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Taulant Xhaka

Taulant Ragip Xhaka (born 28 March 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Swiss Super League club Basel. Born in Switzerland, he represented the Albania national team.

Taulant Xhaka
Xhaka with Basel in 2017
Personal information
Full name Taulant Ragip Xhaka
Date of birth (1991-03-28) 28 March 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Basel, Switzerland
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder, 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 283 (8)
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)
2014–2019 Albania 31 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 September 2019

Early life

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Xhaka was born in Basel, Switzerland, to Albanian parents originally from Kosovo. He is the elder brother of Granit Xhaka, who is a professional footballer who plays for Bayer Leverkusen and the Switzerland national team.[2] The family moved from Kosovo to Switzerland in 1990, where both brothers were born.[3][4]

Club career

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Early years

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Taulant Xhaka started playing football at the age of 6 and entered at FC Concordia Basel in 2000 before moving along with his brother to FC Basel two years later.[5] He played for various FC Basel youth teams and from 2008 became a regular member of the under-21 team for two years in the Swiss 1. Liga playing overall 37 games, scoring six goals.[6]

Basel

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At the beginning of the 2010–11 season, he and his brother Granit moved up into the first team squad where he began playing as a defender. He made his first team debut on 19 September 2010 in the 5–0 Swiss Cup win against FC Mendrisio-Stabio.[7] He made his Super League debut on 27 February 2011 in the 1–0 away win against Luzern.[8] At the end of the season, the team won the Super League title, Xhaka's first silverware with the club.

In the next season, Xhaka scored his first Basel goal on 10 September during the 4–0 away league win against Servette, where he came on as a substitute.[9] On 27 September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut as a substitute in the 3–3 away draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.[10]

Loan to Grasshoppers

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On 18 January 2012, it was announced Xhaka was sent on loan to Grasshoppers to gain first-team playing experience.[11] He made his Grasshoppers debut on 12 February during the 2–0 away defeat to Zürich,[12] and until the end of the season he established himself in the starting lineup, making 13 appearances during the second part of 2011–12 season. He also spent the 2012–13 season on loan to the Grasshoppers. But for the following season Basel recalled him into their squad.[13]

Return to Basel

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Xhaka on the ball during a game against Manchester United.

Basel coach Murat Yakin recalled Xhaka to the Basel squad as defensive midfielder. During the 2013–14 season, he established himself in the starting lineup, making 23 league appearances and scoring two goals en route to winning his second league championship with Basel.[14] He also made four cup appearances as the team reached in the final but was beaten 2–0 by Zürich after extra time.[15] He was also an important instrument in team's European campaign, playing ten matches in the Champions League and five in the UEFA Europa League.[16]

During the 2014–15 season, Xhaka further secured his place in the starting lineup, playing 29 matches in league, as Basel were crowned champions for the sixth time in a row.[17] He scored his first goal of the season on 27 September in the 1–1 home draw against Thun.[18] On 13 December, during the cup fixture against Sion, Xhaka suffered an injury which kept him sidelined until the January 2015.[19]

On 9 January 2015, Xhaka extended his contract for a further three years, up until 30 June 2018.[20] In February 2015, he was included in the 2014 Team of the Year by Swiss Football Association and was placed as right-defender.[21] He became one of the three Albania international footballers who participated in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time in history, alongside Basel teammates Shkëlzen Gashi and Arlind Ajeti.[22]

Under trainer Urs Fischer, Xhaka won the Swiss Super League championship at the end of the 2015–16 season[23] and at the end of the 2016–17 Super League season for the sixth time. For the club this was the eighth title in a row and their 20th championship title in total.[24] They also won the Swiss Cup for the 12th time, which meant they had won the double for the sixth time in club history.[25]

Following the retirement of Matías Emilio Delgado at the start of the 2017–18 season, on 5 August 2017, Xhaka became vice-captain of the Basel team.[26] On 18 October 2017, Xhaka scored his first UEFA Champions League goal during the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League group stage matchday 3 against CSKA Moscow in the VEB Arena helping Basel to take their second win.[27]

Under trainer Marcel Koller, Basel won the Swiss Cup in the 2018–19 season. In the first round Basel beat FC Montlingen 3–0, in the second round Echallens Région 7–2 and in the round of 16 Winterthur 1–0. In the quarter-finals Sion were defeated 4–2 after extra time and in the semi-finals Zürich were defeated 3–1. All these games were played away from home. The final was held on the 19 May 2019 in the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern against Thun. Striker Albian Ajeti scored the first goal, Fabian Frei the second for Basel, then Dejan Sorgić netted a goal for Thun, but the result was 2–1 for Basel.[28] Xhaka played in four of the cup games.

