Andres Iniesta Biography
Andrés Iniesta Luján (born May 11, 1984 in Fuentealbilla, Albacete (province)) is a Spain midfielder currently playing for Barcelona. His willingness to play anywhere, coupled with a natural humility, has earned him the sobriquet El Anti-Galáctico from the Catalan press.
Club career
At the age of 12, Iniesta was spotted by Barça scouts at his local club Albacete Balompié. He was switftly signed and worked his way up the club ranks. Louis van Gaal handed him his debut on 29 October, 2002, a UEFA Champions League game against Club Brugge KV. He appeared eleven times in the league in 2003-04, mostly as a deputy for Camp Nou favourite Ronaldinho, as Barça sealed second place, scoring once.
In the 2004-05 season Iniesta successfully secured a permanent slot in the first team and figured in 37 of 38 league games - more than any other player. He displayed an unselfish attitude by regularly aiding strikers Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho but performed poorly in front of goal - denied by the woodwork on several occasions, he found the net just twice.
Iniesta's improvement as a player continued in the 2005-06 and because of the absence of Xavier Hernández Creus due to injury, he was given regular starts in midfield. The increased playing time offered to him at the highest level gave him the opportunity to blossom into a superb midfielder. His contribution to the team was praised by Coach Frank Rijkaard. However, his call up to the Spain national football team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup came as a surprise to football pundits.
On August 22, 2006 Andres lifted the Joan Gamper Trophy as the captain of the team after defeating German side Bayern München 4-0.
His current contract with FC Barcelona ends in June of 2014. On July 19th he was linked with a move to rivals Real Madrid. Reports in newspapers suggested Real was prepared to pay 60 million euros for him which would trigger his release clause. However, he reiterated his desire to remain with Barça by saying "I can’t do anything about it but I’d like to insist once again that I want to stay here. When I say I want to retire in Barça, I say it with all my heart."
According to the Spanish football magazine Don Balón,a member of European Sports Magazines, Iniesta has been one of the most constant performers in the last 2 seasons of Primera Division, placing 5th in 2006-2007, and 4th in 2007-2008 on their annual rating system Ranking Don Balón.
On September 24th, 2008, Andrés Iniesta was chosen as one of the new Barcelona captains, with the former vice-captain, Ronaldinho, departing for AC Milan. According to local newspaper, El Mundo Deportivo, Iniesta will be the FC Barcelona 4th-choice captain, behind fellow Spaniards, Carles Puyol (1st-choice), Xavier Hernández Creus (2nd-choice), and Víctor Valdés (3rd-choice). This new achievement by Iniesta has been welcomed by all Supporters of FC Barcelona world-wide, and, especially, by the pro-Barcelona press throughout Spain.
In the 2004-05 season Iniesta successfully secured a permanent slot in the first team and figured in 37 of 38 league games - more than any other player. He displayed an unselfish attitude by regularly aiding strikers Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho but performed poorly in front of goal - denied by the woodwork on several occasions, he found the net just twice.
Iniesta's improvement as a player continued in the 2005-06 and because of the absence of Xavier Hernández Creus due to injury, he was given regular starts in midfield. The increased playing time offered to him at the highest level gave him the opportunity to blossom into a superb midfielder. His contribution to the team was praised by Coach Frank Rijkaard. However, his call up to the Spain national football team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup came as a surprise to football pundits.
On August 22, 2006 Andres lifted the Joan Gamper Trophy as the captain of the team after defeating German side Bayern München 4-0.
His current contract with FC Barcelona ends in June of 2014. On July 19th he was linked with a move to rivals Real Madrid. Reports in newspapers suggested Real was prepared to pay 60 million euros for him which would trigger his release clause. However, he reiterated his desire to remain with Barça by saying "I can’t do anything about it but I’d like to insist once again that I want to stay here. When I say I want to retire in Barça, I say it with all my heart."
According to the Spanish football magazine Don Balón,a member of European Sports Magazines, Iniesta has been one of the most constant performers in the last 2 seasons of Primera Division, placing 5th in 2006-2007, and 4th in 2007-2008 on their annual rating system Ranking Don Balón.
On September 24th, 2008, Andrés Iniesta was chosen as one of the new Barcelona captains, with the former vice-captain, Ronaldinho, departing for AC Milan. According to local newspaper, El Mundo Deportivo, Iniesta will be the FC Barcelona 4th-choice captain, behind fellow Spaniards, Carles Puyol (1st-choice), Xavier Hernández Creus (2nd-choice), and Víctor Valdés (3rd-choice). This new achievement by Iniesta has been welcomed by all Supporters of FC Barcelona world-wide, and, especially, by the pro-Barcelona press throughout Spain.
National team
Iniesta burst on to the international scene in 2001, helping Spain national football team win the UEFA European Under-16 Championship, and was in the squad that claimed the UEFA European Under-19 Championship the following year. In 2003 he formed part of the Spanish side that reached the FIFA World Youth Championship final in the United Arab Emirates, and was named in the FIFA all-star team.
