Degen distances himself from Jokanovic appointment at FC Basel

President David Degen states he had nothing to do with the coach appointment and voices support for a contract extension for captain Xherdan Shaqiri.

FC Basel president David Degen has clearly distanced himself from the appointment of new coach Slavisa Jokanovic. At the same time, he reaffirmed his support for a contract extension for captain Xherdan Shaqiri, whose deal expires in June. The club sits 4th in the Super League with 13 points from 9 games following a recent 1-3 home defeat to St. Gallen.

"That is silly chatter," Degen said regarding accusations he influenced the coaching decision. He stressed the choice was driven by Technical Director Andreas Herrmann, head of the first team Valentin Stocker, and chief scout Marko Filipovic. This trio only recently assumed their roles following the departures of sporting director Daniel Stucki and chief scout Ruedi Zbinden. Herrmann held several professional talks in Madrid that led to Jokanovic's hiring. The 58-year-old Serbian received a work contract until the end of the season.

Jokanovic's first impression

In a first meeting on Monday, Jokanovic made a "right impression," according to Degen. The experienced coach, who has worked in ten countries and was most recently active in the United Arab Emirates, sees the current situation as an exciting and demanding challenge. He believes the squad has enormous potential and can perform better than recently. Jokanovic said he wants to stay long-term in Basel "if the results are right." Talks about continuing beyond this season would be held in spring. Herrmann praised Jokanovic's pragmatism and his ability to quickly integrate into existing structures and convey his offensive playing style.

Shaqiri and the "FC Basel system"

A central topic remains the future of Xherdan Shaqiri. Degen said talks about an extension are ongoing. He would support the captain playing for one more year if he wishes. Shaqiri was decisive recently with a goal and two assists in the 4-2 win at Luzern. The club must finance itself and find a place in the football market by developing and selling players, Degen emphasized. "There is no Degen system, there is only an FC Basel system." C- or D-quality players do not fit this strategy. The full overview of the current squad shows the personnel options.

Stephan Lichtsteiner's tenure as coach did not work out, Degen admitted. He was the only one at the club who believed Lichtsteiner could prepare for and start the season. The change came after just one win from the last five league games (LWLLD). The next test for Jokanovic is the away match on October 11th against 11th-placed FC Vaduz, a fixture from the current schedule. The new coach thus faces his first task of stabilizing a team that already trails league leaders Lugano by twelve points in the standings.