Farewell to the beating heart of the greatest ever FC Barcelona team
Xavi HernĂĄndez, a living legend for the Catalan giants, leaves the club with over twenty titles to his name and treasury throve full of great memories.
In a few weeks time one of FC Barcelonaâs stalwarts will call an end to his playing career with the club he has played 764 competitive matches with.
On Thursday Xavi HernĂĄndez officially announced that he is leaving FC Barcelona, the team has been played with for the last 17 seasons, since making his debut with the first team during the 1998-99 campaign in a Spanish Super Cup match against RCD Mallorca on 18 August 1998. And he makes his departure as only the greatest players know how, by adding more titles to his tally and with his side in peak form following a hugely successful season in which the Catalans have already clinched the 2014/15 Liga BBVA title, and are still on course to lift the Copa del Rey as well as the Champions League.
Ever since breaking into the first team squad, 'los azulgranas' eternal number 6 has dedicated his career to winning trophies. He parts ways with Barcelona with eight Liga BBVA titles under his belt, making him the clubâs most lauded player in the domestic competition of all time. Additionally, his extensive trophy collection also contains two Copa del Reys, six Spanish Super Cups, three Champions League titles, two European Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups.
Xavi leaves his beloved club while holding the current record as the Spanish player with the greatest number of titles ever: 26 (23 with his club as well as two UEFA European Championships and one FIFA World Cup with the Spanish national team). He could extend his number of trophies with FC Barcelona to 25 this season should the Camp Nou outfit manage to secure another Copa del Rey, against Athletic Club on 30 May, and the UEFA Champions League, against Juventus on 6 June in Berlin.
Xaviâs 2014/15 Liga BBVA season will also be remembered for a personal milestone. The Tarrasa-born midfielder made it 500 appearances in the division, underlining his legendary status within both Spanish football and at Barcelona. He did so in the Catalan derby against RCD Espanyol, which Barça won 0-2 in matchday 33 of Liga BBVA. With this achievement, Xavi joined seven other players to have also reached 500 games in the league. Of this group, only he and close friend Iker Casillas of Real Madrid are still playing.
This goodbye, just as Carles Puyolâs did, marks the end of an era for a generation of Barcelona players who have represented the clubâs and Spanish footballâs values all over the world. His exquisite touch has been a symbol of both our football and that of the Catalan side, who have experienced their best-ever era with Xavi pulling the strings from midfield.
Xavi, with 504 games played in Liga BBVA and 58 goals, is the Barcelona player with the most wins, having racked up 322, and will have the chance to extend his numbers further this Saturday against RC Deportivo in the last game of the 2014/15 Liga BBVA season. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old central midfielder could also become the highest appearance maker in the UEFA Champions League on 6 June as Barcelona face Juventus in the final. He currently sits level with Casillas on 150.
A legendary Barcelona player says goodbye, a historic figure of Spanish football and Liga BBVA.
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