The exceptional Spanish player Andrés Iniesta had announced his departure and has now completed it. In Barcelona, the former Barça clock finally says “adiós”.
Former soccer world and European champion Andrés Iniesta has finally ended his career. The now 40-year-old exceptional player announced this step at an emotional ceremony in Barcelona, which was also attended by Barça coach Hansi Flick. “I never expected this day to come, I could never have imagined it,” said an emotional Iniesta.
“But all the tears of the last few days are tears of emotion or pride, they are not tears of sadness. They are tears of this boy who had the dream of becoming a footballer and who achieved it after a lot of hard work, effort and sacrifice has.”
On Monday he had already prepared the announcement of the end of his career with a two-minute video on social media. His former coaches Pep Guardiola, Louis van Gaal and Vicente del Bosque, among others, had their say in the video.
Winning goalscorer in the World Cup final
Iniesta is considered one of the most influential Spanish footballers of the past decades. 14 years ago he scored Spain in the final against the Netherlands in extra time to win the World Cup in South Africa. In 2008 and 2012 he became European champion with his home country.
His work is particularly closely linked to the successful period of FC Barcelona at the beginning of this millennium. In the last four of Barça’s five Champions League titles, Iniesta set the pace on the pitch.
Together with his midfield partner Xavi and top star Lionel Messi, Iniesta was particularly responsible for the famous short passing game Tiki-Taka under former Barca coach Guardiola. Iniesta made his debut in the FC Barcelona first team in 2002 and played 674 times for the Catalans.
Messi: “Ball will miss you”
Messi praised Iniesta via Instagram story as “one of the players with the most magic” and with whom he enjoyed playing together the most. “The ball will miss you, as will all of us together,” the Argentine continued.
In addition to the Champions League titles in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015, Iniesta won the Spanish championship nine times and the Copa del Rey six times with Barcelona. In 2018 he moved to Japan to Vissel Kobe, where he played with Lukas Podolski, among others. In 2023 he moved to Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates. His contract there expired at the end of June.
Source: Stern
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