Taulant Xhaka
Encyclopedia
Taulant Xhaka (born 28 March 1991 in Pristina
, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Swiss
footballer of Albanian
descent who plays for Basel
in the Swiss Super League
.
, who is also a professional footballer and 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
winner. Their family moved to Switzerland
whilst the children were still very young.
and both moved to FC Basel in 2002. Taulant played for various FC Basel youth teams and since 2008 was 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 plays as a defender
. He played his first team debut on 19 September 2010 in the 5:0 Swiss Cup win against FC Mendrisio-Stabio
. He gave his Super League debut on 27 February 2011 in the 1:0 away win against FC Luzern. At the end of the 2010–11 Swiss Super League
season Taulant Xhaka won the Super League Championship title with FC Basel.
Taulant Xhaka gave his UEFA Champions League
debut for Basel on 27 September 2011 as a substitute in the 3:3 away draw in the Old Trafford
Stadium against Manchester United
.
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 deafeat against Germany national under-20 football team.
Taulant Xhaka made his Swiss U-21
debut as substitute on 7 Oktober 2011 in the 1:0 away win against Georgia U-21
. In the return game on 10 November, a 5:0 home win in the Cornaredo Stadium
, he played in the starting team.
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
footballer of Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
descent who plays for Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
in the Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
.
Early life
Taulant is the elder brother of Granit XhakaGranit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka is a Swiss footballer of Albanian descent who plays as a midfielder for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.-Early life:...
, who is also a professional footballer and 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup was the thirteenth tournament of the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria from October 24 to November 15, 2009.The tournament was won by Switzerland, beating 1-0 the host team, Nigeria...
winner. Their family moved to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
whilst the children were still very young.
Club career
The brothers started their youth football by FC Concordia BaselFC Concordia Basel
FC Concordia Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. The club was founded in 1907. They play in the 2nd regional league which is the fifth level, and their home stadium is Rankhof Stadium....
and both moved to FC Basel in 2002. Taulant played for various FC Basel youth teams and since 2008 was a regular member of the U-21 team for two years in the Swiss 1. Liga
Swiss 1. Liga (football)
1. Liga is the third tier of the Swiss Football League. The division is split into three groups of 16 teams, by geographical region.-Regional Format:...
.
At the beginning of the Season 2010/11
2010–11 Swiss Super League
The 2010–11 Swiss Super League was the 114th season of top-tier football in Switzerland. It began on 17 July 2010 and ended on 25 May 2011. The league comprised ten teams....
both brothers moved up into the first team squad. Taulant plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He played his first team debut on 19 September 2010 in the 5:0 Swiss Cup win against FC Mendrisio-Stabio
FC Mendrisio-Stabio
F.C. Mendrisio-Stabio, is a football club from Mendrisio, Switzerland.The club was founded in 2006, FC Mendrisio merges with FC Stabio to form a new club, F.C. Mendrisio-Stabio, is currently playing in the Swiss 1. Liga.- Squad :...
. He gave his Super League debut on 27 February 2011 in the 1:0 away win against FC Luzern. At the end of the 2010–11 Swiss Super League
2010–11 Swiss Super League
The 2010–11 Swiss Super League was the 114th season of top-tier football in Switzerland. It began on 17 July 2010 and ended on 25 May 2011. The league comprised ten teams....
season Taulant Xhaka won the Super League Championship title with FC Basel.
Taulant Xhaka gave his UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
debut for Basel on 27 September 2011 as a substitute in the 3:3 away draw in the Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
Stadium against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
International career
Xhaka has played for Swiss youth squad at the U-17Switzerland national under-17 football team
The Switzerland national under-17 football team is the national under-17 football team of Switzerland and is controlled by the Swiss Football Association. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship and in the FIFA U-17 World Cup...
level. He was part of the Swiss U-17 squad that played in the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
The final tournament of the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship was the 26th UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, UEFA's premier football tournament for players under the age of 17. The tournament was held in Turkey from 4 May to 16 May 2008...
in Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. During the years 2009 and 2010 he played for the Switzerland U-18 and the Switzerland U-19 teams
Switzerland national under-19 football team
The Swiss national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of Switzerland controlled by Swiss Football Association.-See also:* Switzerland national football team* Switzerland national under-21 football team...
. He made his Swiss U-20 debut on 6 September 2010 in the Stadion Breite
Stadion Breite
Stadion Breite is a multi-purpose stadium in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of FC Schaffhausen. The current capacity of the stadium is 7,300. The stadium has 1,028 covered seats, 262 uncovered seats and 6,010 standing places....
, Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is a city in northern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name; it has an estimated population of 34,587 ....
, as right back in the 2:3 home deafeat against Germany national under-20 football team.
Taulant Xhaka made his Swiss U-21
Switzerland national under-21 football team
The Switzerland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Switzerland and is controlled by the Swiss Football Association...
debut as substitute on 7 Oktober 2011 in the 1:0 away win against Georgia U-21
Georgia national under-21 football team
The Georgian U-21 national football team is the football team representing Georgia in competitions for under-21 year old players.-Current squad :The following players were called up for the European Under-21 Football Championship...
. In the return game on 10 November, a 5:0 home win in the Cornaredo Stadium
Cornaredo Stadium
Cornaredo Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Lugano, Switzerland. It is used mostly for football matches. It is a home ground of AC Lugano. The stadium is able to hold 15,000 people and was built in 1951. The stadium has 5,000 seats and 10,000 standing places...
, he played in the starting team.
Honours
Basel- Swiss Super LeagueSwiss Super LeagueThe Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
Champion: 2011 - Uhrencup WinnerUhrencupThe Uhrencup is a club football tournament, held annually in Switzerland.The tournament usually features four teams , each playing two matches, and is held in July at Stadion Brühl in Grenchen. As a friendly tournament, the format tends to be fluid...
: 2011