OpinionAndres Iniesta set to wave goodbye to Barcelona after 22 years with his next destination still to be decided
The Barcelona legend, who has won almost all there is to win in over decades at the club, leaves an indelible and unforgettable mark on La Liga history
Andres Iniesta cried on his first day at Barcelona and, 22 years later, cried again the day he announced his departure. Between those two days, he won almost everything there is to win in world football.
Trophies, trophies and more trophies
The midfield maestro’s career at the Nou Camp – which will come to an end when Barcelona host Real Sociedad this weekend – has seen him win every major trophy possible. He’ll depart with a remarkable nine Spanish Primera Liga medals, in addition to six Copa del Rey triumphs, seven Spanish Super Cup victories, four Champions League successes, three Uefa Super Cup wins and three Club World Club titles. On two occasions, Iniesta even won the treble, the rare distinction of conquering La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in a single season.
Barcelona always had high hopes for the young man from Albacete.
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Barcelona always had high hopes for the young man from Albacete, a province in Spain’s interior, and made an exception to their rules in order to bring him from his home into their youth set-up in 1996. La Masia, Barcelona’s world-famous youth academy, normally only accepted children aged 14 or older but he was so special that he was welcomed aged just 12. But even they must have been surprised at just how good he turned out to be. He rose through the youth ranks and made his debut in 2002 at the age of 18 under coach Louis van Gaal, before becoming a regular starter in the following years.
At international level with Spain he also won almost everything there is to win.
He formed a formidable partnership with fellow club legend Xavi Hernandez and by the time Pep Guardiola, whose possession-based style of play suited him, took over in 2008 he was already an indispensable member of the squad.
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At international level with Spain he also won almost everything there is to win, including two European Championships (2008 and 2012) and, most memorably, the 2010 World Cup where he scored the winning goal in extra-time against the Netherlands in the final.
