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Top 10 Interesting Facts about Xherdan Shaqiri 

 Xherdan Shaqiri is a Swiss International football player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire and the Switzerland national football team.

He was born on 10^th October 1992 in Gjilan, SFR Yugoslavia, to Kosovar Albanian parents. He immigrated to Switzerland in 1992 with his parents and three siblings.

Shaqiri received his first call-up to the Swiss national team in 2010, and has earned over 100 caps and scored 26 goals for his country.

Here are the top interesting facts about Xherdan Shaqiri.

1. He started his career at Basel FC

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Shaqiri started his career at the Swiss first division club, FC Basel, at the age of eight years. He played for the FC Basel youth team in the Under-15 Nike Cup 2007 and was named the best player of the tournament.

Due to his sterling performance at the Club youth team, Shaqiri attracted a lot of attention from several big clubs in Europe who attempted to sign him, but he choose to remain at FC Basel.

Shaqiri signed his first professional contract with Basel on 2 January 2009 and made his club senior debut in a match against FC St. Gallen on 12 July 2009.

He played for the club in three super league seasons, making 92 appearances and scoring 18 goals in the process.

2. He won the European Champions League with Bayern Munich

On 9 February 2012, Shaqiri moved to the German Bundesliga club, Bayern Munich for a reported transfer fee of €11.6 million. He signed a four-year contract with the club which would last until 30 June 2016.

Shaqiri made his debut in a 1–0 friendly win against Bavarian neighbors SpVgg Unterhaching On 10 July 2012. His first competitive appearance for the club came on 20 August in a DFB-Pokal match at SSV Jahn Regensburg.

He stayed with the club for three seasons making 52 league appearances and scoring 11 goals in the process. He also won 3 Bundesliga titles, a champion league title, and the FIFA Club World cup in 2013.

3. He Played for Inter Milan

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Shaqiri moved from Bayern Munich to Italian Seria A club Inter Milan on 9 January 2015 for €15 million transfer fees. He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract and chose the number 91 for his shirt representing his birth year.

He made his debut for Inter on 17 January, playing in the last 16 minutes as a substitute. His Coppa Italia debut came in a match against Sampdoria on 22 January 2015, where he scored his first goal for the club helping them to a 2–0 win.

Shaqiri stayed with the club for only one league season, making 15 appearances and scoring one goal in the process.

4. He Started his Premier League Career at Stoke City

Shaqiri spent one league season with Inter Milan before moving to the English premier league club Stoke City in July 2015. He completed his move on 11 August 2015 on a £12 million deal for a five years contract.

He made his debut eleven days later in a 1–1 draw with Norwich City at Carrow Road, assisting Mame Biram Diouf’s headed goal with a free kick.

Shaqiri spent three premier league seasons for the Club making 84 league appearances and scoring 15 goals. In his last season with the club, he finished as the top scorer with 8 goals and 7 assists.

5. He won Premier League with Liverpool

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Shaqiri joined Liverpool on 13 July 2018 on a five years deal after triggering his £13.5 million release clause. He made his first full start in a 3–0 win over  Southampton which earned the BBC Sport man of the match award.

On 1 June 2019, Shaqiri picked up his second Champions League winner’s medal, after Liverpool won 2-0 against Tottenham in the final. He didn’t play in that final match but had played a key role in the semi-final win against Barcelona.

Shaqiri finally won the coveted premier league title with Liverpool in the 2019-2020 premier league seasons. He received a medal as he made the required number of appearances to qualify for a medal.

6. Xherdan Shaqiri has Played in two World cup Finals

In June 2014, Shaqiri was named to Switzerland’s squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He played in the team’s opening match against Ecuador and was named man of the match by FIFA after a 2-0 win.

He earned the same title ten days later in Switzerland’s third and final group match, scoring a hat-trick against Honduras. 

Shaqiri was also included in Switzerland’s 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, held in Russia. In the group stage, he scored the winning goal as Switzerland came from behind to defeat Serbia 2–1.

7. He is a Practicing Muslim

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Shaqiri is a practicing Muslim but he also celebrates Christmas. This is due to his family tradition that dates back to his childhood.

During the 2014 world cup finals which fell in the month of Ramadhan, he faithfully observed fasting during the tournament even when he was featured in his team’s starting lineup.

 8. He is Nicknamed the Magic Dwarf

 Xherdan Shaqiri is fondly referred to as ‘Magic Dwarf’ by his adoring fans. This is due to his short stocky frame which makes his leg movement perfect

His yam-shaped legs and well-built muscles are the foundation of his strength which lowers the risk of an injury.

9. His Father Worked as Dish Washer

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After  Shaqiri’s family emigrated to Switzerland in 1992, they settled in Augst, a small town in the canton of Basel-Country near the French and German borders.

His father did not speak Swiss German, so he had to start out washing dishes in a restaurant, before working as a construction worker. Shaqiri’s mother worked as a cleaner in office buildings in the city, with which he and his brothers helped.

His father would send as much money back to Kosovo to other family members as he could, meaning Xherdan and the family did not have extra spending money, except for birthdays.

10. He is Currently a Chicago fire Player

Shaqiri moved from Liverpool to the French side of Lyon on 23 August 2021. He signed a 3 years contract that would keep him at the club until 2024.

However, on 9 February 2022, Shaqiri joined Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire FC on a contract that will run through the 2024 season as a Designated Player. His transfer signing was the most expensive in Chicago Fire history, for a reported fee of €6.5 million ($7.5 million).