Xherdan Shaqiri has enjoyed a trophy-laden career at the likes of Liverpool and Bayern Munich but the squad player was accused of being “no champion” in his homeland

Xherdan Shaqiri basked in front of his career honours when he was told that he was “no champion”.

The Swiss star now plays for Chicago Fire in the MLS, but was playing for Liverpool when he was subjected to the derogatory comment.

Shaqiri moved to Anfield from Stoke City in the summer of 2018 and was part of the Reds side that won the Champions League and then claimed Premier League glory a year later.

Shaqiri was one of several forwards on Jurgen Klopp’s books, but was largely an understudy to Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. As a result his minutes were limited and a manager in Switzerland suggested that Shaqiri’s squad role meant he couldn’t be called a champion.

Arno Rossini, a manager back in Shaqiri’s homeland, told Tio: “Xherdan is not a champion. We certainly cannot say that he left his mark with the teams with which he won. Not with the big guys at least. He was the protagonist in Basel, certainly not at Bayern or Liverpool.

“Let’s say that over the years he has often followed the games of his teams as a spectator, sitting in the best places. And millions have also been paid for it. This, taking everything into account, makes me think that the Swiss is not one who always gives his best.

“If not as owner, at least one important reserve role, from first choice on the bench, [he] would otherwise have managed to carve it [a place in the team] out. Instead nothing. Only the crumbs, for a disheartening situation. Of course, Xherdan is filling the bulletin board and seeing his bank account grow dramatically; I don’t know how many, in ten years, will remember him thinking about the great teams in which he has played.”

With such an extensive trophy cabinet Shaqiri produced the perfect response to Rossini’s comments in an Instagram post. He wrote: “Dear Blick and Andreas Boeni [head of football at the publication], while you are bored in the office, here is a picture for the next front page.” The picture was of a graphic showing him celebrating with his 17 career trophies.

The Swiss star is a two-time Champions League winner
Earlier in his career, after bursting onto the scene with FC Basel, Shaqiri earned himself a move to Bayern Munich. In Germany he claimed three successive Bundesliga titles and was part of the treble winning side in 2013 that claimed the Champions League at Wembley.

Shaqiri’s stellar CV has also seen him twice named the Swiss Player of the Year whilst he’s claimed 119 caps for his country, the second most in history, and is the fourth highest scorer in history.