Early life and career
Shaqiri was born in Gjilan, Kosovo, to an ethnic Albanian family. He moved to Basel, Switzerland as a child and played for SV Augst and FC Basel's youth team. While on Basel's youth team, he played in the Under-15 Nike Cup 2007 and was named the best player of the tournament, and, despite having several other clubs attempting to sign him, he decided to stay with Basel. Just two years later, Shaqiri signed his first professional contract with Basel on 2 January 2009. The contract will keep him at St. Jakob-Park until January 2011.[1]
Shaqiri made his Basel debut as a substitute in the Basel's season opening game of the 2009–10 season against FC St. Gallen on 12 July 2009, at the AFG Arena.[2] On 9 November, he scored his first goal for Basel in a 4–1 win over Neuchâtel Xamax at home.[3] At the end of the 2009-10 season Shaqiri won the national Double with Basel and a year later won League Championship title again.
International career
Shaqiri's debut for the Swiss U-21 team was on 11 November 2009 in the EM - qualification game in Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium, Trabzon, as the Swiss team beat Turkey 3:1. His first goal for the U-21 team was against Denmark U-21 on 11 June in the 2011 UEFA U-21 Championship opening match as Switzerland won 1:0.
Shaqiri's debut for the Swiss national was in the friendly game against Uruguay on 3 March 2010. He was a surprise call-up for the national team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Shaqiri scored his first international goal in the 1:3 defeat against England during the Euro 2012 qualifier. It was a long range left footed shot into the top left corner of the goal. On the 6 September 2011 he scored a hat trick as Switzerland defeated Bulgaria 3-1. Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was in attendance at the game which led to speculation he may want to buy him.
Honours
Basel
Swiss Cup: 2010
Swiss Super League: 2010, 2011
Uhrencup Winner: 2011
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