Barcelona Legend Xavi Hernandez Announces Retirement From Football, Twitter Pays Tribute

Spain's world-cup winning midfielder Xavi Hernandez has officially announced retirement from football.

Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez has officially announced that he will retire from football by the end of the 2018/19 season. The Spanish international is one of the most decorated footballers all time.

The 39-year-old started out from Barcelona’s youth team and broke into the main team in 1998, before retiring from the club in 2015 as one of the greatest players in the club’s history. After leaving the Catalan club, Xavi moved to Qatar for club Al-Sadd.

In a statement, the Terrassa native said: “It’s been a privilege to play until the age of 39.”

“This 2018/19 season will be my last as a player, but I hope the future offers the chance to be a coach,” he added.

Here’s how Twitter paid tribute to the Barcelona legend:

✅Playing the beautiful game
🔜Coaching the beautiful game

Having won it all as a player, Xavi is set to call time on an incredible career to take over on the sidelines 👏🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/jw4F1254eH

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) May 2, 2019

Xavi has announced his retirement from football! 👋

Barcelona legend and the ultimate ladies' man 😎 pic.twitter.com/AFGFdzwVNn

— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) May 2, 2019

Xavi, congratulations on such an exemplary football career. You are one of the best we ever had. You know that the doors of La Masia are always open to you so we can continue to grow together pic.twitter.com/NiWpf3E7EP

— Josep Maria Bartomeu (@jmbartomeu) May 2, 2019

Xavi Hernandez officially retires from football

Games 986
Goals 119
Assists 228

8x La Liga
3x Copa del Rey
6x Spanish Supercup
4x UEFA Champions League
2x Club World Cups
2x UEFA Supercup
1x World Cup
2x European Championships

Goodbye to a true legend of Football pic.twitter.com/ZK3YB37zdj

— FootballOpinions (@FootballOpini13) May 2, 2019

A history-maker is set to hang up his boots 👏👏🇪🇸

Xavi will always be remembered as a passing master 🏆 pic.twitter.com/cz3KpDCYvd

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) May 2, 2019

Nunca habrá otro como tú Xavi. Ha sido un enorme privilegio jugar y ganar a tu lado. Disfruta de lo que queda de temporada y mis mejores deseos para lo que viene. Gracias por lo mucho que le has dado al fútbol. #GraciasXavi pic.twitter.com/j2umCxQAmG

— Fernando Torres (@Torres) May 3, 2019

Official: Xavi Hernandez has announced his retirement from playing football. One of the greatest midfielders to ever play the beautiful game. pic.twitter.com/rJJOcxnl2R

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) May 2, 2019

Happy retirement, #Xavi! 🙏
⠀
"@JohanCruyff is the most important person in the history of the Spanish national team," #Xavi stated in 2017. “If you look back, it's all thanks to Cruyff's philosophy.”
⠀#CruyffLegacy pic.twitter.com/BR3XQfmSZr

— Johan Cruyff (@JohanCruyff) May 2, 2019

Xavi debuted with the Barca first team under Louis Van Gaal, and was part of the team’s glory years from 1998 to 2015. He made his biggest leap under Frank Rijkaard and became a superstar under Guardiola. Xavi was the first captain of the team for his final season, following the retirement of Carles Puyol.

Xavi won 25 titles at Barca, including the famous treble seasons of 2008/09 and 2014/15.

In total, he holds eight La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey, four UEFA Champions League, two FIFA Club World Cup, six Spanish Super Cup and two UEFA Super Cup. He also was a six-time Copa Catalunya and one-time Catalunya Super Cup winner.

(With IANS Inputs)