Xavi

At 44 years old, Xavi has this physical status:

Club career

Xavi's growth with the teams earned him a first-team spot in a Copa Catalunya match against Lleida on May 5, 1998, and he scored his first goal against Mallorca on August 18, 1998. Barcelona defeated Valencia 3–1 on October 3rd, his first appearance in La Liga. Xavi, who was playing intermittently for both the reserve and senior teams, scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Real Valladolid as Barcelona's tenth position in the league, losing in their tenth position in the league. Sustained success made him a key member of Louis van Gaal's championship-winning team, winning his first season with 26 games played and being named 1999 La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year. After a fall to Pep Guardiola in the 1999–2000 season, Xavi became Barcelona's leading playmaker.

Barcelona was on the verge of bankruptcy and struggling to keep its place in La Liga's elite in those years. Xavi was playing midfield but not in a more defensive role, scoring 7 goals in two seasons. He scored his first goal in El Clásico against Real Madrid on March 16, 2002.

In the 2004–05 season, Xavi was named vice-captain, and Barcelona defeated La Liga and the 2004 Supercopa de Espaa. In 2005, he was named La Liga Spanish Player of the Year.

Xavi tore the ligaments in his left knee in preparation for four months in 2005-06; he was out of action for four months but returned in April and was on the substitutes bench for Barcelona's victory over Arsenal in the Champions League Final. He has also won La Liga and the Supercopa de Espaa.

After being named Player of the Tournament in Euro 2008, Xavi spoke to Bayern Munich about a transfer, but Pep Guardiola, the club's new manager, persuaded him that he was too important to the team to be allowed to leave. He was a key component of Barcelona's treble and scored his fourth goal in the 2009 Copa del Rey Final against Athletic Bilbao with a free kick. In La Liga, one of his most memorable games was the 6–2 Clásico victory over Real Madrid on May 2nd; he scored four goals, once to Carles Puyol, once to Thierry Henry, and twice to Lionel Messi.

Xavi helped Barcelona beat Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League Final 2–0, helping with the second goal by crossing to Messi for his header. Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson lauded the central midfield pairing of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, saying, "I don't believe Xavi and Iniesta have ever given the ball away in their lives." They can take you on the carousel and can make you dizzy." Xavi was named "UEFA Champions League best midfielder" for his role in Barcelona's triumphant 2008–09 Champions League campaign. Xavi was the highest assisting player in La Liga, 20, and 7 in the Champions League; he earned 29 assists overall this season. Xavi was under Barça's custody until 2014 after extending his deal until the 2008-09 season. With a salary of €7.5 million a year, he became one of the club's top earners.

For example:

Xavi led the assists table again in Barcelona's 2–0 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in the 2009–2010 season, and he gave both the assists. Barcelona won the Liga title with a record 99 points, and Xavi was named Barcelona's second-best player in a season-long poll. Marca, a Madrid-based newspaper, gave him third place in the annual Trofeo di Stéfano award for the best player in La Liga, behind Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Xavi signed a new four-year deal with the club on June 9, 2010, which could be extended to the end of June 2016 depending on the number of games played. In a 5–0 home win, he scored his third goal against arch-rivals Real Madrid on November 29. In a 5–1 victory, he scored another goal against Espanyol on December 18th. Xavi scored a crucial goal with a teamwork from David Villa in a home victory over Arsenal that saw Barcelona advance to the quarter-finals.

Xavi was one of the top three finalists for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or and finished third in the poll behind Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta. Messi was barely defeated to win the Player of the Year award from World Soccer magazine.

Xavi made his 549th appearance for the club in all competitions on January 2, 2011, beating Migueli's record. Xavi made the most appearances for Barcelona of all time. Barcelona defeated Manchester United in the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium in London on May 28 for the second time in three seasons, winning 3–1.

Xavi's fine goalscoring form started the 2011–12 season and appeared to increase in his team's esteem, despite the long-anticipated return of Cesc Fàbregas and the promotion of Thiago to create additional competition for positions in Barça's attacking midfield positions. Barcelona defeated Brazilian side Santos 4–0 on December 18th in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final in Yokohama, with Xavi scoring a goal and aiding Lionel Messi. Xavi had the ball down with a cocked leg, effectively using his ankle to control it, before allowing Messi to score the first goal.

In the Group H game against A.C. Milan, Xavi scored the winning goal, a pivotal match for Barcelona's progression in the Champions League knockout stage. In total, Xavi had the best goalscoring return of his career in 2011-2012, with two in the Copa del Rey and two in the Club World Cup final victory.

