Xavi announces retirement plans

Spain legend Xavi Hernandez has announced that he will retire from football after 21 years.

Former FC Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi has announced his retirement from professional football ending an ‘unforgettable race that has lasted for 21 years’.

Xavi, 39, won eight La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League four times before leaving FC Barcelona for Qatari outfit Al Sadd – where he lifted the league title this season.”What I have achieved in the last two decades has been a privilege,” he said, as quoted by the club’s website.

“Therefore, I believe it is my duty to take the initiative of the field and return through football whenever possible.”The 2010 FIFA World Cup winner expressed his intention to venture into management after his playing days and in an interview with AS he opened up on the style of play he’d like to implement.

“My philosophy as a coach reflects the style we developed for many years under the influence of Johan Cruyff and La Masia, and that has its greatest exponent in the way of playing football in Barcelona.”I love seeing the teams take the initiative in the field, attack football and return to the essence of what we all love from our childhood days: possession football.”Xavi amassed 133 caps for La Roja, winning the World Cup and two UEFA Euro titles during his iconic international career` – kickoff.com