- 9 hours ago
Frenemies? Iniesta eyes Xavi's role at Barcelona
FT Desk
- 22 Oct 2022 21:05 BST
- 3 min read
Andres Iniesta and Xavi formed perhaps the greatest midfield pairing in football history at Barcelona, but the former would happily usurp the latter in the Camp Nou dugout.
Xavi and Iniesta make many a football pundit's all-time XI having won seven La Ligas, four Champions Leagues, two European Championships and a World Cup in their time together in Barcelona and Spain engine rooms.
They spent 13 of their prime years together at Camp Nou, and their near telepathic connection on the pitch extended to a deep understanding of it.
Xavi & Iniesta were both coming up in the youth system together & they both wanted to wear the number 8. They agreed to swap. One with Spain & one with Barcelona. 🇪🇸❤ pic.twitter.com/WtfYYJgf6i
— Football Factly (@FootballFactly) May 2, 2020
Xavi and Iniesta even swapped shirt numbers when playing for Spain. Both had wanted the No.8 jersey coming up in Barca's fabled La Masia academy. Iniesta ultimately donned that number for Barcelona; Xavi the No.6, so when they played for their country it was the other way around.
Now Iniesta is playing out the autumn of his career in Japan with Vissel Kobe, while Xavi is in the Barcelona hot-seat. A hugely respected figure around the club, he nonetheless has a poor record among recent Barca coaches.
Xavi's record
His first 50 games returned 28 wins, 11 draws and 11 defeats, which puts him behind predecessor Ronald Koeman, as well as Ernesto Valverde, Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola and Frank Rijkaard at the same stage.
Pumas players all wanted a photo with Xavi 📸pic.twitter.com/PKIZDvDAR9
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 12, 2022
Asked if he could see himself making a fist of the job, Iniesta refused to shy away from the idea.
"It’s not that I don't want to," he told Jordi Wild on YouTube when asked if he could return as a player. "I'd be delighted to, but the moment has passed. It would be impossible to compete with the people that are there.
"[But] I would like to return to Barca. I would like to learn and work in a coaching role or as a sporting director. I'd like to train in different areas and then we'll see."
Xavi may not have the Blaugrana brass breathing down his neck quite yet, but he is unlikely to be over the moon that another legendary midfielder from the clubs annals is making himself so available.