In the UEFA Europa League quarter-final match against Shakhtar Donetsk on 11 August 2020 Xhaka was injured and substituted out in the 60th minute. This was later diagnosed as a medial collateral ligament injury and eventually required an operation. Xhaka missed the entire 2020–21 season due to this and could not return to team-trainings until June 2021.[29]

International career

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Switzerland

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Xhaka begun his international career with Switzerland by playing with the under-17 side at the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He played in all three matches as starter, unable to prevent the team's early elimination from the competition.[30][31][32] In the next two years, Xhaka also featured with under-18 and the -19 teams.

His Swiss under-20 debut came on 6 September 2010 in a 2–3 loss to Germany at Stadion Breite. One year later, Xhaka earned his first under-21 cap in the 1–0 away win versus Georgia.[33] He played his first match as starter in another match versus them which ended in a 5–0 win at Cornaredo Stadium. Overall, Xhaka played 41 matches for Switzerland youth squads.

Albania

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2013: Changing teams

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In May 2013, Xhaka expressed his wish to represent Albania senior team, adding that his choice of Albania was definitive.[34] Later in October, he told the media that his choice to play for Albania was influenced by his younger brother Granit.[35] On 18 December of the same year, he received Albanian citizenship, though he still required approval from FIFA in order to represent Albania internationally.[36]

2014–16: First call-ups, UEFA Euro 2016

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Xhaka received his first call-up by manager Gianni De Biasi for the friendly against Malta on 5 March 2014,[37] but was forced to withdraw due to an injury suffered just three days before the match.[38] He was invited again in May for three friendlies against Romania, Hungary and San Marino but suffered yet another injury which prolonged his debut.[39][40] On 25 June, Xhaka received approval from FIFA allowing him to represent Albania in international official matches.[41]

Xhaka was fully fit ahead of UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign where he received a call-up for the opening match against Portugal on 7 September 2014.[42] He started the match and played full-90 minutes, producing a great performance and helping Albania to an empathic 1–0 win at Estádio Municipal de Aveiro.[43] His performance earned praise from the media, as he was included in the Team of the Week.[44] Later on 14 October, Xhaka playing in the third qualifying match against Serbia; he was heavily involved in the riots that happened during the match, notably taking the flag Greater Albania along with Andi Lila from the Serbian player Stefan Mitrović which started a massive brawl. The match was eventually postponed due to Serbian fans launching flares onto the pitch.[45] He along with other Albanian players where attacked by Serbian hooligans who came onto the pitch with chairs and other objects. Initially, UEFA awarded Serbia with a 3–0 win, but were deducted three points, leading both Serbia and Albania appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,[46] who on 10 July 2015, awarded Albania with a 3–0 victory and Serbia were still deducted three points.[47] Days after the match, he along with Lorik Cana were declared citizens of honour from the mayor of the city of Mitrovica, Kosovo, for the bravery shown in protecting national symbols.[48]

 
Xhaka with Albania in 2016

Albania eventually made their way to their UEFA European Championship appearance after defeating Armenia 3–0 in the last match in which played full-90 minutes.[citation needed] On 21 May 2016, Xhaka was named in Albania's preliminary 27-man squad for the final stages of Euro 2016,[49] and in Albania's final 23-man Euro 2016 squad, announced on 31 May.[50]

In Albania's opening match, against Switzerland, Xhaka competed against his brother Granit, becoming the first pair of brothers to play against each other in the entire UEFA European Championship history. At that day, their mother watched from the crowd with a T-shirt combining both nations' flags. Switzerland defeated Albania 1–0.[51] In the second match against hosts France, Xhaka played in the final 16 minutes as a replacement for Burim Kukeli as Albania lost 2–0 with both goals conceded in the last minutes.[52] He did not play in the last group match against Romania in which Albania won 1–0 thanks to a header by Armando Sadiku.[53] It was Albania's first win over Romania since 1948.[54] Albania finished the group in the third position with three points and with a goal difference −2, and was ranked last in the third-placed teams, which eventually eliminated them.[55]

2017–2019: Controversies and UEFA Nations League

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Xhaka played only four matches in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification in which Albania was placed in Group G, finishing in third place which was still a record.[56] In March 2017, following the 2–0 away loss to Italy in which Xhaka didn't play, he left the team and ahead of the friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, announcing via a Facebook status that he would not be part of the team while Gianni De Biasi remains in charge.[57] He also threw several accusations towards the coach in the next weeks, saying that De Biasi is Italian, and that his interest are only the money, not the national team.[58][59][60]

De Biasi told the media that he is willing to call Xhaka to the national team again if he asks for public forgiveness,[61] a request which Xhaka refused.[62] De Biasi left Albania in June 2017,[63] and was replaced by fellow countryman Cristian Panucci, who in August left Xhaka out again for the next qualifying matches.[64] He returned to the national team in October 2017 for the final two qualifying matches against Spain and Italy.[65] He played his first match in 11 months against Spain which ended in a 3–0 away loss.[66]

Xhaka scored his first international goal in his 22nd appearance in Albania's first ever match in UEFA Nations League against Israel, netting with a right shot outside the penalty area in the second half. His goal gave Albania a 1–0 win at Elbasan Arena and the first three points in 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C's Group 1.[67]

2021: Retirement

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On 15 November 2021, Xhaka announced his retirement from international football, citing his injuries and personal issues as the reasons behind his decision. He played his last match for Albania on 7 September, exactly five years after his debut. He totaled 31 appearances and one goal.

