2024-10-08 12:59:51
“Being on the pitch is over”: legend of Barça and the Spanish football team, Andrés Iniesta announced on Tuesday that he was retiring, with the aim of soon becoming a coach. Visibly moved, sitting alone on a stool in the middle of a stage, Iniesta, 40, unfolded in front of journalists the thread of his rich career, with the reinforcement of videos of his ex-trainers or relatives broadcast on a screen at the above him.
His career took him from Barça, his training club where the attacking midfielder spent 16 years, playing 674 matches, to the Emirates Club, in the United Arab Emirates, where he did a final one-year stint after five seasons. spent in Japan, at Vissel Kobe.
“I can’t stay away from football”
“Being on the pitch is over,” concluded Iniesta after discussing his career. “I can’t stay away from football, it’s my life and it will continue to be my life. Now I have to continue training, I’m getting my coaching diploma and that’s the next step,” he continued. “I will try to come back to do a big job, but it will not be running behind the ball, but from another place.”
Trained at La Masia, the nursery of FC Barcelona, Iniesta is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the Catalan club, symbolizing, with Xavi and Lionel Messi, the domination of Barça’s collective game at European level between 2008 and 2015. Under the Blaugrana jersey, he won 32 trophies, including four Champions Leagues and nine Spanish Championships, while establishing himself as the key player in the success of the Spanish selection (131 caps) during the same period, lifting Euro-2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro-2012 in quick succession.
Tribute from Real Madrid
Already a respected figure in world football, Iniesta, who became a Catalan by adoption but was born near Albacete (Castile-la-Mancha, center), entered the hearts of all Spaniards one evening in July 2010 in Johannesburg, in South Africa, offering La Roja its first World Cup with a half-volley in the 116th minute against the Netherlands.
Symbol of his aura in Spanish football, even Real Madrid, Barça’s emblematic rival, paid tribute to him on Tuesday, showing him “its recognition, admiration and affection” and evoking “one of the great legends of Spanish football and world football”.
His former partner Messi, for his part, praised on Instagram “one of the most magical teammates” with whom he has played. “He is one of the very rare footballers who was a teacher before being a student. He already knew everything,” summarized former Barça coach and football director Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, with Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente judging for his part that he had given “society the example of this what is a professional athlete?
“I would of course like to come back to Barça”
Beyond his magic with the ball which made the biggest players falter, the player was also very respected for his humility and his class on the pitch. The ex-Spanish international had already started to prepare for the rest of his life, including the creation of his own vineyard and his football academy, with the long-stated objective of one day becoming coach of his club ( almost) always. “Yes, the idea of coaching appeals to me a lot. […] And I would of course like to come back to Barça at some point, because it’s the club of my life. It would be an honor to coach Barça one day,” he said.
In 2018, during his last match with Barcelona, he received a sublime tribute from Catalan supporters with a huge “Infinit Iniesta” tifo (Iniesta to infinity) covering all the stands at the Camp Nou. On Tuesday, Barça greeted him again on X: “Mr Andrés, your football will last forever”.
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“The Legendary Career of Andrés Iniesta: The Next Chapter Begins”
In a poignant press conference, Spanish football icon Andrés Iniesta announced his retirement from the beautiful game, sending shockwaves across the footballing world. As the curtains closed on a storied 20-year career, the Barcelona legend revealed his next ambition – to take the reins as a coach. This bittersweet moment marked the end of an era, as Iniesta, now 40, hangs up his boots and sets his sights on the next chapter of his remarkable journey.
As we reflect on Iniesta’s illustrious career, it’s impossible to overstate his impact on the world of football. The attacking midfielder spent 16 years at his boyhood club, FC Barcelona, notching an astonishing 674 appearances and clinching a staggering 32 trophies, including four Champions League titles and nine Spanish Championships. His creative flair, vision, and technical prowess were instrumental in forging the Catalan club’s dominance of European football between 2008 and 2015.
Iniesta’s accomplishments didn’t go unnoticed beyond the confines of Camp Nou. He was a vital cog in the Spanish national team, earning 131 caps and claiming three major international titles – Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, and Euro 2012. That unforgettable World Cup-winning goal against the Netherlands in Johannesburg still sends shivers down the spines of Spanish fans.
What makes Iniesta’s retirement all the more poignant is the realization that he’s not leaving the game altogether. His desire to pursue a coaching career serves as a testament to his unwavering passion for football. As he so aptly put it, “Being on the pitch is over,” but his love affair with the sport will continue to burn bright. Iniesta’s commitment to obtaining his coaching diploma and his aspirations to make a lasting impact as a manager have fans eagerly anticipating his next move.
The reaction to Iniesta’s retirement from the football community has been predictably effusive. Even Real Madrid, Barcelona’s fiercest rivals, paid a heartfelt tribute to the departing legend, acknowledging his status as one of Spanish football’s greatest icons. This spontaneous show of unity speaks volumes about the respect and admiration Iniesta commands across the footballing world.
As we bid farewell to Andrés Iniesta the player, we eagerly await the arrival of Andrés Iniesta the coach. Will he follow in the footsteps of fellow Barcelona legends Pep Guardiola or Xavi, who have enjoyed remarkable success as managers? One thing is certain – the football world will be watching with bated breath as Iniesta embarks on the next exciting phase of his incredible journey.
With a legacy as esteemed as his, it’s impossible to imagine Andrés Iniesta staying away from football for long. His eventual return as a coach promises to be a beautiful reunion – a testament to the enduring allure of the beautiful game and the enduring spirit of one of its greatest champions.
