This is how Xherdan Shaqiri’s reception at FC Basel went in front of thousands of fans

Thousands of fans celebrated Xherdan Shaqiri on his return to Basel.Image: keystone

The fans of FC Basel give Xherdan Shaqiri a warm welcome in front of the Joggeli, and the returnee gives them blunt hope that he wants to return to glory times with Basel.

Christoph Kieslich / chmedia

At 6:37 p.m. on Monday evening, Xherdan Shaqiri stepped onto the balcony on the second floor of the Joggeli Tower and showed himself to the fans for the first time since his return to FC Basel, which was announced on Friday. He was greeted with a long, sustained round of applause from a large crowd on the platform behind St. Jakob Park, and Shaqiri called out to them: “Hello everyone! Hello Basel!”

Basel has never seen such a scene before. Not for the welcoming of a public figure. A stage that is usually only offered to Olympic or world champions in their home communities. In the case of Xherdan Shaqiri, 4,471 days have passed since he last wore the FCB jersey on May 23, 2012.

There may well have been 3,000 fans who made their way to the stadium for this special moment of homecoming, perhaps a few more. It was difficult to estimate this in the hustle and bustle in and around the fan shop, where Shaqiri’s number 10 jerseys were selling like hot cakes, and in a long line that had formed shortly after 6 p.m. to get an autograph or a selfie with one of the biggest stars of Swiss football.

Shaqiri stepped onto the balcony of the office in casual trousers and an FCB shirt, and a podium had been prepared for him so that, at 1.69 metres tall, he could comfortably speak to the fans over the glass balustrade.

Shaqiri signed autographs and posed for selfies.Image: keystone

He did this like an experienced professional with a sense of what the people want to hear. “It’s always nice to be home,” he said in his introduction, to immediately put an exclamation mark and take the wind out of speculation’s sails: “There was always only one option – FC Basel – and no other.”

For some time, Panathinaikos Athens was considered a possible next stop. Shaqiri has changed clubs six times in the last twelve years. FC Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Stoke City, FC Liverpool, Olympique Lyon and most recently Chicago Fire FC paid a total of over 70 million euros for the transfer rights and thus Shaqiri’s footballing services.

And so Shaqiri spoke to his fans

After twelve years abroad, a whole bunch of titles, including two Champions League victories, the former FCB junior Shaqiri is now back, and he thanked David Degen, Daniel Stucki and everyone involved who made this return possible.

“It’s very special to be up here and I hope that as soon as possible we’ll be standing on the Barfi instead of here.” With this sentence, Shaqiri got the fan base going right from the start. His message is clear, simple and formulated without false modesty: “We want to go back to the glory days. We know where FC Basel belongs and we will give everything, I in particular will give everything, so that we can bring the bucket back to Basel.” This goes down like a treat for the fans. He was sure to receive applause for this announcement.

The 32-year-old promised the fans what they want.Image: keystone

The pride of the fans at having a great figure in Swiss football, and one of our own, back in the team is palpable, and the anticipation is huge. After seven lean years, Shaqiri is supposed to mark something like a turning point for the better, and so he stood – to stay with the biblical image – like a savior up there on the balcony of the Joggeli Tower, waving down and speaking, well, quite unctuously.

“I’m not 20 anymore, but you can never write me off”

FCB has always been in his heart, the memory of the magical nights of his first three years as a professional with three championship titles and two cup victories is still alive in him, and his return is nothing less than “a dream come true”.

“I’m not twenty anymore,” said the 32-year-old Shaqiri, “but I still have my left foot. You can never write me off.” Nobody wants to do that, now that he has retired from the national team after 125 international matches and can devote himself entirely to the mission with FCB.

Daniel Stucki also received applause on Monday. The FCB sports director described how the FC Basel board of directors had decided to pursue Xherdan Shaqiri immediately after the European Championship. “We had to look at the package financially. And it was surprising how strong Xherdan’s desire was to come back and what he was prepared to give up, especially financially.”

Sports director Daniel Stucki.Image: keystone

Applause for Stucki. The club boss must be thinking about the one for David Degen.

The FCB does not have to reach the financial limit

“We were prepared to make an effort for Shaqiri, but it wasn’t actually necessary to the extent that we originally believed,” says Stucki, “because Xherdan really wanted to come back.” Applause.

According to reports, Shaqiri is happy with a basic salary of 1.2 million Swiss francs per year at what is probably the last stop in his career. During a conversation in Zurich after the European Championship, Stucki said, “we felt that Basel and Shaq – it’s just a good fit. And it’s the right time.”

Absolutely wanted to return to FC Basel: Xherdan Shaqiri.Image: keystone

And Stucki expressed what FCB hopes to achieve with Shaqiri’s return: “It goes without saying: he is one of the best, if not the best, offensive players that Switzerland has ever had. He is only 32 years old, which is not old. He has a gifted left foot and will certainly help us. Above all, he is a great guy, always positive and cheerful. That helps us, in the team and in the whole region, so that we can continue down the path we have chosen, step by step.”

There was applause for that too. The next step is a home game against Yverdon on Sunday. With Xherdan Shaqiri. After a long break from competition, he is not at 100 percent, “but I am fit.”