Xavi

Barcelona and Spain legend, Xavi Hernandez has officially announced his retirement from football after 21 years.

The announcement of the retirement of the Spanish national team veteran who plays in Qatar for Al Sadd was contained in an open letter he issued on Thursday where he disclosed that this will be his last season and that he will continue his career as a coach.

“It has been a privilege to play football up to age 39 and I would like to finish out the season on the top by winning the Amir Cup and reaching the next stage of the Asian Champions League.

“This is my last season as a player but I really want to see what the future holds for me as a manager,” Xavi, who joined Barca’s senior side during the 1998-99 season said in the letter.

“I love to see teams that take the lead on the pitch, that play attacking football and that return to the essence that we all know from the days of our youth, possession of the ball.

“It has been a privilege to accomplish what I have done over the past two decades and that is why I feel that it is my duty to begin an initiative on the field and give back to football as long as I am able,” he added.

The Barcelona academy product led the Catalan club to eight La Liga titles as well as four UEFA Champions League trophies.

Xavi’s total silverware for club and country of 31 is only surpassed by his longtime Spain and Barcelona teammate, Andres Iniesta.

Capped 113 times for Spain, Xavi who retired from national team play in 2014 played a pivotal role in his country’s 2010 World Cup triumph in addition to Spain’s victories at both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012.