Taulant Xhaka

Taulant Xhaka
Personal information
Full nameTaulant Ragip Xhaka
Date of birth28 March 1991
Place of birthBasel, Switzerland
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current team
Basel
Number34
Youth career
2000–2002Concordia Basel
2002–2009Basel
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2010Basel U2150(6)
2010–Basel60(4)
2012–2013→ Grasshopper (loan)38(0)
National team‡
2008–2009Switzerland U1714(0)
2009–2010Switzerland U186(0)
2009–2010Switzerland U199(0)
2010–2011Switzerland U208(0)
2011–2013Switzerland U214(0)
2014–Albania3[1](0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2015

Taulant Ragip Xhaka (born 28 March 1991) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Swiss club Basel and the Albania national football team.

Early life

Taulant is the elder brother of Granit Xhaka, who is also a professional footballer. Their family moved from SFR Yugoslavia to Switzerland in Basel[2][3] before either were born.[4]

Club career

The brothers started their youth football by FC Concordia Basel and both moved to FC Basel in 2002. Taulant played for various FC Basel youth teams and from 2008 became a regular member of the U-21 team for two years in the Swiss 1. Liga.

At the beginning of the Season 2010/11 both brothers moved up into the first team squad. Taulant played as a defender. He made it his first team debut on 19 September 2010 in the 5–0 Swiss Cup win against FC Mendrisio-Stabio.[5] He gave his Super League debut on 27 February 2011 in the 1:0 away win against FC Luzern.[6] At the end of the 2010–11 Swiss Super League season Taulant Xhaka won the Super League Championship title with FC Basel.

Taulant Xhaka made his UEFA Champions League debut for Basel on 27 September 2011 as a substitute in the 3:3 away draw in the Old Trafford Stadium against Manchester United.[7] On 18 January 2012 it was announced that Xhaka would be lent out to the Grasshoppers to gain first team playing experience. After a year and a half Basel recalled him into their squad.[8]

At the end of the 2013–14 Super League season Xhaka won his second league championship with Basel.[9] They also reached the final of the 2013–14 Swiss Cup, but were beaten 2–0 by Zürich after extra time.[10] During the 2013–14 Champions League season Basel reached the group stage and finished the group in third position. Thus they qualified for Europa League knockout phase and here they advanced as far as the quarter-finals. In their season 2013–14 Basel played a total of 68 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures, 6 Swiss Cup, 6 Champions League and 10 Europa League and 10 test matches). Xhaka made a total of 52 appearances, 23 League, 4 Cup, 10 Champions League and 5 Europa League as well 5 in the test games. He scored two league goals.[11]

On 9 January 2015, Xhaka extended at Basel to its current 30 June 2015 contract for another three years until 30 June 2018.[12]

In February 2015 Xhaka got included in the team of the year 2014 by Swiss Football Association and were placed as right-defender.[13]

Xhaka became one of the 3 Albania international footballers which patricipated in a knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in history, among his team-mates at Basel, Shkëlzen Gashi and Arlind Ajeti.[14]

International career

Switzerland youth level national teams

Xhaka has played for Swiss youth squad at the U-17 level. He was part of the Swiss U-17 squad that played in the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship in Antalya, Turkey. During the years 2009 and 2010 he played for the Switzerland U-18 and the Switzerland U-19 teams. He made his Swiss U-20 debut on 6 September 2010 in the Stadion Breite, Schaffhausen, as right back in the 2–3 home defeat against Germany national under-20 football team.

Taulant Xhaka made his Swiss U-21 debut as substitute on 7 October 2011 in the 1–0 away win against Georgia U-21.[15] In the return game on 10 November, a 5–0 home win in the Cornaredo Stadium, he played in the starting team.

Albania

Media reported on May 2013 that Taulant Xhaka would welcome a call-up from Albania.[16] Taulant confirmed later in an interview that his choice of Albania was definitive.[17] In October 2013 he accepted that in his choise he was convinced by the younger brother Granit, which didn't wanted him to repeat his mistake, choosing Switzerland instead of their descence national team, Albania.[18] On 18 December 2013, Xhaka received Albanian citizenship and to be able to play for Albania national football team, he must receive the go ahead from FIFA.[19]

Xhaka received his first call up by Albania's coach Gianni De Biasi for a friendly match against Malta on 5 March 2014,[20] but he was replaced by Renato Arapi because he had been injured on 2 March 2014 during a match between Basel and Thun which finished in a 2–2 draw, where due to this injury he substituted off in the 72nd minute.[21] Xhaka received the second consecutive call-up for an trio friendly matches of Albania against Romania, Hungary & San Marino respectively on 31 May, 4 & 8 June 2014.[22] Days later he declared that withdrew again due to injury.[23] On 25 June 2014 Xhaka received the go ahead from FIFA, which answered the FSHF request and Xhaka became eligible to play for Albania also in the international official matches.[24]

Euro 2016 qualifiers

The portrait of Taulant Xhaka, drawn by Albanian fan after the match against Serbia .

