Ex-Barcelona and Spain star Iniesta retires aged 40
Spanish footballer Andres Iniesta waves as he arrives with his family at an event to celebrate his career at the America's Cup Experience venue in Barcelona on October 8, 2024. Andres Iniesta scored the most important goal in the history of Spanish football, winning his country the World Cup for the first time in 2010. Iniesta came through Barcelona's La Masia youth academy, joining the club aged 12, departing 22 years later to join Japanese club Vissel Kobe before spending last season at Emirates in the United Arab Emirates. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)
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Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, who won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with an all-conquering Spain team, announced his retirement from football on Tuesday at the age of 40.
"Being on
the pitch is over," a visibly emotional Iniesta told reporters at a news
conference in Barcelona.
"I can't
stay away from football, it's my life and will continue to be my life. Now I
need to continue educating myself, I'm in the process of doing my coaching diploma
and that's the next step."
"I will
try to come back and do a great job, but it won't be running after the ball,
but from another place," he added.
Iniesta came up
through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy and made his first-team debut in
2002 aged just 18, becoming a mainstay in the midfield before his departure 16
years later.
He won nine La
Liga titles and the Champions League four times with Barcelona, but his
greatest moment came in the 2010 World Cup final when he scored the winning
goal against the Netherlands in ext
After leaving
Barcelona in 2018, Iniesta spent five years with Japanese club Vissel Kobe
before playing one final season with Emirates of the UAE.
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