Degen delighted to be back at Basel
Saturday, November 12, 2011
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"It is a nice feeling to be back where it all started," said Switzerland defender Philipp Degen after agreeing to sign a deal to return to FC Basel 1893 until the end of the season.
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Defender Philipp Degen has returned to the club where he began his career after signing a deal that will keep him at FC Basel 1893 until the end of the season.
Degen had been training with his former club for the last three weeks in order to restore fitness following a long-term calf injury and the termination by mutual consent of his contract with Liverpool FC at the end of August.
The 28-year-old, who has been capped 32 times by his country but blighted by injury during his four-year spell at Liverpool, impressed the Swiss champions sufficiently to secure a deal until the end of the current campaign, with the option for a further year.
"It is a nice feeling to be back where it all started," said Degen, who scored four goals in 83 appearances for Basel until leaving for Borussia Dortmund in 2005. "I am really happy and I have been warmly welcomed by the team. I still know some people from the old days."
Basel lie third in UEFA Champions League Group C, three points behind Manchester United FC and SL Benfica. Heiko Vogel's charges will be hoping to bridge that divide with victory at FC Oţelul Galaţi on 22 November.