October 9 – Spanish and former Barcelona legend, Andrés Iniesta, 40 has officially announced his retirement after 22 years of playing some of the most artistic football the world has ever seen.
In a tearful news conference, Iniesta said: “Please allow me to be a little emotional today. I never thought this day would come. I never imagined it. Yes, all these tears we have shed these days are tears of emotion, of pride. They are not tears of sadness. They are tears of that boy from a small town like Fuentealbilla, who had the dream of being a footballer and we achieved it after a lot of hard work, sacrifice … of never giving up, essential values in my life. I feel very proud of this path, with all the people who have accompanied me.”
The midfield maestro played 674 times for the Catalan giants, captaining them for three seasons. Leaving Barca at the end of the 2018 season, he spent four years at Vissel Kobe in Japan before spending last season at UAE’s Emirates club.
In his time with FC Barcelona, he won nine La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions Leagues, six Copa Del Rey’s, two UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA World Club Cups, however, his crowning moment was surely scoring the only goal in the 2010 World Cup Final as Spain defeated Holland in South Africa.
His time with the national team was one of unparalleled success.
For so long, Spain were considered the great underachievers of world football, however over a four year spell from 2008-2012, Spain won two European Championships and the World Cup. He finished his international career in 2018 having made 131 appearances scoring 13 goals.
Born in Fuentealbilla, less than an hour’s drive south-east from the capital Madrid, Iniesta joined Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy at 12 years old where he first met his midfield partner, Xavi Hernández, to form arguably one of the greatest midfield duos in history.
On social media his other notable teammate, Lionel Messi wrote: “One of the most magical teammates and one of those who I most enjoyed playing together, Andrés Iniesta, the ball will miss you and so will we! I wish you all the best, you are a phenomenon.”
Iniesta has said that he wants to follow in the footsteps of Pep Guardiola and Xavi by entering the coaching ranks leaving the question…”when will he become the next boss at the Camp Nou?”
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1728443371labto1728443371ofdlr1728443371owedi1728443371sni@o1728443371fni1728443371