Don Andres often claimed by cules all over the world will be playing his last match in Catalan colours against real sociedad this monday at Camp Nou, IST 12.15am.
Yes, the very last match of his Barcelona career as a player, maybe we can have him as the gaffer in the near future but for now let’s see how this all started!
Andrés Iniesta Luján, born 11 May 1984 in the city of Fuentealbilla a small village in the province of Albacete, Castile–La Mancha, Spain. He started his early career at the age of 12, while playing for Albacete Balompié in a junior seven-a-side tournament in Albacete and as usual attracted the attention of scouts from clubs around Spain, but his parents knew Barcelona’s youth team coach, Enrique Orizaola, and he persuaded them to consider sending Iniesta to the Barcelona youth academy. Iniesta traveled there with his parents and visited La Masia, the farmhouse where the club houses its young players; the trip convinced them to enroll Iniesta in the Barcelona youth ranks. Iniesta says he “cried rivers“ the day he left for La Masia and struggled being separated from his parents; he was very shy and kept to himself while there
He captained the Barcelona Under-15 team to victory in the Nike Premier Cup of 1999, scoring the winning goal in the last minute of the final, and was named player of the tournament.
He soon arrived at Barcelona and started his career at Barcelona B team with total 54 apps 5 goals from 2001-2003 later being promoted to Barcelona senior divison team in the year 2003. Then was the time when Pep Guarldiola stated to xavi.
“You’re going to retire me. This lad [Iniesta] is going to retire us all.”
From then on Andres iniesta with compatriots Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets had been the midfield trio for both club and national team. In September 2008, Iniesta was elected the fourth-choice captain behind, in order of preference, Carles Puyol, Xavi and Víctor Valdés; all four were products of the Barcelona youth system. His performances throughout the season were highly lauded, and he received standing ovations both in Barcelona at the Camp Nou, as well as from rival supporters in away matches. Iniesta had been the Concertmaster of the team years after years, 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP scoring the final goal against Netherlands in 116th minutes of the game to scoring a vital equaliser in the final minute of stoppage time during the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, with a curling strike with the outside of his right foot 25 yards from goal, securing the tie on away goals as the match finished 1–1. Iniesta’s goal against Chelsea sent Barcelona through to the final in Rome against defending champions Manchester United.
Iniesta is widely considered to be one of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest midfielders of all time. Since 2009, he has been chosen in the UEFA Team of the Year six times and has been voted into the FIFA World XI on nine occasions. Iniesta won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award in 2012 and was named the IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker in 2012 and 2013. He was runner-up to Lionel Messi for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or and achieved third place in 2012.
On 6 October 2017, Iniesta signed a lifetime contract with Barcelona effectively keeping him with the club for the remainder of his career. He played the 650th game of his career for Barcelona against. Despite signing a lifetime contract, on 27 April 2018, Iniesta announced he would be leaving Barcelona by the end of the season. Saddening isn’t it the magician hailed to be the greatest midfielder of this generation is finally giving up the Catalan Jersey. An institutional farewell to the maestro was held at Camp Nou on Friday evening. Members of the current squad, the Blaugrana invited some of the player’s former teammates and coaches, amongst others. Dani Alves, Samuel Eto’o Xavi Hernandez, Radomir Antic, the Gasol brothers, Joan Laporta and Emilio Butragueno were just some of those in attendance. Also present were all of the trophies Iniesta has helped the club to win, with the silverware sat impressively behind the stage.
With Andres set to leave this season he is yet to decide his future, with clubs like Manchester City interested in the eternal magician, but Andres is not willing to play for a club with the possibilities to face his Lifetime Club. But rumors are he can be replacing Mikel Arteta as player’s coach alongside Pep Guardiola.
Whatever the future hold for Andres every cule have been lucky enough to have him at barcelona, watching him play has been treat to eyes and joyous to watch. Trickery, Pin-point passes, Match deciding goals this man gave us everything. I hope you will again return to barcelona in the near future
Thank You Andres.
Mucha Gracias!
#Infinit8andres.
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