Xherdan Shaqiri is having fun with the most effective seasons of his profession after returning to Basel, together with his artistic output in entrance of purpose behind solely Mohamed Salah.
Shaqiri left Liverpool for Lyon in 2021, earlier than swiftly shifting to Chicago Fireplace after which, after two years in MLS, again to boyhood membership Basel.
His return to Switzerland comes on the tail finish of a adorned profession and the 33-year-old is now heading in the right direction so as to add one other Swiss Tremendous League title to his record of honours.
Basel completed six factors clear on the high of the common season desk and now head into the title playoffs as favourites to carry the title over Servette, Younger Boys, Luzern, Lugano and Lausanne.
Key to that has been the type of Shaqiri, who scored one and assisted three extra in a 5-0 win over Yverdon Sport within the remaining recreation of the common season on Monday.
That hat-trick of assists introduced his league tally to 17 for the season, with Salah (18) the one participant throughout Europe’s high 15 leagues to register extra assists.
??? Xherdan Shaqiri (33) with a incredible end for Basel. No stopping that! ?? pic.twitter.com/kF5aVvElIH
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 13, 2025
In whole, Shaqiri has 14 targets and 17 assists in 29 video games within the Swiss Tremendous League, together with his 31 purpose contributions behind solely Salah (45), Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres (41), Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane (33) and Man Metropolis‘s Omar Marmoush (33).
After all, the usual of the Swiss Tremendous League is significantly decrease than the Premier League, or the remainder of Europe’s standout leagues, nevertheless it stays a massively spectacular achievement.
Shaqiri has additionally scored two and assisted one in three video games within the Swiss Cup thus far, with Basel into the semi-finals the place they face Lausanne on Sunday.
It means Basel – owned by David Degen, the dual brother of former Liverpool defender Philipp Degen – may have fun a double by the top of the marketing campaign.
Together with being their high goalscorer and assist-maker, Shaqiri has captained Basel because the flip of the 12 months and has performed in each fixture since his arrival in August, beginning 29 of his 32 appearances.
Having joined Basel’s academy as a 10-year-old in 2001 and progressed to the primary crew the place, after debuting in 2009, he performed 130 occasions earlier than leaving for Bayern Munich in 2012, it has been an heartwarming reunion.
Shaqiri and Salah didn’t play collectively at Basel, with the Egyptian signed because the winger’s alternative in 2012.
However they did go on to share the pitch on 52 events whereas at Liverpool, with Shaqiri serving to to win the Premier League, Champions League, Membership World Cup and UEFA Tremendous Cup throughout his time within the No. 23 shirt.
