Part 1: FC Basel.
To all the new readers, this is a new beginning where I will be talking about the clubs that make superstars. We often love our stars like Haaland, Salah, De Bruyne, etc., but never acknowledge the clubs that give these superstars the perfect chance to kickstart their careers. In this series, I will be talking about certain clubs from around the globe that have given rise to the game’s greatest & their top products that have dominated or made a big name in European football. Every Tuesday, I would be writing about a new club & the greatest legends produced by them.
Today’s club is FC Basel, the biggest club in Swiss football. A club like Basel survives in modern football by heavily investing in the identification, recruitment, and development of young players through their academy system. These players are given opportunities to mature and gain first-team experience in Switzerland’s top league, which offers a competitive yet supportive environment for growth. Once they have demonstrated their potential, Basel strategically sells these players to larger foreign clubs for substantial transfer fees. This approach not only generates significant revenue but also enhances Basel’s reputation as a nurturing ground for emerging talent. As the club’s stature and track record grow, the transfer fees received for their most promising youngsters continue to rise. Over the past decade, Basel has become widely known as a feeder club for top European teams, consistently producing quality players who are well-prepared for the demands of more competitive leagues. By balancing player development with financial sustainability, Basel ensures long-term success both on and off the pitch.
Products
Rakitić
Spending a total of 10 years in the academy, Ivan Rakitić joined Basel back in 1995 when he was around seven years old; by the age of 16, some of Europe’s biggest clubs were chasing Rakitić’s signature. Rakitic then joined Schalke 04. He spent four years in the Bundesliga with the Royal Blues before joining La Liga club Sevilla FC. This is where Rakitić started to flourish and prove his talent on the big stage. Rakitić was given the captain’s armband as he led Sevilla to Europa League triumph. In 2014, Rakitic joined FC Barcelona, and the rest is history. He became an unsung hero in Barca’s treble-winning season, he came back to Sevilla & won another Europa League for them & signed off as a club legend.
Yann Sommer
A name that every Barca fan would remember for years to come, his incredible performance last season denied Barca a great opportunity for CL glory. Yann Sommer joined the Basel youth academy in 2003 and signed his first professional contract in 2005. He spent many years on loan before becoming a regular. In his four years at first team level for Basel, Sommer won an incredible four Swiss Super League titles and one Swiss Cup. On the 10th of March 2014, Basel announced that Sommer would be leaving the club in the summer to join Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach. From then on, he played at several big clubs, but his most notable stint would remain at Inter for good as well as bad reasons. He became the only Gk to concede 5 goals in the CL final.
Xhaka
Once dubbed the “young Schweinsteiger” by the Swiss manager, Xhaka is a PL veteran & probably one of the most underrated midfielders of our generation. I still remember the game against France where he managed to control the game despite facing the tough midfield of Pogba & Kante. He has always performed beautifully for his national side. Granit Xhaka joined the Basel youth academy in 2002 and spent eight years working his way up through the ranks. During his youth-level career, Xhaka won the U17 World Cup with Switzerland in 2009. At the beginning of the 10/11 season, Xhaka was promoted to the first team, and he made his debut for the club in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Borussia Mönchengladbach announced the signing of Xhaka in May 2012, and two years later, he was united with fellow Basel youth graduate Yann Sommer as the Swiss keeper decided to join Gladbach from Basel as well.
His move to Arsenal damaged his reputation & Xhaka has been vocal about how he felt mistreated at the club. He not only regained his respect but became a Bundesliga great who managed to go unbeaten with Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen. Now at Sunderland, he is massively important for the Tyne-Wear side & is set to captain Switzerland for the World Cup in 2026.
Shaqiri
Joining the Basel academy in 2001, Shaquiri made his debut in 2009. After three years and three league titles plus two Swiss Cups, Shaqiri decided it was time to leave the Swiss club. German powerhouses FC Bayern Munich came in for Shaqiri, and a fee for around €11.6 million was agreed with Basel. Even though he played 39 games for Bayern in his first season, Shaqiri struggled to hold down a starting spot and complete regular 90 minutes for the club. Despite winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League with Bayern, Shaqiri started to get frustrated about the lack of playing time. He transferred to Inter and then Stoke and then Liverpool, where he won the league & champions league.
He may not have very great memories at the club level, but surely he is a hero in Euros; his Euro goal catalogue is one to watch.
B.Embolo
Embolo’s career has been held back by persistent injuries, but his talent is undeniable, and his impact is significant whenever he is fit. At 28, he is far from finished and still possesses the ability to become a top striker if he maintains his fitness. Embolo launched his career at Basel, where he immediately made headlines as a prolific goal scorer, earning widespread recognition as Swiss football’s next big star. But Embolo is more than just a goal scorer—his intelligent movement, relentless work rate, and ability to create space for teammates make him a constant threat, much like Marcus Thuram at Inter. When healthy, Embolo elevates any attack he leads.
Currently at Rennes, where he has started this season brightly & is looking sharp, he must stay sharp as the World Cup is on the horizon.
