Shaqiri leads Basel to first Swiss title since 2017

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    GENEVA – Basel Football Club celebrated a significant milestone on Sunday by clinching its first Swiss league title since 2017. This triumph was secured even before their team stepped onto the pitch, thanks to a favorable result in another game.

    The pivotal moment came when second-placed Servette drew 0-0 against third-placed Young Boys at home. This result confirmed Basel’s unassailable 11-point lead in the standings with only three rounds remaining in the season.

    A key figure in this victorious campaign has been Xherdan Shaqiri. The 33-year-old international returned to his native club last August, following a stint in Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire. Since then, Shaqiri has proven instrumental, particularly in the closing phases of the season.

    Demonstrating his formidable prowess, Shaqiri netted a remarkable hat trick in a span of just ten minutes during Basel’s 5-2 victory over Lugano on Saturday, an achievement made even more impressive as Basel played with only 10 men. His second goal, a masterful curling and dipping shot, drew comparisons to his memorable goal for Switzerland during the 2024 European Championship.

    Under Shaqiri’s influence, Basel transformed a fiercely competitive title race, where at least five teams were contesting closely, into a league procession. Their last seven games culminated in victories, with the team scoring five goals in each of the last three matches. Shaqiri’s contribution was substantial, tallying nine goals and seven assists during this streak, lifting his seasonal league totals to career-best figures of 18 goals and 20 assists.

    This victory marks the fourth occasion Shaqiri has achieved Swiss league success with Basel. His first three titles came consecutively when he was starting his career at 18 in 2010. Basel then enjoyed an era of domination with eight consecutive titles, concluding in 2017. Shaqiri’s career path led him from Basel to notable successes at Bayern Munich and Liverpool, winning the Champions League with each club.

    Looking forward, Basel will compete in the Champions League qualifying playoffs in August. Meanwhile, the league runner-up will face a longer path, entering the second qualifying round in July and needing to surpass three opponents to reach the esteemed 36-team league phase.

    Basel’s remarkable turnaround and league victory can be credited to the stewardship of Fabio Celestini. The former Switzerland midfielder took charge of the team in October 2023, at a time when Basel was languishing at the bottom of the league standings.