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.
Spain’s World Cup-winning manager Vicente del Bosque has claimed that Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona do not represent his identity on the pitch.
While Xavi has undoubtedly done well to win La Liga from the depths in which he took over the team, this season many expected Barcelona to take a leap forward in terms of the football they play, and the football that the Barcelona icon preaches in his press conferences.
Del Bosque was asked about what Barcelona lacking on Cadena SER, and responded that they were missing the one thing Xavi was supposed to guarantee.
“He’s just off the back of winning a league. The big teams always play against teams sitting deep with very few spaces. Barcelona has always had a characteristic identity of opening the game up and they lack that a bit.”
His interviewer wondered if Xavi was setting himself up for failure by always speaking about the style of play that he seeks.
“A coach always has to set the maximum goal, although sometimes that goal is inaccessible.”
Meanwhile del Bosque was complementary of Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, saying “represents the club very well at all times except on rare occasions.” He also praised Ancelotti’s management of the transition at the Santiago Bernabeu, as Los Blancos move on from the likes of Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric – “if you win it’s easy, but if you lose…”
No doubt Xavi has lacked the resources that his predecessors have had to deliver the football that was demanded of them, yet the lack of identity of his team, regardless of whether they win or not, has become a frustration for many with him. Last season Xavi went for a more pragmatic approach, which ultimately worked, but building on that is proving tricky.
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