Xavi quits Spain setup
August 5, 2014
Veteran Spanish playmaker Xavi Hernandez announced Tuesday his retirement from his country's national team, citing a disappointing 2014 World Cup campaign as one of the main reasons for his decision.
In doing so, the 34-year-old calls time on a 14 year career as one of Spain's most important midfield playmakers. With Spain's national team he won a World Cup and two European titles, taking the team to the top of the world rankings.
At the announcement at a press conference in Barcelona, Xavi said being benched for the second match of the World Cup against Chile was key in his decision to retire from international duty.
"Brazil was disappointing for everyone collectively and for me also individually," he said. "The fact that I did not take part in the decisive game against Chile was a personal disappointment."
Xavi also thanked the Spanish football federation and coaches for having confidence in his abilities describing his international career as a "fantastic period."
A big loss
Xavi guided Spain to titles at the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, with his precise passing and intelligent positional sense. Playing beside Andres Iniesta he was symbolic of Spain's highly admired tiki-taka short passing and possession game.
He also ends his career as the second highest capped player in the history of La Roja, with 133 appearances, second only to goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
He said at the announcement of his retirement that he had planned on stopping with the national team after Euro 2012 but that Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque urged him to continue on.
After the announcement del Bosque was quick to praise Xavi. "We have lost a one-of-a-kind player," said del Bosque, speaking to the Spanish football federation's website. "He has been the man who was key to our style of play that has brought us so much success. We will miss him both on and off the pitch."
Xavi says he will continue at Barcelona for at least one more season. He is under contract at the Camp Nou until 2016.
al/msh (AFP, dpa, Reuters)