Barcelona renewed Xavi's deal on December 18, 2012, extending it until June 30, 2016. In a 3–2 victory for Barcelona, he scored a goal against Real Madrid. Xavi was named in the FIFA World XI alongside colleagues Iniesta, Messi, and Dani Alves. Barcelona had almost guaranteed their La Liga crown by the start of 2013, eventually beating Real Madrid's 100-point record from last season.

Xavi made his 700th appearance for the first team against Getafe in the Copa del Rey on January 16, 2014. Barcelona lost the Copa del Rey Final to Real Madrid, losing a late winner and losing the league in the last game to Atlético Madrid for the first time in five years; they were defeated in the Copa del Rey Final by Real Madrid, with Gareth Bale scoring a late winner.

It was revealed in June 2014 that Xavi would be leaving the club. Xavi's camp Nou manager and former teammate Luis Enrique decided on July 22nd, but not for one more season. He was also voted as the club captain. Xavi made his 500th appearance in La Liga on April 25, 2015, becoming the eighth player to do so. A farewell function was held in Barcelona on June 4th, with players, engineers, colleagues, and families paying their respects to him.

Xavi made his 767th-minute replacement for Andrés Iniesta on June 6, 2015, the club's fifth European Cup finalist, defeating Juventus at Berlin's Olympiastadion. The trophy was lifted by Xavi, the club captain. Barcelona was the first club to win the treble of domestic league, domestic cup, and European Cup twice. Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Gerard Piqué, Pedro, Sergio Busquets, and Dani Alves were all members of both treble-winning teams. Until Lionel Messi beat them in March 2021, Xavi's 767 appearances were a club record until then.

Xavi announced on May 21 that he would join Al Sadd, a Qatari team, at the end of the 2014-2015 season on a three-year deal. According to his agent, the role would include him as an ambassador for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and then certifying in coaching qualifications. In a 4–0 victory over Mesaimeer on September 13, he made his Al Sadd debut, assisting with the team's first goal. In a 2–2 draw with Umm Salal, he scored his first goal for the club. Al Sadd's third season in the Asian Football Confederation's elite club competition, placing them in a third position for next season's AFC Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation's elite club competition. Xavi scored three goals on the season. Al Sadd was disqualified from the qualifying rounds by Emirati side Al Jazira on penalties; Xavi missed his spot kick.

Following a 2–1 victory over El Jaish in the Qatar Cup final on 29 April 2017, Xavi lifted his first trophy with Al Sadd. Xavi said on November 10th that he would not retire until his deal with Al Sadd came to an end, and that he would later pursue a teaching career. However, he postponed these plans and signed a two-year contract extension on May 24, 2018. Al Sadd's captain, Xavi, was unable to make the tournament's semi-finals, but Persepolis defeated 2–1.

Xavi announced on May 2nd that he would be retiring from professional football at the end of the season. Xavi played his final match of his career, defeating Persepolis 2–0 in Tehran, Iran, Al Sadd's last AFC Champions League group match; before the match, he said he would remain in Qatar, to put myself and gain some knowledge.

International career

Xavi competed for Spain at the 2000 Olympics, 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004, 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008, Euro 2008, 2009 Confederations Cup, and the 2014 World Cup. He was a member of the Spanish national team that lifted the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria in 1999, with Xavi also scoring two goals in the tournament.

After Spain defeated Germany 1–0 in the final, Xavi was named Euro 2008's player of the tournament. In midfield, Xavi was dominant, where his passing and reading of the game was vital to Spain's triumph, as he led his country to their first silverware since the 1964 European Championships. "We've chosen Xavi because he epitomizes the Spanish style of play," Andy Roxburgh, chairman of UEFA's Technical Committee, said. He was instrumental in Spain's complete possession, passing, and penetrating game.

Xavi scored his first goal in the semi-finals against Russia, which Spain defeated 3-1. He made the pass from which Fernando Torres scored the winning goal in the final.

Xavi was named in Spain's squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with Spain winning their first World Cup. He made the most accurate passes, 599 with a passing rate of 91%, and he crossed the ball inside the 18-yard box more than any other player in the tournament. He made 57 correct forward half passes in the final. Xavi also covered 80.20 kilometers in the series, averaging 11.5 kilometres per game, more than any other player. He covered a distance of nearly 15 kilometers in the final.

