Sooner or later the time to hang up your boots comes for everyone, it’s the natural cycle of life. But very few, on the chosen date of 8 October, managed to hold back their emotion and a few tears in front of the signed video announcement Andres Iniesta who at the age of 40 decided to say goodbye to football. A love story with football born between the dirt fields of Fuentealbilla and La cantera of Albacete, until the leap that will change the Spaniard’s life forever: La Masia and Barcelona.
The beginning of an (almost) infinite cycle
Don Andrés or The illusionist. The thinking mind of Barcelona’s midfield wonders. Especially between 2008 and 2012, under the guidance of Pep Guardiola and with Busquets and Xavi at his sides to create a zip that no one boasted and which exuded the so-called Tiki Taka. And overall, in 16 years of adventure that seemed interminable at Barça, a series of trophies (32) to make your eyes shine: 4 Champions League, 3 Club World Cup, 9 championships, 3 European Super Cups, 6 Copa del Rey and 7 Spanish Super Cups. With goals scored engraved in the milestone of football between Stamford Bridge in 2009, which is worth half the Champions League, and in the final of the 2010 World Cup where he led Spain to become Champions. With Iniesta authentic legend.
Japan and the Emirates before closing
In the twilight of his career, Iniesta decided to pack his bags in 2018 and venture to Japan, where he won another couple of trophies. At Vissel Kobe, where he was welcomed – it goes without saying – like a hero. Emperor’s Cup and Japanese Super Cup are the two titles he won before saying goodbye in 2023. For the hunger for a final page of his career, always far from the Old Continent. There in the United Arab Emirates, with the Emirates Club for which he scored 5 goals but was relegated. Until the most heartbreaking moment.
Iniesta’s greeting to the world of football
“I wanted to thank all those who accompanied me today and all those who were unable to come on this special day. You will allow me to get emotional today, I would never have thought… (bursts into tears, ed.). I would never have thought that this day would have come. All these tears that we have shed in recent days are tears of emotion and pride. They are not tears of sadness, they are tears of that boy from Fuentealbilla who dreamed of becoming a footballer and he did it, we did it. After a lot of work and sacrifice and without ever giving up… These values have been essential in my life and that is why today I feel very proud of this whole journey. I have achieved my dream of becoming a professional footballer, it was what I wanted moreover”.
Laporta and that feeling of openness
On a day full of emotions, Iniesta let himself go by revealing the dream hidden in the drawer for his future: “I can’t stay away from football. I would like to return to Barcelona. I want to continue training and learning in clubs and academies. I’m taking a coaching course to prepare for the next stage.” But president Laporta will be willing to give him the bench blaugrana one day? Perhaps today’s words were a clue: “He was a player who wanted to be imitated by the players who, today, play in the first team. He is the past, the present and the future of Barça. He is part of our shield. He is an extraordinary person. He was a player during my first period as president and I always had a great relationship with him, he was a team player and committed.”