Taulant Xhaka

Taulant Xhaka

Xhaka playing for Basel in 2016
Personal information
Full name Taulant Ragip Xhaka
Date of birth (1991-03-28) 28 March 1991
Place of birth Basel, Switzerland
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Basel
Number 34
Youth career
2000–2002 Concordia Basel
2002–2009 Basel
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Basel U21 50 (6)
2010– Basel 120 (4)
2012–2013 → Grasshopper (loan) 38 (0)
National team‡
2008–2009 Switzerland U17 14 (0)
2009–2010 Switzerland U18 6 (0)
2009–2010 Switzerland U19 9 (0)
2010–2011 Switzerland U20 8 (0)
2011–2013 Switzerland U21 4 (0)
2014– Albania 18 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 August 2017.
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:03, 6 December 2016 (UTC)

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

Early life

Taulant is the elder brother of Granit Xhaka, who is also a professional footballer and plays for Arsenal and the Switzerland national team. Their family moved from Prishtina to Basel in Switzerland[1][2] before either was born.[3]

Club career

Xhaka started his youth football at FC Concordia Basel and moved to FC Basel in 2002. He played for various FC Basel youth teams and from 2008 became a regular member of the under-21 team for two years in the Swiss 1. Liga. At the beginning of the 2010–11 season, he and his brother Granit moved up into the first team squad where he begun playing as a defender. He made his first team debut on 19 September 2010 in the 5–0 Swiss Cup win against FC Mendrisio-Stabio.[4] He made his Super League debut on 27 February 2011 in the 1–0 away win against Luzern.[5] At the end of the season, the team won the Super League title, Xhaka's first silverware with the club.

In the next season, Xhaka scored his first Basel goal on 10 September during the 4–0 away league win against Servette, where he came on as a substitute.[6] On 27 September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut as a substitute in the 3–3 away draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.[7]

On 18 January 2012, it was announced Xhaka was sent on loan to Grasshoppers to gain first-team playing experience.[8] He made his Grasshoppers debut on 12 February during the 2–0 away defeat to Zürich,[9] and until the end of the season he established himself in the starting lineup, making 13 appearances during the second part of 2011–12 season. After spending the 2012–13 again on loan at Grasshoppers, Basel recalled him into their squad.[10]

During the 2013–14 season, Xhaka established himself in the starting lineup, making 23 league appearances and scoring two goals en route to winning his second league championship with Basel.[11] He also made four cup appearances as the team reached in the final but was beaten 2–0 by Zürich after extra time.[12] He was also an important instrument in team's European campaign, playing ten matches in the Champions League and five in the UEFA Europa League.[13]

In the 2014–15 season, Xhaka was able to further cement his place in the lineup, playing 29 matches in league, as Basel were crowned champions for the sixth time in a row.[14] He scored his first goal of the season on 27 September in the 1–1 home draw against Thun.[15] On 13 December, during the cup fixture against Sion, Xhaka suffered an injury which kept him sidlined until the January 2015.[16]

On 9 January 2015, Xhaka extended his contract for a further three years, up until 30 June 2018.[17] In February 2015, he was included in the 2014 Team of the Year by Swiss Football Association and was placed as right-defender.[18] He became one of the three Albania international footballers who participated in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time in history, alongside Basel teammates Shkëlzen Gashi and Arlind Ajeti.[19]

Under trainer Urs Fischer, Xhaka won the Swiss Super League championship at the end of the 2015–16 season[20] and at the end of the 2016–17 Super League season for the sixth time. For the club this was the eighth title in a row and their 20th championship title in total.[21] They also won the Swiss Cup for the 12th time, which meant they had won the double for the sixth time in club history.[22]

Following Retirement of Matías Emilio Delgado in the start of the 2017–18 season, on 5 August 2017 Xhaka became Vice-captain of Basel.[23]

International career

Switzerland youth level national teams

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

Xhaka made his Swiss under-21 debut as a substitute on 7 October 2011 in the 1–0 away win against Georgia.[24] In the return match on 10 November, a 5–0 home win in the Cornaredo Stadium, he was a starter.

