Shaqiri: “I Didn’t See Any Envy in the USA!”
Posted on October 17, 2024
Ah, Xherdan Shaqiri—an absolute gem of a footballer, a midfield maestro, and now, the magician of money matters! When he swapped the enchanting European football scene for the bright lights and big bucks of Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire, it was like watching a real-life version of a football video game where you casually select the top player, throw in a hefty contract, and just roll with it. Can we get him a cape next?
Americana vs. European Jealousy: A Tale of Two Dress Rooms
In a recent episode of Football Talk Home Game, Shaqiri nonchalantly dropped some insight about the financial landscape of American soccer. With an annual salary that ticked in at a jaw-dropping $8.2 million, you’d think the jealousy levels would rival that of a soap opera plot twist. But wait! Shaqiri claims there was no envy in the dressing room. I mean, who doesn’t love a good ol’ sports salary showdown?
“When I was in the dressing room,” he coolly quipped, “I had the feeling that people thought it was cool when someone earned so much.” Now, that’s a level of self-acceptance that would make even the most seasoned therapists applaud! Imagine that—team morale soaring because someone is pulling in more dollars than a Wall Street banker doing overtime!
Let’s Talk About Money
You see, in the USA, player salaries are like reality show secrets—everyone knows them! Not hiding behind a curtain like in Europe, where each club has more secrets than a magician’s act. Shaqiri highlights this fascinating cultural divide: “In Europe, when someone knows what the other person deserves, they think to themselves: Why does he deserve more? What can he do better than me?” Sounds like the opening line for a football-supporters-only therapy group!
Goodbye to Big Bucks… for a Reason
However, money wasn’t the only factor on Shaqiri’s mind. He packed his bags and hopped on a plane to Chicago, trading in a king’s ransom for camaraderie and ambition. Shaqiri was clear—his move had as much to do with his connection to sports director Georg Heitz as it did with the opportunity to wear a Chicago Fire jersey. If only moving houses were that simple, right? Just imagine saying, ‘I’m leaving because my mate from college works at the local estate agency!’
Now back with FC Basel, he’s reportedly okay with making a “mere” 1.2 to 1.7 million francs per year. I guess no one’s going to shed any tears for him, eh? He might not be buying castles anymore, but this international star definitely won’t be scrounging for the 5-for-1 deal at his local Swiss grocery store!
Shaqiri: More Than Just a Salary!
Ultimately, Shaqiri’s journey isn’t just about the glorious sums assuredly listing ‘sigh-worthy’ on his bank statement. In an era where player motivations often get lost in the echo-vacuum of transfer rumors and wage bills, it’s refreshing to see someone prioritizing relationships and ambitions over the glimmer of coins.
So, what’s the takeaway, folks? It’s not always cash that matters, but sometimes, it’s just a little bit of camaraderie amongst your team—along with the assurance that you’re the one earning the most. Just don’t forget to remind them during the Monday morning meetings!
Shaqiri: “I didn’t see any envy in the USA”
When Xherdan Shaqiri moved to Chicago Fire in 2022, he was the highest-paid player in MLS for a while. In Football Talk Home Game, Shaq talks about the differences in the USA and Europe when it comes to money.
No time? blue News summarizes for you
- Xherdan Shaqiri moved from Chicago Fire to FC Basel in the summer and gave up a lot of money.
- In the football talk home game, Shaqiri explains what it was like as the top earner in the MLS.
With an annual salary of $8.2 million (CHF 7.1 million), Xherdan Shaqiri was one of the top earners in the MLS. When asked about the high wages in the football talk home game, Shaqiri smiles: “It’s always nice, no matter where you work.” And he teases presenter Stefan Eggli: “I think you wouldn’t be at blue Sport if you had a better contract somewhere else.”
In the USA, the wages of sports stars are published. This wasn’t a problem for Shaqiri, who was by far the highest paid professional on Chicago Fire, on the contrary. «I didn’t see any envy. When I was in the dressing room, I had the feeling that people thought it was cool when someone earned so much,” he explains.
That is not the case everywhere. “It’s different in Europe. When someone knows what the other person deserves, they think to themselves: Why does he deserve more? What can he do better than me?” says Shaqiri.
With the FCB return you forgo a lot of money
But money alone wasn’t his motivation for moving to North America. “I’ve known Georg Heitz (editor’s note: outgoing sports director at Chicago Fire) from Basel for a long time, that’s how the contact came about. And I really wanted to get away from Lyon,” explains the 33-year-old. «I moved to Chicago with ambitions, I wanted to be successful. Of course I had a high-paying contract, but I had worked for it.”
In the summer, an agreement was reached to trigger this “very good contract,” as Shaqiri says, even though it would have run until the end of the year. This meant he was giving up a lot of money. In Basel he earns “only” a fifth of what he earned in Chicago. But the 125-time international player is certainly not starving. According to media reports, Shaqiri’s annual salary at FCB is between 1.2 and 1.7 million francs.
