The signs had been piling up, including from the player himself, and now it’s official: World and European champion Andres Iniesta has ended his illustrious career. At least as a player.
There were a few tears. And of course there was a lot of talk of gratitude. What had been looming for days became official on Tuesday afternoon: the career of footballer Andres Iniesta is over. The 40-year-old addressed the issue on a small podium in Barcelona.
Iniesta’s speech, however, was not just a soulful look back. It was also a look forward to the future – if not the immediate present. “The football is over at this stage. But the game continues,” said Iniesta. ”I can’t be far away from football, it has been my life and it will continue to be my life. We are working on various projects. I have to learn, make mistakes, train, as part of the club project we have, the academies… That’s a legacy I want to continue.”
What’s particularly exciting is that the player is apparently set to become a coach. “I’m already starting the coaching course,” revealed the universally beloved legend. “Those of you who know me know that I’m pretty stubborn. I hope that I don’t chase after the ball, but do a good job from the other side. But with a lot of desire.”
Titlehamster in Barcelona
Iniesta had been without a club before that, having previously been relegated with Emirates Ras Al-Khaima in the United Arab Emirates. The Spaniard had moved there after five years in Japan with Vissel Kobe, where he had played with Lukas Podolski, among others.
The technically almost perfect midfielder had already disappeared from the bigger stage in 2018, when he ended his national team career and left “his” FC Barcelona at the age of 34. In the Catalans’ jersey, which he had already put on in his youth, Xavi’s congenial partner had become Spanish champion nine times, cup winner six times and Champions League winner four times. With Spain, the 131-time international (14 goals) became European champion in 2008 and 2012, and world champion in 2010 – scoring the winning goal in the final.
Iniesta is still the only player to have been named the best player in the finals of the World Cup (2010), the European Championship (2012) and the Champions League (2015).