Andrés Iniesta and football are over. At least on the pitch. This Monday, October 7 officially marks the end of the football legend’s career, as he announced on his social networks through a moving video.
Free from any contract since his departure from the United Arab Emirates this summer, the former FC Barcelona midfielder maintained the hope of finding a new challenge at 40, but should ultimately turn to the sidelines where the profession of coach seems to hold out his arms to him. The date of October 8, 2024, listed at the end of the video, also suggests a new announcement this Tuesday.
In a video, marked with the slogan “The game continues”, very indicative of his desire to continue his history with football, four of his coaches – Luis Enrique, Louis van Gaal, Pep Guardiola and Vicente del Bosque – as well as his father José Antonio Iniesta, evoke in turn the player and the man who was the 2010 world champion during his career. Enough to easily bring tears to his eyes.
“At the Espanyol stadium (Barcelona), FC Barcelona came to win 1-5, and they had a standing ovation from the stadium. I think this image perfectly shows what people think of him, how they appreciate him,” recalls del Bosque, while van Gaal emphasizes his “very modest” character. “I don’t think he’s going to leave, I think he’ll never leave football,” concludes Andrés Iniesta’s father.
At 40, the player trained at FC Barcelona, where he spent 22 years of his life, will have won everything in his career, with no less than 38 titles. Andrés Iniesta has notably won four Champions Leagues (2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015) and nine Spanish championships. He then joined Vissel Kobe, in Japan, in 2018, where he won three titles, including the first championship in the history of his club. Released from his club in 2023, he offers himself a final challenge in the United Arab Emirates, at the Emirates Club for whom he played 23 matches this season.
In the selection, Andrés Iniesta has become a true legend, winning two European Championships (2008, 2012) and above all a World Cup (2010). A World Cup that he himself delivered to his country by scoring the only goal in the final against the Netherlands in extra time (1-0) and which could well have offered him the Ballon d’Or the same year (ultimately 2nd behind Lionel Messi).