andres inesta

Andrés Iniesta
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Andrés Iniesta Andrés Iniesta 2006
Personal information
Full name Andrés Iniesta Lujan
Date of birth 11 May 1984 (1984-05-11) (age 25)
Place of birth Fuentealbilla, Spain
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Midfielder / Winger
Club information
Current club Barcelona
Number 8
Youth career
1994–1996 Albacete
1996–2000 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Club Apps† (Gls)†
2000–2003 Barcelona B 54 (6)
2002– Barcelona 184 (16)
National team‡
2000 Spain U15 2 (0)
2000–2001 Spain U16 7 (1)
2001 Spain U17 4 (0)
2001–2002 Spain U19 7 (1)
2003 Spain U20 7 (3)
2003–2006 Spain U21 18 (6)
2006– Spain 35 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 04 October 2009.

† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of April 11, 2009
This is a Spanish name; the first family name is Iniesta and the second is Luján.

Andrés Iniesta Luján (born 11 May 1984 in Fuentealbilla, Albacete, Castile-La Mancha) is a Spanish football attacking midfielder who currently plays for Spanish La Liga club Barcelona. His willingness to play anywhere on the pitch, coupled with a natural humility, has earned him the sobriquet El Ilusionista, El Anti-Galáctico and most recently San Andrés[2] or Don Andrés from the Catalan press.[3] After the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final, Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney asserted that he believed the midfielder to be the best in the world.[4]
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Club career
o 1.1 Early career
o 1.2 2004–2007
o 1.3 2008–present
* 2 International career
* 3 All-time club performance
o 3.1 International goals
* 4 Honours
o 4.1 Barcelona
o 4.2 Spain
o 4.3 Individual
* 5 References
* 6 External links

[edit] Club career
[edit] Early career

Initially, the 12-year-old Iniesta's parents travelled to Barcelona and took a look at the Barcelona youth school, La Masia. The trip resulted in Iniesta's enrollment in the Barça youth ranks. Like fellow La Masia graduate Cesc Fàbregas, Iniesta originally started as a defensive midfielder[5] but his balance, close control and skill on the ball saw him make progress as an attacking midfielder. From that moment on he 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 He appeared 11 times in the league in 2003–04, mostly as a deputy for Camp Nou favourite Ronaldinho, scoring once as Barça sealed second place behind Valencia CF.
[edit] 2004–2007

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 forwards 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 with Barcelona in 2006.

Iniesta's improvement as a player continued in the 2005–06 season, and because of the absence of Xavi 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 manager Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona won a league and Champions League double.

The 2006–07 season saw Iniesta's profile continue to rise and earned plaudits for his willingness to play in any position for his team. On August 22, 2006 Andres lifted the Joan Gamper Trophy as the captain of the team after defeating German side Bayern Munich 4–0. He played for the first time as a striker for Barcelona in two Champions League matches against Levski Sofia, finding the net twice. In the first knock out stage of the same competition, he played at left-back against Liverpool. Despite being moved around the pitch by manager Frank Rijkaard, the 2006–07 season remains Iniesta's highest scoring thus far.

According to the Spanish football magazine Don Balón, a member of European Sports Magazines, Iniesta has been one of the most consistent performers in the last two seasons of Primera Division, placing fifth in 2006–07,[6] and fourth in 2007-2008[7] on their annual rating system Ranking Don Balón. He also placed 9th in the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year voting, gaining 37 total points.[8] Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Xavi also featured in the top ten.
[edit] 2008–present
Iniesta training with Barcelona.

On 24 September 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 Barça fourth-choice captain, behind fellow Spaniards, Carles Puyol (1st-choice), Xavi (second-choice), and Víctor Valdés (third-choice). This new achievement by Iniesta has been welcomed by all Culés worldwide, and, especially, by the pro-Barcelona press throughout Spain. In mid November 2008, Iniesta suffered a leg injury and was expected to return to action in 6 weeks. Iniesta, however, did not want to come back until he was 100 percent and finally returned to action on 3 January 2009 as a 65th minute substitute against RCD Mallorca. After only 10 minutes he scored a crucial goal and completed a Barcelona comeback in front of the Camp Nou.[9] His performances in the 2008–09 season have been highly lauded, receiving standing ovations both in Barcelona at the Camp Nou, as well as from rival supporters in away matches.[10]

On 5 February, Iniesta made his 250th appearance for Barcelona in the Copa del Rey match against Mallorca. Iniesta once again got injured in Barcelona's home match against Málaga CF, but returned to action for the first leg Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich, which Barcelona won 4–0.