Xhaka received his third consecutive call-up for the match against Portugal on 7 September 2014, valid for the start of UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers.[25] He made it his debut on 7 September 2014 playing the full 90-minutes in the 1-0 away victory against Portugal.[26] He played well and was included in the best eleven for the first round matches of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.[27] Xhaka was included in the starting line up for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group I match against Serbia played on 14 October 2014. In the 40th minute of that match, the English referee Martin Atkinson halted the play for a second time after flares had been thrown from the crowd in the direction of Albanian players. Meanwhile, at the same time, a drone seemingly remote-controlled was seen hovering above the pitch, parallel to the top of the stand, before falling towards the pitch 15 yards into the Serbian half. The Greater Albania insignia referred to the notion of an extended area in which all ethnic Albanians reside one that would include Kosovo. The Serbia player Stefan Mitrović caught the flag and was immediately accosted by Xhaka and the fellow Albanian player Andi Lila who took the flag away from the Serbian player.[28] After the match Xhaka, along with Lorik Cana were declared citizens of honor from the mayor of the city of Mitrovica, Kosovo, for the bravery shown in protecting national symbols.[29]

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 April 2015 [30][31]
Season Club League country League League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2008–09Basel U211. Liga Promotion111----10
2009-10232----120
2010–11163----163
Total Basel U-21 5060000506
FC BaselSwiss Super League60101080
2011–1251001081
Grasshopper13010--140
2012–1325020--270
Total Grasshopper 3803000410
2013–14FC BaselSwiss Super League23240150412
2014–15 2613080371
Total FC Basel 60480250924
Career total 1481011025018610

International

As of 29 March 2015
Albania national team [32]
YearAppsGoals
201420
201510
Total30

Honours

Basel
Grasshopper
Basel U-18

References

  1. ↑ (4 – Xhaka has played in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Serbia on 14 October 2014 in Belgrade, a match witch was abandoned in the 42nd minute due to incidents that happened during the match. Serbia was awarded 3–0 victory but deducted 3 points.)
  2. ↑ "Taulant Xhaka". Geburtsort:Basel
  3. ↑ "Xhaka: Zgjodha pa hezitim Zvicrën, shqiptarët më thonë tradhtar!". Granit, familja juaj vjen nga Kosova, po ju ku keni lindur? Në Zvicër, në Bazel kam lindur. Ashtu si Taulanti, vëllai im. Disa burime informacioni, duke përfshirë këtu edhe "Ëikipedia", kanë njoftuar se kam lindur në Kosovë, por kjo nuk është e vërtetë
  4. ↑ "Albanien hat schon telefoniert". Bei Granits Mutter beisst der albanische Fussballverband denn auch auf Granit: «Unsere Kinder sind hier geboren worden und zur Schule gegangen. Sie gehören in die Schweiz.»
  5. ↑ Dünner, Urs (2010). "Der FCB gewinnt im Schweizer Cup mit 5:0 (2:0) gegen Mendrisio" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
  6. ↑ Meister, Remo (2011). "Wichtiger 1:0-Arbeitssieg für den FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  7. ↑ Simon, Remo (2011). "United strike late to deny Basel famous win". eufa.com. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
  8. ↑ Basler Zeitung (2013). "Vieles ist klar – vielleicht" (in German). Basler Zeitung. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  9. ↑ Grossenbacher, Sacha (2014). "Fotos vom Spiel gegen Lausanne sowie den anschliessenden Feierlichkeiten" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  10. ↑ Wanner, Rudi (2014). "Season review: Switzerland". Eufa. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  11. ↑ Zindel, Josef (2014). Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2014/2015. FC Basel Marketing AG. ISBN 978-3-7245-2027-6.
  12. ↑ Contract extension with Taulant Xhaka FC Basel 1893 - The official website
  13. ↑ Shkëlzen Gashi, “Lojtari i Vitit 2014″ në Zvicër, edhe Xhaka te më të mirët Panorama Sport
  14. ↑ Historike! 3 shqiptarë në 1/8-at e Champions League (FOTO LAJM) albeu.com
  15. ↑ nzz (2011). "U-21-Auswahl in Georgien mit Auswärtsieg" (in German). Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG. Retrieved 07-10-2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  16. ↑ Panorama (2013). "Shqipëria i merr Zvicrës një Xhaka" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  17. ↑ Shekulli (2013). "Taulant Xhaka: Zgjodha Shqipërinë, Zvicra s’më donte" (in Albanian). Shekulli. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  18. ↑ Taulant Xhaka: Graniti më tha të zgjidhja Shqipërinë Sporti Shqiptar
  19. ↑ Taulant Xhaka merr shtetësi shqiptare (Foto Dekreti) | aSport.info
  20. ↑ Risia per Malten, Taulant Xhaka vishet kuqezi | Lajme Futboll | SuperSport
  21. ↑ Dëmtohet Xhaka, thërritet Arapi | aSport.info - Albania Sport
  22. ↑ Aliti dhe Cikalleshi risitë, pritet prezantimi i Xhakës… | aSport.info - Albania Sport
  23. ↑ Xhaka drejt refuzimit të Shqipërisë? | aSport.info - Albania Sport
  24. ↑ FIFA jep “OK”, Taulant Xhaka zyrtarisht kuqezi | Panorama Sport
  25. ↑ De Biazi flet për ndeshjen me Portugalinë - (Në fund trajneri i Kombëtares së Shqipërisë publikoi edhe listën me 24 lojtarë të grumbulluar për këtë takim. Ata janë:) - FSHF.org
  26. ↑ Portugal vs. Albania - 7 September 2014 - Soccerway
  27. ↑ Euro 2016 Team of the Week: Lewandowski & Muller unstoppable as Albania make their mark - Goal.com
  28. ↑ Serbia v Albania abandoned after players and fans brawl on pitch | Football | The Guardian
  29. ↑ Bahtiri shpall Xhaken e Canen qytetare nderi te Mitrovices
  30. ↑ Taulant Xhaka | National Football Teams
  31. ↑ Taulant Xhaka profile at Soccerway
  32. ↑ Taulant Xhaka - national football team player - EU-Football.info
  33. ↑ FC Basel 1893 (2008). "Zwei weitere Nachwuchstitel für den FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 2008-06-15.

External links