Former Barcelona star retires, targets return as a coach

Barcelona legend and former Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has officially called time on his colorful, professional football career, which spanned twenty years.

The 40-year-old confirmed his decision to retire during a star studded event in Barcelona on Tuesday – marking a closure to an illustrious career at the club he joined as a 12-year old in 1996, and went on to make 674 first-team appearances for the club, helping them win nine La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies.

“I never thought this day would come; all these tears that we have shed during these days are tears of emotion and pride. They are not tears of sadness; they are tears of that boy from Fuentealbilla, who had the dream of being a footballer, and I achieved it, we achieved it,” Iniesta told friends, family, and former team-mates who were present to pay tribute to the diminutive playmaker. “

The former Spain midfielder exited Barça in 2018 and signed for Japanese side Vissel Kobe, where he etched his name in the record books of the J-League, lifting the J1 league title Emperor’s Cup and Japanese Super Cup, before announcing his departure last year.

Iniesta was capped 131 times by Spain and was part of the 2010 World Cup winning team in South Africa in which he scored the winning goal in their victory over the Netherlands in the final. He also won two European Championships with La Roja in 2008 and 2012.

The glamorous event boasts a long list of high-profile attendees, which include his indisputable partner in football, Xavi Hernandez, former team-mate Gerard Pique, and a host of Barça’s current players.

Meanwhile, the assembled crowd was the first to hear about Iniesta’s plans to start doing his coaching badges in the hope of becoming a manager one day.

His first coaching job is unknown for now but the 40-year old was pretty clear in his mind that he would return to Barcelona someday.