Why Xherdan Shaqiri chose to leave Liverpool after incredible achievement at Euro 2024

Xherdan Shaqiri has enjoyed a meteoric career since leaving Liverpool almost three years ago.

The Reds signed Shaqiri from Stoke City in 2018 and went on to enjoy the Switzerland international’s three seasons at Anfield. Shaqiri scored eight goals with nine assists in three appearances for Liverpool and was part of the squad that famously beat Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final in 2019.

Shaqiri was eventually sold by Liverpool in a £9.5m deal to Lyon in 2021. However, his stay with the Ligue 1 club would only last a few months before he went on to sign for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer the following February.

Now, Shaqiri is playing for Switzerland at Euro 2024 and has broken a new record for international football. The former Reds star scored in his country’s 1-1 draw with Scotland on Wednesday, with Andy Robertson in Shaqiri’s opposite team.

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Shaqiri’s goal meant he became the first player to score in three separate European Championships and three World Cups. Since playing at Euro 2016, Shaqiri has scored at least one goal in each of the last six international tournaments, becoming the first player to achieve the feat.

However, it is possible that Shaqiri’s achievement will be surpassed this summer. If Cristiano Ronaldo finds the back of the net for Portugal, then he would have scored in each of the last 10 major tournaments for his country.

Even though Shaqiri was part of Liverpool’s Champions League and Premier League winning sides, he was rarely a starter in Jurgen Klopp’s side. Shaqiri was handed just 25 starts in three seasons by Klopp during his time at Anfield and after confirming his move to Lyon he explained why he decided to leave the Reds.

“Peter Bosz (former Lyon manager) loves attacking (possession-based) football,” Shaqiri said on TF1’s Telefoot show in September 2021.

“He was one of the main reasons why I came (to Lyon). I want to succeed and take them to a new level.

“With my experience and my level of play, I want to help this club regain its former glory.

“The goal is to win new trophies, to bring Lyon back to where it was more than ten years ago. It’s time to get this team where it deserves to be.”