Albania

In May 2013, the media reported Xhaka would welcome a call-up from the Albania senior team.[25] He later confirmed in an interview his choice of Albania was definitive.[26] In October 2013, his choice was influenced by his younger brother Granit, who did not want him to repeat his mistake; that is, choosing to represent Switzerland instead of their descence national team, Albania.[27] On 18 December 2013, Xhaka received Albanian citizenship, though he still required approval from FIFA in order to represent Albania internationally.[28]

Xhaka received his first call up by Albania head coach Gianni De Biasi for a friendly match against Malta on 5 March 2014,[29] but he was replaced by Renato Arapi because he had been injured on 2 March 2014 during a match between Basel and Thun in which he was substituted off in the 72nd minute.[30] Xhaka received the second consecutive call-up for a trio of friendly matches of Albania against Romania, Hungary and San Marino on 31 May, 4 and 8 June 2014 respectively.[31] Days later, he withdrew again due to injury.[32] On 25 June, Xhaka received approval from FIFA allowing him to represent Albania in international official matches.[33]

UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers

A portrait of Taulant Xhaka, drawn by an Albanian fan.

Xhaka received his third consecutive call-up for Albania's match against Portugal on 7 September 2014, a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match.[34] He made his debut in that mach, playing the full 90 minutes in Albania's surprise 1–0 away victory.[35] He played well and was included in the best XI for the first round matches of Euro 2016 qualifying.[36]

Xhaka was also included in Albania's starting line-up for its qualifying match against Serbia on 14 October 2014. In the 40th minute of that match, English referee Martin Atkinson halted 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. Serbian player Stefan Mitrović caught the flag and was immediately accosted by Xhaka and the fellow Albanian player Andi Lila, who took the flag from him.[37] After the match Xhaka, along with Lorik Cana, were declared citizens of honour from the mayor of the city of Mitrovica, Kosovo, for the bravery shown in "protecting national symbols".[38]

UEFA Euro 2016

On 21 May 2016, Xhaka was named in Albania's preliminary 27-man squad for the final stages of Euro 2016,[39] and in Albania's final 23-man Euro 2016 squad, announced on 31 May.[40]

In Albania's opening match, against Switzerland, Xhaka competed against his brother Granit, becoming the first pair of brothers to play against each other in the entire UEFA European Championship history. At that day, their mother watched from the crowd with a T-shirt combining both nations' flags. The match ended in a 0–1 defeat for Albania, and Taulant Xhaka threw a water bottle in anger after being substituted.[41] In Albania's second match, against hosts France, Xhaka played the final 16 minutes as a substittue for Burim Kukeli in Albania's eventual 2–0 defeat. In the third match, against Romania, Xhaka was an unused substitute as Albania notched an historic 1–0 win, the goal being scored by Armando Sadiku.[42] Albania finished the group in third position with three points with a goal difference of –2, and was ranked last in the rankings of the third-placed teams, which eventually eliminated them.[43]

Career statistics

Club

As of 10 August 2017 [44][45][46][47]
Club Season League Cup Europe[lower-alpha 1] Other[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Basel U21 2008–09 1. Liga Promotion 111———111
2009–10 232———232
2010–11 163———163
Total 506———506
Grasshopper 2011–12 Swiss Super League 13010——140
2012–13 25040——290
Total 38050——430
Basel 2010–11 Swiss Super League 603000—90
2011–12 50202[lower-alpha 3]0—90
2013–14 2324015[lower-alpha 4]0—422
2014–15 291407[lower-alpha 3]0—401
2015–16 2401012[lower-alpha 5]0—370
2016–17 3002060—380
2017–18 30———30
Total 1203160420—1783
Career total 2089210420—2719
  1. ↑ Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
  2. ↑ Including other competitions, such as Swiss Super Cup
  3. 1 2 All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  4. ↑ Ten appearances in UEFA Champions League, five in UEFA Europa League
  5. ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, ten in UEFA Europa League

International

As of 12 November 2016 [45][48]
Albania national team
YearAppsGoals
201430
201570
201680
Total180

