Xavi Hernandez - a legend of world football, a Spanish player who became one of the most influential and technically gifted players of his generation. He was born on January 25, 1980, in Terrassa, Spain, and displayed his football talent from a young age. Xavi became renowned for his outstanding passing skills and ball control. He possessed a unique ability to control the game on the field, distribute passes, and create attacks for his team.
He began his professional career in 1998, joining the youth team of Barcelona. Over time, he became an integral part of Barcelona's main squad and a product of the legendary La Masia academy. He spent 17 years at FC Barcelona, eventually becoming its captain and one of the main inspirations behind the "tiki-taka" style of play.
Xavi helped Barcelona win numerous domestic and international trophies, including 8 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions League titles. He became the heart and soul of the team, and his on-field leadership was invaluable to Barcelona's success during that period. Xavi is also a key figure for the Spanish national team. With the national squad, he won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
His intellectual approach to the game and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates made him an irreplaceable player for the national team. After leaving Barcelona in 2015, Xavi moved to Qatari club Al-Sadd, where he continued to showcase his skills and leadership. He helped the team win several national titles and became a symbol of football development in Qatar.
In addition to his playing career, Xavi has shown an interest in coaching. He has completed coaching courses and expressed a desire to one day manage his former team, Barcelona. Xavi Hernandez is not only a player of exceptional class but also a symbol of virtuosity, game reading ability, and leadership on the field. His style and contribution to world football will be remembered by generations of fans.
On Saturday, after Barcelona’s bitterly disappointing 5-3 defeat to Villarreal at Montjuic, head coach Xavi Hernandez announced that he would be stepping down from the position at the end of the season.
The following morning, Xavi met with his squad to address the situation, and give his reasoning from stepping back in the summer. It was said to be an emotional meeting, and the 44-year-old was not the only person to speak, as Sergi Roberto – the club captain – also addressed his teammates and the coaching staff.
According to Cadena SER, Roberto asked Xavi to reconsider his decision to leave, as he wants him to remain as head coach beyond the end of the season. Furthermore, he apologised on beyond of he and his teammates for the consistent poor performances over the last few months.
Roberto certainly has an ulterior motive for wanting Xavi to remain, as it’s expected that he will leave the club in the summer when his contract expires. The veteran midfielder was likely to stay at Barcelona if Xavi did, but now that won’t be happening.
Image via REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo
Read on football-espana.net