His current contract with Barcelona ends in June 2014.[11] On July 19 2007, he was linked with a move to rivals Real Madrid, with reports in newspapers suggesting Real was prepared to pay €60 million for him,[12] which would trigger his release clause. Iniesta disregarded the rumours and 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."[13] Iniesta's release clause has since been raised to €150 million, to dissuade possible suitors.

Former teammate Samuel Eto'o described Iniesta as being 'the best player in the world; whenever Iniesta is on the pitch he creates a spectacle’.[14]
"I knew I would play injured and do more damage. For seventeen days all I thought about was the final in Rome and winning, even knowing that I would do more damage. I'd repeat it, for sure. I love this club and my profession and I wanted to win. If we had lost [the final] that would have been a total disaster.."
—Andrés Iniesta, September 2009[15]

On 6 May 2009, Iniesta scored the equalizing goal of Barcelona's semi-final against Chelsea, in the third minute of injury time; this goal sent Barcelona through to the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final against defending champions Manchester United[16], in which he had a very influential role (providing the assist for the first goal scored by Samuel Eto'o) as his team went on to win 2–0. After the game, Wayne Rooney described Iniesta as the best player in the world.[4] Don Balón rated him as the most consistent performer in the 2008-09 La Liga season, ahead of team-mates Xavi and Lionel Messi.[17] Iniesta suffered a small tear in his thigh prior to the final but played through the pain, aggravating the injury.

Iniesta made his first start of the 2009-10 season in a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv.[18]
[edit] International career
Iniesta playing for Spain during Euro 2008

Iniesta burst on to the international scene in 2001, helping Spain win the UEFA European Under-16 Championship, and was in the squad that claimed the UEFA European Under-19 Championship the following year. Since then, he became a regular choice for the then youth coach Juan Santisteban. 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. During his spell with the Spain U21s side, Iniesta was named captain on several occasions.

Originally a fringe player, he was called up to represent Spain at the World Cup 2006 on 15 May 2006, much to the surprise of many. Iniesta won his first cap for Spain when he was brought on at half-time in a friendly against Russia on 27 May 2006.

He scored his first goal for Spain in a friendly against England on 7 February 2007. His long range effort, hitting the underside of the crossbar on the way in, gave Spain the lead on 63 minutes. Iniesta proceeded to play 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 advanced left wing position.

Iniesta was selected in Spain's squad for UEFA 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 open the scoring. The Technical Study Group named him the Man of the Match.[19] He played the full duration of the final in Spain's 1–0 win over Germany. Iniesta was named in the Team of the Tournament alongside fellow Spain midfielders Xavi, Cesc Fàbregas and Marcos Senna and 5 other teammates.

Iniesta did not participate in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa due to a thigh muscle injury.[20]
[edit] All-time club performance

As of 04 October 2009 [21][22]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other [23] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Barcelona B 2000–01 10 0 - - - - - - 10 0
2001–02 30 3 - - - - - - 30 3
2002–03 14 3 - - - - - - 14 3
Total 54 6 - - - - - - 54 6
FC Barcelona 2002–03 6 0 0 0 3 0 - - 9 0
2003–04 11 1 3 1 3 0 - - 17 2
2004–05 37 2 1 0 8 0 - - 46 2
2005–06 33 0 4 0 11 1 1 0 49 1
2006–07 37 6 6 1 8 2 5 0 56 9
2007–08 31 3 7 0 11 1 - - 49 4
2008–09 26 4 6 0 11 1 - - 45 5
2009–10 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0
Total 184 16 27 2 57 5 6 0 275 23
Career totals 238 22 27 2 57 5 6 0 329 29
[edit] International goals