Honours

Basel[44]
Grasshopper[44]
Basel U-18

References

  1. ↑ "Taulant Xhaka". Geburtsort:Basel
  2. ↑ "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
  3. ↑ "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.»
  4. ↑ Urs Dünner (19 September 2010). "Der FCB gewinnt im Schweizer Cup mit 5:0 (2:0) gegen Mendrisio" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  5. ↑ Remo Meister (27 February 2011). "Wichtiger 1:0-Arbeitssieg für den FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  6. ↑ "Servette vs. Basel 0 – 4". Soccerway. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  7. ↑ Simon Hart (27 September 2011). "United strike late to deny Basel famous win". UEFA.com. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Zyrtare: Taulant Xhaka kalon te Grasshoppers" (in Albanian). Kosova in EU. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Zürich vs. Grasshoppers 2 – 0". Soccerway. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  10. ↑ Basler Zeitung (3 June 2013). "Vieles ist klar – vielleicht" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Sacha Grossenbacher (18 May 2014). "Fotos vom Spiel gegen Lausanne sowie den anschliessenden Feierlichkeiten" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  12. ↑ Axel Ruppert (21 April 2014). "Gavranovic edges Zürich past nine-man Basel". UEFA.com. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  13. ↑ Zindel, Josef (2014). Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2014/2015. FC Basel Marketing AG. ISBN 978-3-7245-2027-6.
  14. ↑ Casar Marti (29 May 2015). "Der Meisterfreitag im bunten Zeitraffer" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "Basel vs. Thun 1 – 1". Soccerway. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  16. ↑ Adi Metaliu (13 December 2014). "Rashica deçiziv te Vitesse, dëmtohet Taulant Xhaka" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "VERTRAGSVERLÄNGERUNG MIT TAULANT XHAKA" (in German). FC Basel 1893. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Shkëlzen Gashi, “Lojtari i Vitit 2014″ në Zvicër, edhe Xhaka te më të mirët" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "Historike! 3 shqiptarë në 1/8-at e Champions League (FOTO LAJM)" (in Albanian). Sport.albeu.com. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  20. ↑ Marti, Casper (2016). "Es ist vollbracht ! Der FCB ist zum 19. Mal Meister". FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  21. ↑ Marti, Casper (2017). "Der Saisonabschluss im Zeitraffer". FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
  22. ↑ "Swiss football: FC Basel wins 3-0 over Sion in Geneva; police extra vigilant after game". allaboutgeneva.com. 25 May 2017.
  23. ↑ Situatë e errët në kombëtare, por Xhaka “gradohet” në hierarkinë e Bazelit Panorama Sport
  24. ↑ nzz (2011). "U-21-Auswahl in Georgien mit Auswärtsieg" (in German). Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  25. ↑ Shqipëria i merr Zvicrës një Xhaka Panorama.com.al
  26. ↑ Shekulli (2013). "Taulant Xhaka: Zgjodha Shqipërinë, Zvicra s’më donte" (in Albanian). Shekulli. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  27. ↑ Taulant Xhaka: Graniti më tha të zgjidhja Shqipërinë Sporti Shqiptar
  28. ↑ Taulant Xhaka merr shtetësi shqiptare (Foto Dekreti) aSport.al
  29. ↑ Risia per Malten, Taulant Xhaka vishet kuqezi SuperSport
  30. ↑ Dëmtohet Xhaka, thërritet Arapi aSport.al
  31. ↑ Aliti dhe Cikalleshi risitë, pritet prezantimi i Xhakës… aSport.al
  32. ↑ Xhaka drejt refuzimit të Shqipërisë? aSport.al
  33. ↑ FIFA jep “OK”, Taulant Xhaka zyrtarisht kuqezi Panorama Sport
  34. ↑ De Biazi flet për ndeshjen me Portugalinë FSHF.org "Në fund trajneri i Kombëtares së Shqipërisë publikoi edhe listën me 24 lojtarë të grumbulluar për këtë takim. Ata janë:...."
  35. ↑ "Portugal vs. Albania - 7 September 2014 - Soccerway". Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  36. ↑ Euro 2016 Team of the Week: Lewandowski & Muller unstoppable as Albania make their mark Goal.com
  37. ↑ Serbia v Albania abandoned after players and fans brawl on pitch | Football The Guardian
  38. ↑ Bahtiri shpall Xhaken e Canen qytetare nderi te Mitrovices KOHA.net
  39. ↑ Fatjon Pandovski (21 May 2016). "De Biasi leaves out Albanian top scorer Salihi". UEFA. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  40. ↑ "De Biasi shpall listën zyrtare të Euro 2016". FSHF.org. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  41. ↑ Gill, Kieran (11 June 2016). "Granit and Taulant Xhaka go head to head at Euro 2016... as their mother wears a half-and-half Switzerland-Albania shirt and older brother throws a tantrum on the touchline". Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  42. ↑ UEFA EURO 2016 - Albania - Matches UEFA.com
  43. ↑ "Albania out of Euro 2016 after Portugal draw with Hungary". Fourfourtwo.com. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  44. 1 2 3 Taulant Xhaka at Soccerway
  45. 1 2 Taulant Xhaka at National-Football-Teams.com
  46. ↑ Taulant Xhaka – UEFA competition record
  47. ↑ "Football : Taulant Xhaka". Football Database. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  48. ↑ Taulant Xhaka - national football team player EU-football.info
  49. ↑ FC Basel 1893 (2008). "Zwei weitere Nachwuchstitel für den FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.