Personal life

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On 7 January 2018, Xhaka was engaged to his long-time Albanian girlfriend, Arbnora Nuredini; they married that year.[68] He is the elder brother of Granit Xhaka.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 21 May 2024[69][6][70][71]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Basel U21 2008–09 1. Liga Promotion 11 1 — — — 11 1
2009–10 23 2 — — — 23 2
2010–11 16 3 — — — 16 3
Total 50 6 — — — 50 6
Basel 2010–11 Swiss Super League 5 0 3 0 0 0 — 8 0
2011–12 4 0 2 0 1[a] 0 — 7 0
2013–14 23 2 4 0 15[b] 0 — 42 2
2014–15 29 1 4 0 7[a] 0 — 40 1
2015–16 24 0 1 0 12[c] 0 — 37 0
2016–17 30 0 3 0 6[a] 0 — 39 0
2017–18 23 1 5 1 6[a] 1 — 34 3
2018–19 29 0 4 0 1[d] 0 — 34 0
2019–20 32 0 2 0 12[e] 0 — 46 0
2020–21 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2021–22 25 1 1 1 10[f] 0 — 36 2
2022–23 20 0 3 0 14[f] 0 — 37 0
2023–24 26 1 3 0 1[f] 0 — 30 1
Total 270 6 35 2 85 1 — 390 9
Grasshopper (loan) 2011–12 Swiss Super League 13 0 1 0 — — 14 0
2012–13 25 0 4 0 — — 29 0
Total 38 0 5 0 — — 43 0
Career total 358 12 40 2 85 1 — 483 15
  1. ^ a b c d All appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Ten appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, ten appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ All appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, ten appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ a b c All appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

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As of 7 September 2019[6][72]
National team Year Apps Goals
Albania 2014 3 0
2015 7 0
2016 8 0
2017 2 0
2018 7 1
2019 4 0
Total 31 1


International goals

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Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first.[6]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 7 September 2018 Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania   Israel 1–0 1–0 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C

Honours

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Basel[69]

Grasshopper[69]

Basel U18

  • U18 Swiss Cup: 2007–08[73]