[24]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 7 February 2007 Old Trafford, Manchester, England England 0–1 0–1 International Friendly
2. 28 March 2007 ONO Estadi, Palma de Mallorca, Spain Iceland 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
3. 2 June 2007 Skonto stadions, Riga, Latvia Latvia 0–2 0–2 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
4. 8 September 2007 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland Iceland 1–1 1–1 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
5. 17 November 2007 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain Sweden 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
6. 15 October 2008 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Belgium 1–1 1–2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
[edit] Honours
[edit] Barcelona

* La Liga (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09
* Copa del Rey (1): 2008–09
* UEFA Champions League (2): 2005–06, 2008–09
* Supercopa de España (3): 2005, 2006, 2009
* UEFA Super Cup (1): 2009

[edit] Spain

* 2008 UEFA European Championship
* 2001 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship
* 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
* 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up

[edit] Individual

* Euro 2008 Team of the tournament
* Don Balón Award for Best Spanish Player of the Year : 2009
* Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano Runner-up : 2009

[edit] References

Source national teams caps and goals: HISTORIA DEL FÚTBOL ESPAÑOL, SELECCIONES ESPAÑOLAS (Spanish) ISBN 978-84-8229-12-3-9

1. ^ http://www.andresiniesta.azplayers.com/
2. ^ http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/138/spain/2009/05/07/1250897/barcelona-hero-andres-iniesta-in-raptures-after-breaking-chelsea-
3. ^ http://euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/players/player=58031/index.html
4. ^ a b http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5398387/Manchester-United-v-Barcelona-Wayne-Rooney-backs-Andres-Iniesta-for-Ballon-dOr.html
5. ^ FCBarcelona.cat. "Andrés Iniesta Lujan". http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/temporada_07-08/plantilla/jugadors/iniesta.html. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
6. ^ donbalon.com. "RANKING DB 2006-2007". http://www.donbalon.com/front/default.asp?OPT=RER&RERID=1964. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
7. ^ www.donbalon.com. "Ranking DB 07-08". http://www.donbalon.com/front/default.asp?OPT=RER&RERID=2005. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
8. ^ fifa.com. "FIFA World Player Gala 2008". http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/classic/awards/99/15/28/resultsmenforfifa.combyplayer.pdf. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
9. ^ Goal.com. "Iniesta Enjoys Barcelona Return Against Mallorca". http://www.goal.com/en/news/1706/barcelona/2009/01/04/1039882/iniesta-enjoys-barcelona-return-against-mallorca. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
10. ^ Goal.com. "Player Ratings: Almeria 0-2 Barcelona". http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/03/15/1157494/player-ratings-almeria-0-2-barcelona. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
11. ^ www.footballdatabase.com
12. ^ Real Madrid chasing Barcelona midfielder Iniesta
13. ^ FCBarcelona.cat
14. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1173336/Samuel-Etoo-exclusive-Sign-team-England-Why-I-quit-best.html
15. ^ Iniesta: "No me veo para jugar 90 minutos" Público; 10 September 09; Accessed 11 September 2009 (Spanish)
16. ^ "Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona (agg 1-1)". BBC Sport. 6 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8010840.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
17. ^ http://www.donbalon.com/front/default.asp?OPT=RER&RERID=2357
18. ^ http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2009/09/29/1530963/barcelona-2-0-dynamo-kiev-messi-pedro-unlock-stubborn
19. ^ euro2008.uefa.com - Fanzone
20. ^ Injured Iniesta to miss Confederations Cup
21. ^ Official site statistics
22. ^ Soccernet player statistics
23. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
24. ^ Fútbol en la Red(Spanish)

[edit] External links
Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Andrés Iniesta

* Andrés Iniesta's official website
* BDFutbol profile
* National team data (Spanish)
* FC Barcelona profile
* Andrés Iniesta FIFA competition record
* FootballDatabase career profile and statistics
* Andres Iniesta Fan Zone