Andres Iniesta

Andrés Iniesta Luján, born 11 May 1984, is a Spanish football manager and former midfielder who now manages Gulf United in the UAE First Division League. He is widely considered one of the finest midfielders ever, praised for his balance, close control, composure, and flair. He is also among a rare group of players with over 1,000 career appearances. Iniesta spent the bulk of his playing days at Barcelona, where he arrived as a child from his small village, Fuentealbilla, after being spotted in a junior tournament. He joined La Masia, struggled with homesickness, and captained the Under-15 side to a Nike Premier Cup win. Pep Guardiola once told Xavi that Iniesta would retire them both.

Iniesta made his first-team debut at 18 in 2002 and became a regular during Barcelona’s 2004–05 La Liga title win. The next season, he helped secure a league and Champions League double. His role grew, and he was central to the historic treble in 2008–09. He earned his first FIFA FIFPro World XI and UEFA Team of the Year selections in 2009, eventually making nine and six appearances respectively. In 2010–11, he won a third Champions League as Barcelona completed another domestic double. He won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2012 and was named IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker in 2012 and 2013. He was part of another treble in 2014–15.

With Barcelona, Iniesta won 33 trophies, including nine La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues, making him the most decorated Spanish footballer ever. Alongside Xavi and Sergio Busquets, under Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka system, he formed a legendary midfield trio that drove the club’s success from 2008 to 2015. After 22 years at Barcelona, he moved to J1 League side Vissel Kobe in 2018, then to UAE Pro League club Emirates in 2023, retiring in October 2024.

Internationally, Iniesta played for Spain at Under-16, Under-19, and Under-21 levels before his senior debut in 2006. He played every game at Euro 2008, making the Team of the Tournament, and was key to the 2010 World Cup win, scoring the final’s winning goal against the Netherlands and earning Man of the Match. He finished runner-up to Lionel Messi for the 2010 Ballon d’Or. At Euro 2012, he led Spain to a second straight title, was Man of the Match in the final against Italy, and was named Player of the Tournament. He placed third in the 2012 Ballon d’Or. In 2016, he was named to the All-time UEFA Euro XI. Over twelve years, he earned 131 caps.