ANDRES INIESTA(the architect of modern football)

 

PROFILE

This unassuming midfielder from Albacete has long lived in the shadow of some of his team-mates, but has demanded recognition of his own thanks to his dazzling brilliance for club and country. After joining Barca from Albacete as a 12-year-old, Iniesta was quickly picked out as a special talent at an early age by none other than Pep Guardiola, with the then-Barca midfielder and current manager famously telling Xavi: "You're going to retire me. This lad is going to retire us all." But Iniesta's quiet approach and willingness to play in a variety of positions meant his contribution was often overlooked in his early years.
But in recent times his humble approach has only further endeared him to a support that revels in watching him on a weekly basis. Alongside the supremely-talented Xavi in midfield, or operating as an auxiliary forward, Iniesta has been one of Barca's most consistent performers and was widely hailed as one of the world's best players when playing an influential role in Barca's historic six trophy season.
He also capped a glorious rise by smashing the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final to take Spain to the title, having shone in the showpiece, being named Man of the Match. Iniesta was also named in the Team of the Tournament, such were the high level of his displays.
Strengths: A wonderful technician and one of the finest exponents of the passing game in Europe, Iniesta also has an admirable willingness to work ceaselessly for his team. His dribbling, vision and poise all catch the eye while his versatility also marks him out as the complete midfielder.
Weaknesses: Like Xavi, his physical attributes are not remarkable, although what he lacks in strength and height he makes up for in intelligence and guile.
Career high: Scoring the goal that won Spain the 2010 World Cup.
Career low: In the summer of 2009, Iniesta was left feeling down due to some persistent injury problems and then saw his friend, Espanyol defender Dani Jarque, die on August 8. "That destroyed me, I cried a lot," said Iniesta.
Style: Versatile, intuitive, masterful, a midfield maestro.
Quotes: "Iniesta is easily Spain's most complete player. He has everything." Barcelona team-mate Xavi, May 2009.
Trivia: Iniesta's hero is former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Denmark star Michael Laudrup, who was a key figure in Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' at the Nou Camp in the early 90s, as revealed on his bizarre official website: http://www.andresiniesta.es/

• Full Name: Andres Iniesta
• Squad No: 8
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 28
• Birth Date: May 11, 1984
• Birth Place: Albacete
• Height: 5' 7'' (1.70m)
• Weight: 65 kg

Teams

• Spain
• Barcelona

Last Game

Spain 4 - 0 Italy

European Championship
July 1, 2012

• Match Stats
• Report

Style of play

Like fellow La Masia graduate Cesc Fàbregas, Iniesta originally started as a defensive midfielder^[50] but his balance, ball control and agility allied with his skill on the ball saw him make progress as an attacking midfielder. Beyond his raw talent that was spotted at a young age by FC Barcelona's scouts, it was his great versatility, work ethic and inventiveness that allowed him to stake a claim on a first-team place at the age of 18.^[51] Vicente del Bosque described him as "the complete footballer. He can attack and defend, he creates and scores," and Frank Rijkaard said "I played him as a false winger, central midfielder, deep midfielder and just behind the striker and he was always excellent."^[4] He was used initially as a wide-forward in the absence of Juan Roman Riquelme and Ronaldinho by Louis van Gaal and Rijkaard respectively, but made his name as a world-class player in central midfield alongside or in lieu of Xavi, at both club and international level. As FIFA.com says, "It is in this position that his direct style and quick feet can be used to full effect, with the ball seeming glued to his toes as he races into threatening positions. Iniesta is a player known for his passing, dribbling, vision and movement."^[52] Much like other Barcelona youth products such as Guardiola, Xavi and Iván de la Peña, Iniesta relies on exceptional creative passing, intuition and inventiveness to control the midfield and dictate the ebb and flow of play.^[53] Iniesta has been praised for his understanding and interplay with Xavi; former Barcelona teammate Giovanni van Bronckhorst saying "They have a special relationship, they always have, they just seem to know where the other one is".^[54] During his maturation as a player, he has gained a reputation for playing a part in important goals for club and country, specifically playing a leading role in the 2006, 2009 and 2011 UEFA Champions League finals, as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final and 2008–09 UEFA Champions League and Euro 2008 semi-finals.^[51]
His willingness to play anywhere on the pitch has earned him the sobriquet El Ilusionista (The Illusionist), El Cerebro (The Brain), El Anti-Galáctico (a pun on Real Madrid players' nickname Los Galácticos), El Caballero Pálido (The Pale Knight)^[55] and most recently Don Andrés from the Spanish press. Zidane also praised Iniesta by saying "Iniesta is really impressing me," the 39-year-old told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope. "He's got so much influence in Spain's game. He reminds me of myself, but he is more pale than me^[56]