Xavi calls time on Spain career
Barca midfielder quits with World Cup, two Euro wins on resume.
MADRID:
Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez announced on Tuesday the end of a dazzling international football career crowned by La Roja’s 2010 World Cup and two European championships.
“I have decided to leave the national team. I think my time there has finished,” the 34-year-old Barcelona player told a news conference.
“It has been a wonderful, fantastic period for me. It has been an honour,” said Xavi, who played a decisive role in Spain’s triumphs at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and in Europe in 2008 and 2012.
“We have managed to achieve many successes in the past six or eight years and now I am just another fan of the Spain team,” he said, explaining that he will stay with Barcelona.
Xavi revealed that he had planned to leave the national side after Spain’s 2012 Euro win, but coach Vicente del Bosque persuaded him to stay.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2014.
Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez announced on Tuesday the end of a dazzling international football career crowned by La Roja’s 2010 World Cup and two European championships.
“I have decided to leave the national team. I think my time there has finished,” the 34-year-old Barcelona player told a news conference.
“It has been a wonderful, fantastic period for me. It has been an honour,” said Xavi, who played a decisive role in Spain’s triumphs at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and in Europe in 2008 and 2012.
“We have managed to achieve many successes in the past six or eight years and now I am just another fan of the Spain team,” he said, explaining that he will stay with Barcelona.
Xavi revealed that he had planned to leave the national side after Spain’s 2012 Euro win, but coach Vicente del Bosque persuaded him to stay.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2014.