan Shaqiri is a three-time Swiss champion and two-time Swiss Cup winner.

Career at Bayern München

On February 9, 2012, Basel announced that Shaqiri was moving to the German club Bayern. The Swiss club earned 11.6 million euros for their player. The contract was signed on a four-year basis, Xherdan's salary increased to 2 million euros per year.

On June 10, 2012, he made his debut in a friendly match against Unterhaching, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the Bavarians. 20 days later, he played a duel in the DFD-Pokal against Jahn Regensburg (substituted in the 2nd half), in which he became the author of the second goal scored, as well as a co-author of the next two - assists on and (4-0).

As part of the "German car" he played until 2015, played 52 matches and scored 12 goals. Here he won a total of 9 trophies, including a victory in the Champions League in 2013.

Transfer to Internazionale Milano

In January 2015, he signed an agreement with Inter Milan for 15 million euros. English Liverpool also participated in the struggle for the transfer, to which the player abruptly refused. Despite the fact that the contract was signed for four and a half years, Shaqiri said that he wanted to play in Stoke City, which at that moment was interested in him. In total, he played 15 matches for Inter and scored one goal.

Career in Stoke City

In August 2015, Stoke City bought Xherdan Shaqiri for £12 million, the most expensive transfer in the club's history. He made his debut here 11 days after signing the contract in the match against Norwich City, in which he scored a goal for Bim Diouf (draw 1-1). He scored his first goal for Stoke against Everton on 28 December. At the beginning of the 2017/18 season, Shaqiri scored 7 goals for the club.

International career: Xherdan Shaqiri goal at UEFA EURO 2016

From the age of 16 he began to represent the national team on international tournaments. Passed through all age categories of the youth team. As part of the first team, he played one match at the 2010 World Cup against Italy.

At the 2016 European Championship, Shaqiri took part in all 4 matches of his national team. In the 1/8 playoffs against Poland, the Swiss winger scored a stunning overhead goal in the 83rd minute of the match from a distance of about 17 meters.