Xherdan Shaqiri’s future may lie away from Basel, with the Kosovo-Swiss star openly acknowledging that a move to Rapperswil-Jona— a club in which he already owns shares — is a real possibility.
In a wide-ranging interview with Blick, Shaqiri spoke about his growing involvement with Swiss second-division side Rapperswil-Jona and did little to hide his long-term ambitions.
“I didn’t get involved with Rapperswil for no reason. We have big plans for the club,” Shaqiri said. “It’s a good step to see different aspects of running a club up close, but it also involves a lot of work. I try to follow every home match whenever possible.”
The 32-year-old confirmed that while he has not yet decided whether he will one day run a club, he is already working on obtaining coaching licenses and is certain he will remain involved in football after retiring from playing.
“Maybe I’ll even play for Rapperswil myself. That’s clearly an option,” Shaqiri added with a smile. “The club will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2028. Now you know my goal for the future.”
Shaqiri’s comments suggest his time at Basel could be nearing its end, as he begins to think beyond his current role and toward life after his playing career.
The former Bayern Munich and Liverpool player also revealed that next summer he plans to travel to the United States to attend several matches at the FIFA World Cup, possibly even the final, further highlighting his continued passion for the global game.
