Taulant Xhaka

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Taulant Xhaka
File:T.Xhaka.jpg
A portrait of Taulant Xhaka, drawn by an Albanian fan.
Personal information
Full name Taulant Ragip Xhaka
Date of birth (1991-03-28) 28 March 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Basel, Switzerland
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Defender
Team 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 95 (3)
2012–2013 → Grasshopper (loan) 38 (0)
International career‡
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 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of end of season 2015/16
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 September 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 older brother of Granit Xhaka, who is also a professional footballer and plays for Arsenal and Switzerland. Their family moved from Kosovo to Basel in Switzerland[1][2] before either were born.[3]

Club career

The brothers started their youth football at 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 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 FC Luzern.[5] 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 at Old Trafford Stadium against Manchester United.[6] 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.[7]

At the end of the 2013–14 Super League season Xhaka won his second league championship with Basel.[8] They also reached the final of the 2013–14 Swiss Cup, but were beaten 2–0 by Zürich after extra time.[9] 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.[10]

The season 2014–15 was a very successful one for Basel. The championship was won for the sixth time in a row[11] that season and in the 2014–15 Swiss Cup they reached the final. But for the third season in a row, they finished as runners-up, losing 0-3 to FC Sion in the final. Basel entered the Champions League in the group stage and reached the knockout phase as on 9 December 2014 they managed a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Liverpool.[12] But Basel then lost to Porto in the Round of 16. Basel played a total of 65 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures, 6 Swiss Cup, 8 Champions League and 15 test matches). The season 2014–15 was also a very successful one for Xhaka. Under trainer Paulo Sousa he totalled 52 appearances: 29 League, 4 Cup, 7 Champions League, as well 12 in test games. He scored 1 league goal.[13]

On 9 January 2015 Xhaka extended his contract for a further three years, up until 30 June 2018.[14] In February 2015 Xhaka was included in the team of the year 2014 by Swiss Football Association and was placed as right-defender.[15] Xhaka became one of the three Albania international footballers who participated in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in history, along with his Basel team-mates Shkëlzen Gashi and Arlind Ajeti.[16]

Under trainer Urs Fischer Xhaka won the Swiss Super League championship at the end of the 2015–16 Super League season. For the club it was the seventh title in a row and their 19th championship title in total.[17]

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.[18] In the return game on 10 November, a 5–0 home win in the Cornaredo Stadium, he played in the starting team.

Albania

In May 2013 media reported that Taulant Xhaka would welcome a call-up from Albania.[19] Taulant confirmed later in an interview that his choice of Albania was definitive.[20] In October 2013 his choice was influenced by his younger brother Granit, who didn't want him to repeat his mistake, choosing Switzerland instead of their descence national team, Albania.[21] 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.[22]

Xhaka received his first call up by Albania's coach Gianni De Biasi for a friendly match against Malta on 5 March 2014,[23] 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.[24] 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.[25] Days later he declared that withdrew again due to injury.[26] 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.[27]

Euro 2016 qualifiers

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.[28] He made it his debut on 7 September 2014 playing the full 90-minutes in the 1-0 away victory against Portugal.[29] He played well and was included in the best eleven for the first round matches of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.[30] 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.[31] 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.[32]

Career statistics

Club

As of 12 September 2015 [33][34]
Season Club League country League League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2008–09 Basel U21 1. Liga Promotion 11 1 - - - - 11 1
2009-10 23 2 - - - - 23 2
2010–11 16 3 - - - - 16 3
Total Basel U-21 50 6 0 0 0 0 50 6
FC Basel Swiss Super League 5 0 3 0 0 0 8 0
2011–12 4 0 1 0 2 0 7 0
Grasshopper 13 0 1 0 - - 14 0
2012–13 25 0 4 0 - - 29 0
Total Grasshopper 38 0 5 0 0 0 43 0
2013–14 FC Basel Swiss Super League 23 2 4 0 15 0 42 2
2014–15 29 1 4 0 7 0 40 1
2015–16 8 0 0 0 2 0 10 0
Total FC Basel 69 3 12 0 26 0 107 3
Career total 157 9 17 0 26 0 200 9

International

As of 7 September 2015
Albania national team [33][35]
Year Apps Goals
2014 3 0
2015 3 0
Total 6 0


Honours

Basel
Grasshopper
Basel U-18
  • U-18 Swiss Cup: 2007–08[36]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (German)
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Contract extension with Taulant Xhaka FC Basel 1893 - The official website
  15. ↑ Shkëlzen Gashi, “Lojtari i Vitit 2014″ në Zvicër, edhe Xhaka te më të mirët Panorama Sport
  16. ↑ Historike! 3 shqiptarë në 1/8-at e Champions League (FOTO LAJM) albeu.com
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Shqipëria i merr Zvicrës një Xhaka Panorama.com.al
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Taulant Xhaka: Graniti më tha të zgjidhja Shqipërinë Sporti Shqiptar
  22. ↑ Taulant Xhaka merr shtetësi shqiptare (Foto Dekreti) aSport.al
  23. ↑ Risia per Malten, Taulant Xhaka vishet kuqezi SuperSport
  24. ↑ Dëmtohet Xhaka, thërritet Arapi aSport.al
  25. ↑ Aliti dhe Cikalleshi risitë, pritet prezantimi i Xhakës… aSport.al
  26. ↑ Xhaka drejt refuzimit të Shqipërisë? aSport.al
  27. ↑ FIFA jep “OK”, Taulant Xhaka zyrtarisht kuqezi Panorama Sport
  28. ↑ 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:...."
  29. ↑ Portugal vs. Albania - 7 September 2014 - Soccerway
  30. ↑ Euro 2016 Team of the Week: Lewandowski & Muller unstoppable as Albania make their mark Goal.com
  31. ↑ Serbia v Albania abandoned after players and fans brawl on pitch | Football The Guardian
  32. ↑ Bahtiri shpall Xhaken e Canen qytetare nderi te Mitrovices KOHA.net
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Taulant Xhaka at National-Football-Teams.comLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  34. ↑ Taulant Xhaka at Soccerway
  35. ↑ Taulant Xhaka - national football team player EU-Football.info
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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