Swiss-born Möhlin and raised in the youth team of Swiss giants FC Basel, Ivan Rakitic began playing for the Basel senior team in the 2005-06 season at the age of 17 and wearing the number 17 shirt. Rakitic, who grew up at the heart of the Swiss youth team's midfielders at all levels, quickly rose to prominence in Basel, and was unanimously regarded by Swiss football professionals as the future core player of Swiss football.
In the 2006-07 season, Rakitic, who made his mark in the Swiss league, unexpectedly refused to represent the Swiss national team, choosing instead to wait for the call of his parents' native Croatia. Bilic, who was the head coach of Croatia at the time, soon called up Rakitic to the national team, and at the end of the season, Rakitic also chose to refuse the invitation of Chelsea and joined Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga to continue training.
On 8 September 2007, Rakitic made his debut for Croatia in the Euro Championship qualifiers between Croatia and Estonia and began his legendary career with the national team. The Swiss Football Association, which only focuses on skills development and ignores national identity, has since begun to strengthen the sense of national identity education among immigrants.