Xavi scored a backheel pass to David Villa in the 63rd minute during a round of 16 matches against Portugal. Despite the fact that Villa had his left foot blocked by goalkeeper Eduardo, he recovered with his right foot for the winning goal. Xavi advanced from a corner to the edge of the six-yard box, where Carles Puyol scored a header into the top-right corner in the semi-final against Germany. During the entire World Cup, Spain dominated possession, with 59% possession during three group matches and 44 passes per shot throughout the entire tournament, in large part due to midfield trio Xavi, Iniesta, and Xabi Alonso, who were singled out in the media for their participation in Spain's title-run; Spain also obtained more passes (3,547) than any World Cup team since 1966.

Xavi played for Spain at Euro 2012, where Spain won by beating Italy 4–0 in the final after defeating them 4–0. During Spain's 4–0 victory in the group stage match against the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland defeated Xavi on 136 passes (127 completed, 94% success rate), more than any other player in a European Championship match. Ronald Koeman had set the previous record of 117 in a Euro 1992 match between the Netherlands and Denmark. In the match, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta made 229 passes, more than the combined Irish team's total team managed. "Pum, pum, pum," Xavi described the pounding sound of the ball moving between himself and his midfield partner.

With Xavi's two assists in the final, for Jordi Alba and Fernando Torres, he became the first player to register assists in two European Championship finals. Xavi became Spain's most decorated player in Spanish football history, a distinction he previously shared with Carles Puyol, who did not participate in the tournament.

Following Spain's elimination at the group stage in 2014, Xavi announced his retirement from international football on August 5th, having made 133 appearances in a 14-year period. Vicente del Bosque, Spain's World Cup winner, paid tribute to Xavi, saying that the team's style of play "was more important to us than ever" and that "we will miss him both on and off the field." Both personally and as a player, he is regarded with soaring regard. He is and will always be a player and a contributor whose reputation is highly coveted by the federation, the teaching staff, and by ourselves."

Managerial career

On May 28, 2019, it was reported that Xavi would take over as the Al Sadd's manager on a two-year deal. Xavi helped the team advance to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League, where they were defeated by Al-Hilal FC 6–5 on aggregate. The club came in third place in the league. Xavi led his team to win one domestic title, the Qatar Cup, in the 2019-20 season. Al Sadd qualified for 16 rounds of 16 in the 2020 AFC Champions League, but Persepolis disqualified 1–0. He led Al Sadd to seven trophies in his 97 games, spanning two and a half years.

In his last game in-charge, Al Sadd defeated Al Sadd 3–3 on November 3, 2021. After his release fee was paid, two days later Al Sadd announced his transfer to Barcelona.

Xavi's current manager, Ronald Koeman, signed Barcelona as the new manager on a deal until June 2024, despite his release date on November 6th. Following his arrival, Xavi is said to have tighter guidelines for the players, which included fines re-introduction, early arrival for training, and tracking players' off-pit activities.

Barcelona won his first Catalan Derby as boss in his first game in charge of his reign. Espanyol defeated Espanyol by a 1–0 score line at the Camp Nou in La Liga, defeating him by a 1–0 scoreline. Xavi's first defeat as Barcelona's manager came on December 4th after losing 1–0 to Real Betis at home in La Liga. He took over two group stage matches remaining in Xavi's first Champions League campaign. Barcelona finished third in the Europa League knockout round play-offs after drawing 0–0 at the Camp Nou on November 23 and losing 3–0 to Bayern Munich on December 8.

Barcelona was defeated 2–3 by Real Madrid on January 12, 2022, in his first Clásico presidency, and the Supercopa de Espan a semi-finals. Barcelona had to leave Copa del Rey early after being defeated by Athletic Bilbao 3–2 at the end of extra time in round 16. Barcelona strengthened their defense in the winter transfer window with the signings of Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traoré on loan. Barcelona recovered from a rough start to Xavi's first few months, with the new signings playing a major role. The team began a 14-match undefeated streak in La Liga, winning by 0–1 over Alavés in La Liga, winning four goals in six out of 11 matches and qualifying for the quarter-finals. Xavi claimed his first Clásico victory as boss on Sunday, beating Real Madrid 0–4 in La Liga, extending their undefeated streak to 12 matches to Xavi. Xavi and his boys, who were on the brink of a spectacular comeback, were disqualified from the UEL quarter-finals by Eintracht Frankfurt on April 14, bringing their fifteen-game unbeaten run to a close. He led Barcelona to a second-place finish in La Liga from ninth place when he took over.

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