He has captained the Spain national under-21 football team side on several occasions.
Iniesta's mother used to work as a maid in Hotel Rambla, and his father is a retired lawyer who now handles Iniesta's club career choices. Iniesta has a cousin named Javier Gaston Alberto who is 14 years old and currently plays as a striker for one of the Barcelona juvenile teams and is considered a hot prospect for the future.
He was called up to represent Spain national football team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup on May 15 2006. Iniesta won his first cap (sport) for Spain national football team when he was brought on at half-time in a friendly against Russian national football team on the 27th of May, 2006.
He scored his first goal for Spain in a friendly against England national football team on February 7 2007. Spain took the lead on 63 minutes when Iniesta thumped home a right-footed shot in off the crossbar from the right-side of the box after David Villa's cross was flicked into his path.
Iniesta played a pivotal part in Spain's qualification for Euro 2008 by scoring goals against the likes of Sweden and by assisting the strikers. Iniesta usually played in the middle of the pitch, but he was also trusted with roles further up the pitch when Spain was away from home, most notably in the game against Denmark where he was given an unfamiliar left wing position.
He was selected in Spain's squad for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Though a stomach bug somewhat hampered his performances, he still played an integral part in the midfield. He played in the first two of Spain's group stage matches and proved an important part of the team providing a particularly notable pass for David Villa's second goal against Russia. He was not rested, unlike most of Spain's regulars, for the final group game against Greece (which Spain won 2-1 thanks to a fantastic volley from Rubén de la Red and a late winner from Daniel Güiza), and returned for the quarter final as Spain beat Italy on Penalties. Iniesta was substituted before the penalties as in his other starts. In the semi-final against Russia he played the entire 90 minutes and produced a quality cross which Xavi converted to give Spain the lead, he was also named Man of the Match .
He played the full duration of the UEFA Euro 2008 Final in Spain national football team 1–0 win over Germany national football team. He was the only spanish player who played all matches at starting lineup. Iniesta was placed in 23-man UEFA Team of the Tournament.
He has captained the Spain national under-21 football team side on several occasions.
Iniesta's mother used to work as a maid in Hotel Rambla, and his father is a retired lawyer who now handles Iniesta's club career choices. Iniesta has a cousin named Javier Gaston Alberto who is 14 years old and currently plays as a striker for one of the Barcelona juvenile teams and is considered a hot prospect for the future.
He was called up to represent Spain national football team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup on May 15 2006. Iniesta won his first cap (sport) for Spain national football team when he was brought on at half-time in a friendly against Russian national football team on the 27th of May, 2006.
He scored his first goal for Spain in a friendly against England national football team on February 7 2007. Spain took the lead on 63 minutes when Iniesta thumped home a right-footed shot in off the crossbar from the right-side of the box after David Villa's cross was flicked into his path.
Iniesta played a pivotal part in Spain's qualification for Euro 2008 by scoring goals against the likes of Sweden and by assisting the strikers. Iniesta usually played in the middle of the pitch, but he was also trusted with roles further up the pitch when Spain was away from home, most notably in the game against Denmark where he was given an unfamiliar left wing position.
He was selected in Spain's squad for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Though a stomach bug somewhat hampered his performances, he still played an integral part in the midfield. He played in the first two of Spain's group stage matches and proved an important part of the team providing a particularly notable pass for David Villa's second goal against Russia. He was not rested, unlike most of Spain's regulars, for the final group game against Greece (which Spain won 2-1 thanks to a fantastic volley from Rubén de la Red and a late winner from Daniel Güiza), and returned for the quarter final as Spain beat Italy on Penalties. Iniesta was substituted before the penalties as in his other starts. In the semi-final against Russia he played the entire 90 minutes and produced a quality cross which Xavi converted to give Spain the lead, he was also named Man of the Match .
He played the full duration of the UEFA Euro 2008 Final in Spain national football team 1–0 win over Germany national football team. He was the only spanish player who played all matches at starting lineup. Iniesta was placed in 23-man UEFA Team of the Tournament.
All-Time Club Performance
Stats accurate as of May 17, 2008
Trophies
FC Barcelona
- 2006-07 Supercopa de España
- 2005-06 UEFA Champions League
- 2005-06 La Liga
- 2005-06 Supercopa de España
- 2004-05 La Liga
- 2005-06 UEFA Champions League
- 2005-06 La Liga
- 2005-06 Supercopa de España
- 2004-05 La Liga
Spain
- 2008 UEFA European Championship winner
- UEFA Under-16 Championship winner: 2001
- UEFA Under-19 Championship winner: 2002
- 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up
- UEFA Under-16 Championship winner: 2001
- UEFA Under-19 Championship winner: 2002
- 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up
Individual
- UEFA Euro 2008 Awards
Andres Iniesta Wallpapers
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