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "Taulant Xhaka". FC Basel. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Xhaka: Babanë ma kanë burgosur sllavët, në Angli kam gjetur shumë shqiptarë" [Xhaka: My father was imprisoned by the Slavs, in England I have found many Albanians] (in Albanian). Albsport.al. 20 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Taulant Xhaka". Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Geburtsort:Basel
  4. ^ "Xhaka: Zgjodha pa hezitim Zvicrën, shqiptarët më thonë tradhtar!". Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Granit, familja juaj vjen nga Kosova, po ju ku keni lindur? Në Zvicër, në Bazel kam lindur. Ashtu si Taulanti, vëllai im. Disa burime informacioni, duke përfshirë këtu edhe "Ëikipedia", kanë njoftuar se kam lindur në Kosovë, por kjo nuk është e vërtetë
  5. ^ "Taulant Xhaka – Euro 2016" (in Albanian). FSHF.org. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d "Taulant Xhaka". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  7. ^ Urs Dünner (19 September 2010). "Der FCB gewinnt im Schweizer Cup mit 5:0 (2:0) gegen Mendrisio" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  8. ^ Remo Meister (27 February 2011). "Wichtiger 1:0-Arbeitssieg für den FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Servette vs. Basel 0 – 4". Soccerway. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  10. ^ Simon Hart (27 September 2011). "United strike late to deny Basel famous win". UEFA. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  11. ^ "Zyrtare: Taulant Xhaka kalon te Grasshoppers" (in Albanian). Kosova in EU. 18 January 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Zürich vs. Grasshoppers 2 – 0". Soccerway. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  13. ^ "Vieles ist klar – vielleicht". Basler Zeitung (in German). FC Basel 1893. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  14. ^ Sacha Grossenbacher (18 May 2014). "Fotos vom Spiel gegen Lausanne sowie den anschliessenden Feierlichkeiten" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  15. ^ Axel Ruppert (21 April 2014). "Gavranovic edges Zürich past nine-man Basel". UEFA. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
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  28. ^ Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv”. "FC Basel - FC Thun 2:1 (1:0)". Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv”. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
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  33. ^ "U-21-Auswahl in Georgien mit Auswärtsieg" [U21 selection with an away win in Georgia] (in German). Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  34. ^ "Shqipëria i merr Zvicrës një Xhaka" [Albania takes away a Xhaka from Switzerland] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  35. ^ "Taulant Xhaka: Graniti me tha te zgjidhja Shqiperine" [Taulant Xhaka: Granit told me to choose Albania]. Gazeta e Sportit (in Albanian). Shqipëria.com. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  36. ^ "Taulant Xhaka merr shtetësi shqiptare" [Taulant Xhaka takes Albanian citizenship] (in Albanian). Gazeta Panorama. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  37. ^ "Risia per Malten, Taulant Xhaka vishet kuqezi" [The newness for Malta, Taulant Xhaka wears red&black] (in Albanian). Civitas.al. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  38. ^ "Dëmtohet Xhaka, thërritet Arapi" [Xhaka injured, Arapi called-up] (in Albanian). asport.al. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  39. ^ "Aliti dhe Cikalleshi risitë, pritet prezantimi i Xhakës..." [Aliti and Cikalleshi the innovations, Xhaka's presentation is expected...] (in Albanian). asport.al. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  40. ^ "Xhaka drejt refuzimit të Shqipërisë?" [Xhaka towards refusing Albania?] (in Albanian). asport.al. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  41. ^ "FIFA jep "OK", Taulant Xhaka zyrtarisht kuqezi" [FIFA gives “OK”, Taulant Xhaka officially red&black] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  42. ^ "De Biazi flet për ndeshjen me Portugalinë" [De Biasi talk for the match with Portugal] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  43. ^ "Portugal 0–1 Albania: Balaj stunner shocks hosts". Goal.com. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  44. ^ "Euro 2016 Team of the Week: Lewandowski and Muller unstoppable as Albania make their mark". Goal.com. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  45. ^ Ames, Nick (15 October 2014). "Reflecting on the chaos of Serbia vs. Albania in Belgrade". No. ESPN. ESPN. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
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  47. ^ "FOOTBALL: The CAS rejects the appeal filed by the Serbian FA, upholds in part the appeal filed by the Albanian FA: the match Serbia-Albania is deemed to have been forfeited by Serbia (0–3)". Tribunal Arbitral du Sport / Court of Arbitration for Sport. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  48. ^ "Bahtiri shpall Xhaken e Canen qytetare nderi te Mitrovices" [Bahtiri declare Xhaka and Cana honorary citizens of Mitrovica] (in Albanian). koha.net. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  49. ^ Fatjon Pandovski (21 May 2016). "De Biasi leaves out Albanian top scorer Salihi". UEFA. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
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  57. ^ "Ekskluzive/ Xhaka lë Kombëtaren: I zhgënjyer nga De Biasi" [Exclusive/ Xhaka leaves the national team: Disappointed from De Biasi] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  58. ^ "Deklaratë "bombë" e Xhakës: De Biasi është italian, nuk ka gjak shqiptari" [The “bomb” statement of Xhaka: De Biasi is Italian, doesn't have Albanian blood] (in Albanian). Gazeta Blic. Retrieved 8 September 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  59. ^ "Taulant Xhaka thumbon teknikun De Biasi" [Taulant Xhaka stings the coach De Biasi] (in Albanian). Gazeta Tema. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  60. ^ "Taulant Xhaka del hapur: Mua më dhimbset kombëtarja, De Biasit lekët" [Taulant Xhaka: I'm worried for the national team, while De Biasi for the money] (in Albanian). lajmifundit.al. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  61. ^ "Taulant Xhaka në kombëtare vetëm nëse kërkon falje publike" [Taulant Xhaka in the national team only if he asks for public forgiveness] (in Albanian). Gazeta Blic. Retrieved 8 September 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  62. ^ "Xhaka nuk dëshiron t'i kërkojë falje De Biasit" [Xhaka doesn't want to aks forgiveness to De Biasi] (in Albanian). Telegrafi.com. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
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  65. ^ "Taulant Xhaka rikthehet në kombëtare" [Taulant Xhaka returns to the national team] (in Albanian). Gazeta Blic. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
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  68. ^ "I dha fund beqarisë, Xhaka: Ja si më "zbuti" Arbnora, e vetmja që më ka dribluar" [Has ended celibacy, Xhaka: Here's how Arbnora "softened" me, the only one that has dribbled me on] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  69. ^ a b c Taulant Xhaka at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  70. ^ Taulant Xhaka – UEFA competition record (archive)
  71. ^ "Football : Taulant Xhaka". Football Database. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  72. ^ Taulant Xhaka – national football team player EU-football.info
  73. ^ FC Basel 1893 (2008). "Zwei weitere Nachwuchstitel für den FCB" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  74. ^ "Gashi footballeur de l'année 2014". Le Matin (in French). 2 February 2015. ISSN 1018-3736. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
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